How I Play
It is very difficult to describe the specific way I play, as there are no hard and fast rules to use in a given circumstance. I have found that is critically important to stay nimble while at the poker table. Pay attention to the pace of the game, the other players and your perceived perception of what the other players think of you.
That being said, there are some softer rules I follow that have helped me in the past. As I am always learning the game of poker, there are bound to be a lot more insights to pickup during the games to come.
I have found that there are 2 distinct disciplines when it comes to playing Texas Holdem Poker Online. The first discipline I like to call the cash game Soldier. The second discipline is the tournament General.
Being The Soldier…
Cash games require a rigid discipline. Emotions must be controlled, especially when your stuck in the trenches with a string of junk hole cards that you think will never end. Or your thinking of the kamikaze all in which, if called, you end up in a gunfight without any bullets.
A lot of money can be had at the cash table if you stick to your orders and don’t become a one man army like Rambo. Although this type of play may seem exhilarating, it only lasts in the movies. In the world of online poker, you will end up kissing your bankroll goodbye.
Here are my marching orders:
- Play only no-limit cash games. (This is what seems to work me.)
- Bring the maximum allowable cash to the table. (Why go into the battle with less ammo than the other guys.)
- Do not top up your stack at the table back to the maximum if you happen to slip below your buy in amount. (First off, by doing this, it is easy to lose track of how much investment you are putting towards a single game. Secondly, maybe there is a reason why you keep losing. By keeping your losses visible in front of you, it is easier to see the surrender order and stop the blood loss.)
- Play according to position (Stay in formation until a clear signal is given.)
- Look for tables to join where the greatest number of players do not exceed the max buy in and if they do, it is not by much. (It’s a lot easier to win when you join a fair fight.)
Being The General…
Tournaments are definitely a different animal from cash games. There are all sorts to choose from and this is where the planning of the General is critical to success. Each tournament, whether it be a heads-up match, a single table sit-n-go, a multi-table rebuy or a multitude of other formats, requires a well thought out plan of attack.
Even with the greatest plans laid out, things generally appear to get out of control at some time during the tournament. During this period, trust your instincts, as deep down they should refer back to the initial plan.
What is in my secret plans?
Basic Rules:
- Do not be eager to push all in early on unless you are the heavy favorite (which is rarely the case pre-flop). The value of the possible chips to be won is miniscule compared to the overall chips that need to be won in the tournament as a whole. Why risk your tournament life for this?
- Try to maintain pace with the pack at a minimum. Watch the value for the average player stack and let that be your yardstick to measure how the tournament is going.