Tue, 02/08/2011 – 00:22 – PokerPages Staff

So you woke up with pocket aces, what is the best move?  The beginner poker player is faced with numerous decisions when playing poker.  Along with learning the best strategy for poker bets, knowing how to make these decisions are not described in any basic poker rules.  Many decisions are required to come to the best poker betting strategy.  So, alright, what do you do with pocket aces?

There are numerous opinions on how to play pocket aces, but for the beginner player, the general consensus is to NOT slow play aces.  By slow playing aces, you allow opponents get to the flop cheaply.  Thus opponents with weak hands could draw out and beat you and probably for a large chunk of change.

Pocket aces are a favorite to win the pot when there are fewer opponents.  By slow playing aces, you allow more opponents in the pot.  With four or more opponents in the pot, pocket aces are no longer a favorite to win.  Raise the pot with careful bets to isolate opponents and preserve your edge.

When you slow play aces, you do not build up the pot.  Put in a betting raise with your pocket aces so that the pot you win is big.

Many beginners slow play pocket aces because they fear a raise will eliminate opposition and their big hand may only take down the blinds.  The beginner must remember that stealing the blinds with pocket aces is better than losing a big pot to an opponent who draws out a better hand.

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 tips and strategies.

Sat, 01/22/2011 – 03:14 – PokerPages Staff

Listen up beginner poker player here is one of the golden secrets of poker success.  Push your game beyond the basic poker rules and poker betting and play like the pros by learning to…Wait For it…FOLD.

It is super easy to play the best hands in poker.  Not much separates the best players and the worst players gain when playing the best hands.  True.

What DOES separate the best players from any random player is losing.  The best players understand that the goal of poker is to maximize profit.  In order to maximize profit, it is inherent that you minimize loss.

Quite simply, in order to minimize loss, you must learn to fold.  Many players who start with a premium hand cannot throw it away even when they know they are beat.  This is a losing strategy. 

Premium hands like pocket queens or pocket jacks are examples.  Often, the board will come with over cards and rarely will you hit trips.  You use your best betting techniques, but soon realize you are up against a better hand.  Cut your losses, FOLD.

Learning to fold when you are behind is a winning strategy.  Folding premium hands is never easy, but when you are beat you must toss them.

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 tips and strategies.