Poker is probably the most famous card game in the world.
We have included some good advice here. This strategy guide
is based on proven methods, we don't claim to have new strategies
as we feel the best strategies are the ones that have stood
the test of time. Read on and try a few hands of poker online.
We have included some basic poker strategy for you:
When it comes to Poker strategy, there are a few things to get
straight right off the top. You could call these the Golden
Rules of Poker 'cause they apply to pretty much any Poker game
you're likely to play:
1. Don't play cash poor: as a general rule you should start
with 40-50 times the table limit.
2. If you've got nothing in your hand, get out.
4. If you've got a cinch hand, make them pay to see it.
5. If they've got you beat, fold.
6. The goal is to beat the other players, not have the highest
hand. If everyone else folds, you take the pot.
7. Don't try to beat a better player: if you're lucky, you'll
win small; if you're not, you'll lose big.
8. There's an even chance that you won't better your opening
hand.
9. When it comes to Draw Poker Strategy we begin by considering
the rank of the winning hands. In the Rules of Draw Poker, we
introduced the 5-card hands and their ranking. Here's some idea
of the odds on receiving those hands on the opening deal:
Chances of being dealt the following hands in the original 5
cards:
| HAND |
ODDS |
| Royal Flush |
650, 000 |
| Straight Flush |
72, 200 |
| Four of a Kind |
4, 200 |
| Full House |
700 |
| Flush |
510 |
| Straight |
250 |
| Three of a Kind |
48 |
| Two Pair |
21 |
| One Pair |
2.4 |
| No Pair |
2 |
Based on these chances of receiving an opening hand, there
are a few things you can immediately conclude:
the more players at the table, the greater the chance that
one or more players has a Pair, for example. In other words...
the more players at the table, the lower the relative value
of the lesser ranked hands.
if you haven't got a Pair or better, or four cards to a Flush
or Straight, Fold immediately.
Perhaps this last bit of advice needs some elaboration. What
it comes down to is this: if you hold nothing in the opener
your chances of improving and beating the other players are
too slim. Of course this means that you'll fold most of your
opening hands. Welcome to Draw Poker.
So let's assume you've got a little something to build on.
Every beginning player wants to know whether they should hold
a kicker and a Pair, or just the Pair. Same with Trips. As
you'll see in the following, the odds almost always favor
tossing the kicker:
Chances of making:
| HAND |
any
improvement |
2
pair |
3
of a kind |
Full
House |
4
of a kind |
| Drawing three cards to a Pair |
1 in 2.5 |
1 in 5 |
1 in 8 |
1 in 97 |
1 in 360 |
| Drawing two to a Pair with kicker |
1 in 3 |
1 in 5 |
1 in 12 |
1 in 120 |
1 in 1100 |
| Drawing two to Three of a Kind |
1 in 8.5 |
-- |
-- |
1 in 15.5 |
1 in 22.5 |
| Drawing one to Three of a Kind with kicker
|
1 in 11 |
-- |
-- |
1 in 15 |
1 in 46 |
Needless to say, the better your opener, the better your
chances of improving it. But forget about trying to build
something out of a three card Flush or Straight: your odds
are 1 in 23 and 1 in 150 respectively. It's highly unlikely
that the pot would ever justify that kind of risk.
On the upside, observe the following chances if you hold four
cards to build on:
Chances of completion:
| when
drawing one card to |
ODDS |
| Four
cards of a Flush |
1
in 4.5 |
| Straight
open at both ends |
1
in 5 |
| Straight
open at one end |
1
in 11 |
| Straight
open on the inside |
1
in 11 |
| Straight
Flush open at both ends |
1
in 23 |
| Straight
Flush open at one end |
1
in 46 |
| Straight
Flush open on the inside |
1
in 46 |
In the end, it's these odds that must advise you on your
Poker betting decisions. If you've got a four-card Flush and
it'll cost you $20 to stay in, the question is "yes or
no"?
First question: what are your chances of completion on the
draw? 1 in 4.5 So if you're going to stay in, that pot better
pay you $90 or better (4.5 x $20), after you deduct your ante
and bets thus far. Anything else is blind faith in beating
the odds and the sidelines are full of players who tried that
as their betting policy. Look where it got them.
Of course, Poker wouldn't be Poker if that was all there was
to it. Bluffing, intimidation, body language and all the rest
of it come into the game if you're playing your opponents
across a table instead of across cyberspace. If that's your
game I suggest you do some serious reading.
There are many, many books on the Poker subject and your first
tough choice will be picking one. But remember, Poker has
been around a long time. Anyone that tries to sell you a "hot
new strategy" is beating you at the book counter, not
the Poker table. Go with the pros.
Where to play Poker:
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