Tue, 02/01/2011 – 00:55 – PokerPages Staff

As the beginner poker player pushes past the basic poker rules and the basics of poker betting, generally they will find trouble.  It is through continued experience and education that the beginner will find solutions for what troubles their game.  As such, here is some some advice with a unique spin for playing in Multi-Table Tournaments.

The advice is sound.  To push your game to the next level, you must have patience.  Being patient, waiting for the right time to make a move and making the right move, is the hallmark of the best professional poker players.  This involves the strategies we’ve previously learned:  poker mathematics and consistent play.

The spin.  Practice and apply patience based on chip stack, blinds and antes:  Pacing.  According to the advice, pacing can be accomplished through a calculation of the proportion of the blinds and antes to your chip stack.  Specifically, the percentage of the total of the blinds and antes on your total chip stack can guide your play.

In short, if the percentage is less than 10%, you should only be playing the best hands, such as a high pocket pair or AK.  When the percentage reaches 15%, you should be looking for additional opportunities to play.  At 20%, you should be playing even more hands to build up your chips.

This is all good stuff, but remember, nothing is a sure thing nor is it a replacement for solid, consistent play.

To learn more, check out PokerSchoolOnline, the best source on the internet for poker related learning.  One excellent way to put what you have learned to the test is by playing for free at PokerStars.net.  Also, check out the PokerPages sections Poker Information and Poker Articles for more poker tips and strategies.

Fri, 02/04/2011 – 01:22 – PokerPages Staff

In 7-Card Stud Hi/Lo the high hand winner must split the pot with the player with the best qualifying low hand.  Here are some tips for the beginner poker player:

1)  The major key to winning is the first four cards.  If your hand develops, you are strongly favored to win.  If not, you can get out early.

2)  Scooping.  The objective for each hand you play should be to win high and the low pot.  The best starting hands contain low cards which are either suited or contain straight possibilities, since these cards can lend to winning both pots.

3)  As a rule, bet your playable hand.  Do not check a playable hand unless your intent is to get out of the hand should someone make a bet.

4)  Know your opponents’ playing style.  Are they typically a loose cannon?  Do they bluff a lot?  Do they have any tells that give insight into their hand?

5)  Know the pot odds and your outs.  A strong hand is directly affected by the all of the cards that you have seen.

6)  Bet your strong drawing hand.  Slow play is the incorrect strategy for strong drawing hands.

7)  Do not continue drawing to a weak hand.  By Fourth Street, you should a strong drawing hand, as betting increases after fourth street and drawing for a weak hand after fourth street is potentially damaging to your chip stack

To learn more, check out PokerSchoolOnline, the best source on the internet for poker related learning.  Then put those skills to work by playing for free at PokerStars.net.  Also, check out the PokerPages sections Poker Information and Poker Articles for more poker betting tips and strategies.