Free Poker Guide - How to Read Set Hands

 Regardless of if you just play free poker online or play for the highest stakes imaginable a Set is one of the most unreadable hands in Texas Hold'em.

A Set is made up of a pocket pair plus one of the Community cards that has the same rank as your pocket pair.

For example, if you have 4-4 and the Community cards are 5-4-10-J-K, you have a Set of Fours.

Sets are unreadable because most players are accustomed to reading (a) two different hole cards, (b) high cards or overpairs, (c) draws that complete the Board, or (d) cards anyway related to the Board cards.

Our hand reading habits generally a mix of limiting possible hands to the given characteristics of the board/community. How would you put someone on 5-5 or 4-4 when it is much easier to put him on A-K (for top pair, best kicker), A-Q (for a made Straight), or K-10 or 5-4 (for Two-Pair), or even A-A (a high pair)?

Sometimes you may even put him on one Five, say, 6-5. But on two Fives or two Fours? This is why Sets are very potent in Boards which have no Straight or Flush potential.

However, suppose in a Flop of Q-7-2 with no Straight or Flush possibilities, you have 2-2. You check (hoping to trap him), the other player bets. You raise all in then he immediately calls and reveals Q-Q. You thought your opponent had A-Q or K-Q. How is this possible? It's possible. Even in this spot you are more susceptible.

Because there are no Straight or Flush potentials your opponent will fold cards that didn't fit into the Board cards. If you read hands according to the criteria above, you might put your opponent on A-Q, K-Q, or even Q-7 (can you go as far as 7-2?!).

Here because you are the one who moved all-in, the outcome of the hand is not fully on your control; it's up to whether your opponent calls or not.

But suppose the situation is reversed. The player with the Q-Q checks, you bet, then the response is a raise all-in. How would you act?

When you find yourself slammed in a situation like this (which usually occurs on the Flop) on a cash game, take it as it is. Pay him off. Some other time you will have the Q-Q, some other player will have the 2-2, and you will be paid off.

But in a tournament, you have many givens to consider (and you might want to consider these even in an ordinary cash game). Compare your stack sizes relative to each other. If the difference is great, expect one of you to put his chips in the middle.

A Set may be the best hand both of you can have to get a double-up. If you possess the smaller Set get eliminated, attribute it to bad luck. However, assuming both of you have stacks above chip average, and you are put to a choice costing you all or virtually all your chips. You have 2-2. You're not likely to be blinded out in a few hands.

You may want to reason out:

I have a Set.

 He raised me enough to put me all-in, or almost.

 He may do it with Q-7.

 And whether your opponent had Q-7 or not will depend on what happened preflop.

 If no raise occurred it may be with Q-7, and you can safely call.

 Whether your opponent had 7-7 or not can also come under similar scrutiny

 Or if there is a raise, it may be with A-Q.

Now, top pair, top kicker is a weak hand to risk an above-average stack.

And there's no Straight and Flush incoming, so the all-in could be made only with an especially strong hand. It might also be with A-A or with K-K (most probably it is) but it might also be just with Q-Q.

If I put him on those three hands, there is a 2/3 chance I'm right, but a 1/3 chance of wrong, and when I'm wrong I will be busted. So I'll fold.

If you possess the middle Set (Set of Sevens), the same analysis may also apply.

But you will be much safer because there is only one Set to kill you instead of the two possible Sets a while ago. If you possess the Set of Queens, enjoy!

The above analysis is agonizing and painstaking, especially when it all amounts to giving up one of the most valued hands in Hold'Em.

Reading Sets In summary

It takes some time to learn how to read hands, it's not something the unthinking donk "chip flingers" seen on many free poker tables even consider.

Most players it seems can't or won't put the time in, they claim to play just for fun which misses out on the key fact that winning lots of money is a lot more fun!

I think it's crazy that so many people play with so little skill and almost revel in the fact! But this is also very good news for you as one of the few who is learning to play well.

That's because once you learn to play poker with above average skill and are able to combat the "all-in-all the time" donk maniacs then you can take them apart in coldly calculated massacres anytime you like.

Read More

Learning to Play Poker - Tips When Bluffing

Learning to Play Poker - Tips When Bluffing
If you are learning to play poker then, at some stage, you will need to add the art of bluffing into your game. Bluffing, put simply, is the act of representing that you are holding a stronger hand than you actually are. It is a technique which is performed better - and therefore more often used - by some players than others. Follow these tips and get ahead.


Use the 'semi-bluff' first when learning to play poker. A semi-bluff involves falsely representing that you have an excellent hand, in cases when you have quite a good hand. Take the case where 3 hearts, including the 10, have appeared on the flop and you are holding another 10. If you make a large raise, you are representing to the other players that you hold 2 hearts and have a flush. In actual fact, you have a pair of 10s, which is a much weaker hand but not an outrageous bluff. You will be able to draw some confidence from the fact that you have a hand which could win and this might be sensed and misread by other players as the flush. Also, if you are called, it is not entirely clear whether you have made a bluff and your competitors might be left confused by the type of player you are.

 If you have been recently caught bluffing, take care with future plays. Remember that other players will have now formed an opinion of the type of player you are, which might make them more likely to call you on a future bluff. Note, however, that you might also be able to turn this into a positive by fleecing them for more money when you have a very strong hand.

 When learning to play poker you will encounter many different styles of play. On a new table you will find it helpful to assess your competitors before deciding whether to bluff. You are more likely to get away with a bluff on a table where most of the players are tight and more easily frightened off by a raise. However, good tight players will obviously play strong hands so try to assess the confidence of the table before deciding to bluff.

 Practice bluffing skills at a poker room where the initial stakes are very low, or where you can play tournaments for free.

 Consider whether you might have a 'tell' and if so, whether you are able to conceal it. Another part of learning to play poker is to understand the strengths and weaknesses of your own game. Some players are wonderfully intuitive about reading other players. If you think you are giving something away in your body language the following two tips might help

 Consider wearing sunglasses to the table if you are allowed. If not, on big hands stare directly down on the table (regardless of whether you are bluffing or not).

 Play online poker rooms to largely discount the effect of the 'tell'.

Bluffs can be made more effectively if you are nearer the end of the betting round, when you have assessed other players' confidence. Remember this when learning to play poker.

Read More

Free Poker Games Guide Asks Do You Need All That Math Stuff To Win Poker?

Free Poker Games Guide Asks Do You Need All That Math Stuff To Win Poker?
Is poker, be it free online poker or big stakes cash a math game, or a game based primarily on psychology?
Players are still debating on how to classify poker, although they will unanimously agree that poker contains both mathematical and psychological elements.
Some people advise knowing the pot odds in order to determine whether a call is proper or not. Some will instruct you to take the tells of other players. Some advise knowing the odds preflop. Some will tell you to bluff a tight player and trap a loose player.
I have tried to reconcile the mathematical and the psychological element in poker when playing. In some ways, they are intertwined. Knowing the pot odds is a mathematical way of playing. But if your opponent keeps betting weakly every Flop when you have a draw, then you can exploit this to your advantage. Call.
If you know that your opponent doesn't give mathematical attention to pot odds, then it is a part of his psychological character. Determine his character. Usually a mathematically-inclined player will get chips because all other players are making mathematically ill-advised moves. And the analysis behind this is a psychological analysis - the way how others play.
Usually, a math player is believed to play the cards; a psychological player plays the other players.
These distinctions are not so hard-fast, and many players can effectively do both. A math player in a board of 10-7-3-4-8 will bet or call a bet with A-7, if only he psychologically knows that (1) the board cards are small so that it would not help the other players, and (2) the opponent should raise if he has a hand better than top Pair. Both analyses are mathematical [note the 'small' in (1) and the 'better' in (2)] and psychological ['other players' in (1) and 'opponent should raise' in (2)].
Math and psychology, it turns out, go together. But there are situations where one of the two will prevail. When you are on a draw, you use pot odds to call. When you are short-stacked, you move all-in with a small Pair. When the table is so tight, you bluff without remembering at your hand. On a loose table, you wait for a trap.
In exceptional situations, they go together. Against a good player, you mix-up your play. This means playing in a way so random (math) that the other players get bothered over their inability to get a read from you (psychology). And when someone moves all-in against you when you have a marginal hand, you determine your stack size relative to him and use some pot odds (math) and figure out the chances he may be bluffing or trying to steal with a more marginal hand, and this requires a track history (psychology).

Read More

How to Shake the Winter Blues by Learning to Play Video Poker for Fun and Profit

How to Shake the Winter Blues by Learning to Play Video Poker for Fun and Profit
The snowy days of winter, what does it mean for you? To most folks winter means a time of slippery sidewalks, nasty roads, flu season, and something that can be much worse for others, the Winter Blues. The winter blues does not generally happen to someone who is busy all day with things to do in the winter, because they keep active and energetic, as night time approaches, they relax and go to sleep. Now, since you have enough extra time on your hands in the winter, that it causes you to get the winter blues, lets discover a great little hobby that can help fight against it, and maybe even win you some good money in time, and that hobby is poker.
Poker is the one thing that a lot of casinos do not like, because it is the one game where the house or the casino does not have an advantage at, in fact poker is the one game that is based upon the skill of the player when it comes to their odds of winning.
When I was a young person and I was living with my Mother and her boyfriend at the time, due to my parents divorce, I used to sit and watch them along with a couple friends who would come by, play poker on the kitchen table on Friday nights. They would always play and bet against each other, wagering change and sometimes miniature bottles of alcohol they purchased from the State Liquor Store. Sometimes the pile of change or 'pot' as it was often called, would grow pretty big during some hands of the cards played.
There are many different variations or games of poker, some of these are; Five card draw, Seven card stud, Texas Holdem, and others. Back a few years ago, I hardly ever heard of Texas holdem, it was always five card draw or seven card stud that was being played, now days the top favorite seems to be Texas Holdem.
Poker has become so popular that it is on television more and more, and every year there are more and more championships, the biggest poker tournament in the world is the World Series of Poker, which is held once a year in Las Vegas, the entrance fee to play is currently $10,000. There are a lot of books on ways to increase your odds and skills at playing poker, and there are even free online tutorials and actual video poker games you can play online for free, to help hone your skills.
Once you become good at beating the online video poker machines, you may have found that you now have a skill that can help you win some money the next time you go to a casino. If you visit casinos once in awhile or on a regular basis, you probably like playing slot machines, and maybe you have even won a few times on these machines. The facts are that slot machines are random and the house, or casino is the one that usually wins the most. If you have polished your skills by learning to play video poker online, the next time you visit a casino, you may wish to skip the slots and head towards a video poker machine, where you skills may just pay off good for you.
During the cold months of winter, when you have nothing to do, why not try improving your skills at playing video poker, it's not just a hobby that can pay off good in time, it's a great hobby to help shake the winter blues.
You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter or on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.

Read More

How To Be Successful at Land or Online Casinos

How To Be Successful at Land or Online Casinos
In order to be successful, you must first decide and understand clearly, exactly what this means to you. If banking huge winnings is your measure of ultimate success then it's very probable that you will be disappointed; you may even find yourself in a dangerous situation. You need to realise right from the start that in all casino games the house has the edge, which means ultimately they are always going to come away the winner. Obviously, you are going to win sometimes, but having a set target for your winnings at each session will result in you heading for problems.
Perhaps a better way to look at success is to consider how much you have enjoyed your sessions in the casino. If you do this then you could compare the amount you bet to what you would spend on a night at the pub or a good dinner with friends. If you get the same enjoyment from each of these activities, then it is money well spent. As a player, you need to decide on a budget for each session and enjoy using it as much as possible.
Being Successful in Online Casinos
Here is some advice for those players who would like to experience success at an online casino.


Take care and do some research before you choose which casino you will play in because no one wants to get cheated. Make sure your casino has a good reputation and has a licence from a jurisdiction that is well reputed. Also check that there are player protection controls; a good casino will have these in place.

It's important that you don't set a target of how much you want to win; this could quickly lead to problems. It's much better to set a limit or target of how much you want to play with and this amount should be based on what you can afford for leisure activities from your income. Try not to exceed this set amount as it may cause you to worry and subsequently not enjoy your time playing at the casino.

Set a fixed amount of time for playing each day or each week; now stick to it and don't let it encroach on other activities with friends or family. If you let it begin to take over your life, you can be sure that you will not enjoy your time in the casino.

Take time to decide which are your favourite games and wager your money on those. Remember that games such as Blackjack give you a better chance of winning, but this will be of no advantage if you don't like the game. Games such as slots offer less potential for winning, but if you enjoy playing them, then do so.


Success in Land Based Casinos


There are certain rules that have to be followed when playing in a land based casino. These include a dress code, special wagering rules, giving staff a tip and addressing them correctly. You need to know all of these before you play in a land based casino and once you know them - follow them.

If you make mistakes when you play online, only you will know about it, but this can be different in land based casinos. Other players and staff can be very irritated by and contemptuous of your mistakes, especially if it spoils their play. For this reason it is vital that you learn the rules and develop some skill before you join the play.

These days there are not so many land based casinos which means that players may have to travel a good distance from home in order to play. Make sure that the amount that you have to spend on travel and accommodation is part of your budget.


Success is achieved by your control of the situation and this means that you can leave the game when you have used your allocated funds. If you come away a loser then be thankful for the pleasure that you have experienced. However, if you end the session as a winner, save some money for the next play session and enjoy the rest.

Read More

Legalizing Betting? One Secret Revealed!

Legalizing Betting? One Secret Revealed!
There are currently 13 states which have legalized gambling and they have got over 450 casinos between those states, and they bring in 72 billion dollars a year.
From this revenue states get more money for road repair, schools and many other things a state needs money to repair and maintain.
In the last 10 years there have also been a large number of Indian casinos being granted licenses in states that would not have legalized gambling, which suggests the only place t gamble in those states is in the Indian Casino, and they do not pay taxes on that money.
Many states are waking up and realizing that there's a very valuable industry out there that they are not getting any revenue from, and not just does it bring money into the state it also produces tons of jobs for every casino that opens. So for any state with increased unemployment rate this means more individuals are working and less of the states money needs to be spent on these folks, again a win for that state and then the people.
It also means more assets for the state to provide for kids a hot meal at lunch and the cash to place new books in the lecture rooms and perhaps to build more schools. This money is also used in some states to hire more police officers.
Endorsed gambling besides bringing in an abundance of funds to the federal government in taxes also brings money into the community gamblers will use services including hotels, restaurants and other local attractions while they are in the area. This could bring a major boost to a tiny starving economy separate from that of the casino.
Another reason why many nations are pushing to make gambling legal is to try and wipe out the illegal gambling business. Most individuals feel that if gambling is legalized there isn't any reason for people to visit sleazy and dangerous back room casinos.
These type of places are becoming harder and harder for the police to find and from the moment they do find them, they will either close up and change locations or another will just take their place. Another appalling thing about illegitimate casinos s that there is nobody monitoring to verify the casino is just not cheating their players.
In many cases police have raided illegal casinos and found that all the table and card games are rigged for that casino to win, and if that is ever discovered the casinos operators have prior to now committed murder to hold their secrets, and most people fear for their lives and refuse to cooperate with the police.
Legalized gambling is monitored to ensure both the player and the house are playing an law-abiding game.
You should not let all this cause you to imagine that gambling has no draw back. Tons of this money has to go to treatment for people, who develop gambling addictions, and most cities which has a casino do usually see a rise in crime in those areas, so more cops are not just a luxury but necessity.

Read More

Combating the Ever Growing Amount of Shortstackers

Combating the Ever Growing Amount of Shortstackers
Short stacks always cause an issue for any player in any type of poker game.A� Whether it is cash games or tournaments they always take a lot of skill out of the game.A� You will find yourself being forced to run hand after hand all in to combat these players.A� Even if you are an 80% favorite you still can get crippled that 20% of the time you lose.A� Most times however these players cannot be avoided and one must start classify these annoying opponents to better combat against their play styles.
Short stack Nits
These short stacks are players that only play monster hands.A� They play premium holdings and do not always start as a short stack.A� Many players with this style will actually become short stacked because the hands they consider playable are just not dealt often enough to allow them to build a proper stack with blinds and antes.A� Against these players just avoid them whenever possible.A� However always remember all players have a point at which they will become desperate or impatient allowing them to occasionally play a much wider range of hands.
The best way to notice these types of players is to just keep tabs on the players at the table.A� Try to remember how often you have seen an opponent in a hand.A� Keep in mind what kind of play style they use whether they are passive or aggressive.A� Most importantly always try to remember hands that were shown down at the table and then go back and break down how the hand was played out.A� This will allow you to know how opponents perceive hand strengths and how they bet accordingly.
Fearless gambling short stacks
These opponents are the players that just don't care at this point.A� They are willing to shove with anything and everything.A� Many of these players will fake looking at their cards and shove regardless.A� This isn't to say that sometimes it really doesn't matter your cards because you need chips.A� You just need to be able to identify these players quickly to be able to call and fold correctly.
There is no clear cut way to spot these players.A� As you play you will just develop ways to spot them more easily.A� They might be the type of players that limp a lot trying to just hit something or they might be a player that is raising every chance they get and looking for anyway to apply pressure.A� The easiest way overall to spot a player is to notice if anyone at the table just lost a big pot.A� These players are likely to tilt and become fearless even if for the rest of the day they are complete nits.
Players in general with this style can be very hard to play against.A� Many players will state "I do better against competent players than morons."A� Overall this statement will not be truthful in the long run, but when dealing with short stacks in the short term it can be very accurate.A� When calling a nit your holding a monster and will almost always be a substantial favorite where when calling a fearless player your hand is likely to be a 55-70% favorite with the player usually having live cards.
What to do?
There is no simple answer to this question.A� Just continue to work on your ability to identify players and develop ranges to play against them.A� You will always make mistakes in poker you just need to make less than your opponent.A� What ever you do, never let a short stacker change your play style and get you out of your comfort zone.A� Always keep in mind you learn by being out of your comfort zone, but if you are not adapting with what you learn you will always be uncomfortable.

Read More