Online Poker Strategy - Hold em Tips and Strategies from Part Time Poker

Part Time Poker strategy articles offer a range of resources for limit and no limit holdem cash games, tournament play along with general issues like bankroll management, poker psychology, and more. These articles are generally written by people who play low and medium limits live and online - probably in a lot of the same games you play. You can learn more about our authors here.

We currently have 176 strategy articles, and we add new material every week. If there's an article you'd like to see us write, or if you'd like to write articles for us, contact us.

The articles below are broken up by general category and are listed newest first. You can find articles about:

No Limit cash games | Limit Hold'em cash games | Hold'em tournaments | Fundamental poker strategy

No Limit Articles

Beating the bully in no limit 6 max games

On the poker forums and in every magazine that I have ever read, there are always questions from players asking how to deal with aggressive players in poker. The term “loose aggressive” has injected fear into the heart of many a poker player. You are …full article

Playing from late position in 6 MAX NLHE games

We all know and appreciate just how important position is in poker but let us take a look at a few of those reasons for why position is so critical in a game like NLHE. Of course there are different types of position in poker …full article

Strategy for handling three bettors in 6 max cash games

In no-limit hold ‘em 6-max cash games, there’s one thing most of my students bring up when I ask them to tell me an area they have trouble with: dealing with 3-bets, specifically, when getting 3-bet by their opponents.
It’s a spot that comes up often …full article

Playing limped pots in 6 max no limit cash games

The following is an excerpt from Bill Vosti’s excellent ebook covering winning 6 max cash play online that Vosti was nice enough to provide to PTP readers. If you’re new to 6 max play or looking polish up your game, Vosti’s book is a …full article

Winning at heads-up, no limit poker: Advanced Strategies

As I articulated in part one of this three part article (Winning at heads-up, no limit poker: Basic strategies), aggression is key to winning at heads up, no limit poker. When you’re more aggressive than your opponent, you’re in the driver’s seat. As I stated, …full article

Winning at heads-up, no-limit poker: Basic strategies Part 1 of 3

Competition is a complex enterprise. And those complexities are magnified significantly when we are playing on a team, competing together to beat an opponent. Baseball, football, hockey and other games require us to formulate strategies with our teammates in order to win. We win as …full article

When should you continuation bet? Answers for no limit hold em cash games

The dominant approach to low and mid-stakes no limit holdem cash games, especially shorthanded games, emphasizes a high level of activity preflop. While you’ll find plenty of articles and videos that deal with aggressive preflop play, you’re likely to find slightly less material that …full article

Reasons to raise preflop in shorthanded no limit holdem

Recently, I was talking to a friend of mine who is a casual poker player and we got on the topic of the hyper-aggressive preflop style that’s promoted by the Cardrunners set. When I started describing the preflop raising frequency some of the pros …full article

The weak lead in no limit holdem cash games

In this article I want to dissect the often derided line of leading for a weak bet into a preflop raiser. Commonly referred to as ‘donking out’, the weak lead isn’t an inherently bad line. Like any tool, you just have to be …full article

Playing against a light three bettor: a sample scenario

As no limit cash games get more and more aggressive, many players are finding that they’re forced to develop ultra-aggressive counter-strategies that would have been pretty controversial even a few months ago. The old adage, popularized by (I believe) T.J. Cloutier,that a fourth raise …full article

Bluffing with beggar bets in no limit holdem cash – a primer

A ‘beggar’ bet is generally a pretty small bet, relative to the size of the pot, that takes its name from the fact that the person making the bet usually appears to be begging for a call. There’s no accepted standard on when a …full article

The trouble with trouble hands

The game was $500 Max NL Nevada-style, that is with 3 and 5 blinds. I was staying overnight at the Oasis in Mesquite on my annual forage to go flyfishing in Montana (if you ever stop here do order the classic combo pizza in the …full article

Analyzing flop structure in no limit hold’em

No-limit Texas hold’em differs from draw and stud games in the presence of a board of community cards. The three-card flop and one-card turn and river combine with the two cards in your hand to make your best poker holding. Once the flop comes, …full article

The float in no limit holdem, Part 3: Balancing opponent’s reactions and some afterthoughts

The final part of this article spawned from a discussion about Sammy Farha calling an all in with a flush draw without outs on ‘High Stakes Poker’. His results aside, after this call, his opponents became easier to play.
The first two parts of this article …full article

Control on the mound

A pitcher who can throw 103 mph is something to marvel. Big windups, big pitches, fastball screaming past batters. The type’s going to get a lot of strike outs and hype. Some poker players try to be a Nolan Ryan – blowing big bets past …full article

Dissecting a calling station

Why do calling stations, players that call way too much with second best hands, lose money in the long run? Part of the reason is their reluctance to protect their hands, but the biggest reason, the ‘smoking gun’ so to speak is their predictability. …full article

Floating in no limit part 2 - The ’semi-float’

While answering a post on the Parttimepoker forums about floating I described calling a bet that I wouldn’t normally call because it allowed me to use my position to steal later in the hand. My fellow posters didn’t consider it floating because I had a …full article

Basics of floating in NLHE cash games

Floating is calling a bet on the flop without odds to make a perceived winning hand. This article will discuss the float, but before we get started, I feel a few words on fold equity are necessary:
The most dangerous term in poker for a new …full article

Prescribing a cure for Donk-Image

Thank you for choosing John Darr as your doctor today. Take a seat on that brown-cushioned table with a paper sheet, take off your sunglasses and hat, have a lollipop. It’s Red Bull flavored. Now tell me, what ails you.
Oh, I see. It …full article

There’s three ways to play Jacks preflop - and all of them are wrong

Aside from “don’t fold the nuts on the river,” very rarely is anything in poker a slam dunk piece of advice. But I think I’ve come the closest thing to it. Now, I can’t take credit for coming up with this and perhaps you’ve heard …full article

Understanding the straddle in texas hold’em poker - facts, thoughts and strategies.

The definition of straddling entirely depends on where you use the word. If you’re in a rodeo, the definition of straddling a horse is somewhat blah, but with all that bucking you’re going to be in for one hell of a ride. If you’re in …full article

Fundamental strategy for 6-max mirco-stakes no limit cash games

This article is intended to give a beginning/intermediate player a general idea on how to play a solid pre-flop game at micro NL 6-max. Hopefully someone can build on a few of these ideas and become a winning player.
Position is Everything
…full article

Strategy in no limit cash games when someone straddles under the gun.

For the sake of the article blinds are 1unit-2units with a 4unit optional straddle UTG. When someone else at the table takes the option to straddle UTG how should this affect your play? Well, while his straddle from this position is typically a mistake, it …full article

5 common sense tips to improve your live no limit cash game

Sometimes the best thing you can do for your game is to make minor changes. Here are a few quick suggestions for quick tweaks you might consider making to your live no limit cash game. If you’ve given up on live play, check out Full …full article

Representing the ace against the habitual continuation bettor

This article is going to help explain a concept that you wont find in any No Limit Hold’em book that’s been printed to my knowledge. However, it’s an advanced play that if you use it occasionally will increase your hourly earnings. It’s a play that …full article

Value Betting in No Limit Texas Holdem

No limit Texas Holdem has been called the Cadillac of poker games. Indeed, of all forms of poker, no limit Texas holdem is one that provides some of the most creative opportunities for winning play. As with all poker games, the major Texas Holdem strategy …full article

Podcast: A Guide to Raising Preflop in No Limit Cash Games

This Podcast from Part Time Poker focuses on answering the question: When should I raise preflop in No Limit ring games? If you’re having problems preflop in NL, give this podcast a listen and see if it doesn’t help you’re thinking about preflop raising in …full article

When the River is a Formality

Sitting on the rail, some no limit games appear to be gold mines. Six or more people see every flop. A lot of preflop raises that build massive pots. Handfuls of cold callers, over callers and over bets. Ridiculous stacks, marginal hands and so many …full article

Proper Use of Aggression in Short-handed No Limit Hold’em Games

Most poker players are aware that aggression is a vital part of winning strategy in short-handed situations. But most players still don’t know exactly how to apply that knowledge. At a short-handed No Limit Hold’em cash game you are either a shark or a fish, …full article

Calling with Queen High - Part A

“The Edge . . . there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over.” – Hunter S. Thompson
‘The Edge,’ a theoretical advantage a player has or doesn’t have when …full article

Quizzes to improve your shorthanded no limit game

Below you’ll find a series of quizzes from the shorthanded no limit section of DailyHandQuiz.com. For each quiz, you’re provided with a basic scenario and a few options for action. We’ve provided our takes on these hands at the bottom of the page, but …full article

Untouchable Donkeys.

I know you’ve all been in this situation before: You are playing in a NL cash game when an Established Donkey (ED) sits down at the table. You’ve seen the guy play losing session after losing session and cannot wait to get into …full article

Made hands on the turn in no limit cash games - betting strategies to force your opponent to commit their stack on the river.

I was playing in a 2/5 no limit texas holdem game over at Caesar’s the other night, and a fairly interesting hand came up. Not interesting in the sense that it makes for a good story to your non-poker playing friends, but more in the …full article

Figuring Out Your Implied Odds in No Limit Holdem

A lot of new players either don’t employ implied odds when making decisions at No Limit hold’em tables or they use a misunderstanding of implied odds to make loose calls that cost them money in the long run. This article will provide you with a …full article

A Good Semi-Bluff Gone Bad. (Or the other way around).

This article is about a pretty common situation that comes up in NL ring - when you make a move with a draw or some kind of semi-bluff and get played back at with an all in from your opponent. Dan Harrington describes a …full article

How Nearly Spending a Night in Jail Helped Me Win a Hand.

I promise this is a poker article and you’re going to learn a bit about reading people, double-secret magic math, crappy low limit hold’em players and a hand that on the surface looks like I played it wrong. But I promise, I played this thing, …full article

Structured Decision-Making Preflop in Shorthanded No Limit

Note: While the title suggests that this article is exclusively about shorthanded No Limit, the concepts addressed actually apply to all forms of the game, including full ring and even tournament play. Since shorthanded play is my primary game, the following content will sometimes …full article

When the right read(s)(s)(s) go wrong

Picture a 2-5NL game, no max buy, a semi-gate around the table, 8-10 people always watching, a few have MP3 players, including yours truly. The only players wearing sunglasses and hats are on the low limit games, seriously. Buy-ins at this table are spread between …full article

Handling The Turn With Marginal Hands in Shorthanded No Limit Hold ‘em

Most intermediate no limit players have a good sense of how to handle themselves in preflop and flop play, but play on the turn presents a unique challenge. In any contested pot against aggressive opponents, players are forced to evaluate more information, consider a wider …full article

An Example of a Position Play in No Limit Holdem

I was recently playing in a NL cash game with blinds of $1 and $2, with a max buy in of $100. Since everyone came in relatively short stacked (50x the big …full article

Filtering Advice in No Limit Holdem

At this point in the poker boom, most of your major chain bookstores have devoted at least a few shelves, if not an entire case, to the plethora of holdem strategy guides currently on the market. At the Barnes and Noble near me, for …full article

Three Gears: Varying your Game in No Limit Holdem

You hear a lot about gear switching in poker, but it’s a term that’s often tossed around unexplained. Basically, the concept is that you develop several ways of playing a given game, each way a complete entity unto itself, and that you switch between these …full article

Playing Short Stacks in Shorthanded NL Holdem

Playing against someone with a short stack can be tricky. You must be selective of when you are aggressive, because if your short-stacked opponent calls you on the flop, he is likely to go all the way in before the hand is over. If you …full article

Hand Analysis: I Have Trips, Therefore I Bet

Party Poker, No Limit Holdem $100 buyin / $1-$2 blinds
Names of players involved have been changed to protect the innocent and / or stupid
Commentary in bold
***** Hand History for Game 913644565 *****
0/0 TexasHTGameTable (NL) - Sat Sep 04 18:38:59 EDT 2004
Table Table 14733 (6 max) …full article

A great example of why I should follow my own advice about QQ

There’s an article on our site regarding trap hands in no limit holdem that I should be pretty familiar with, because I wrote it. You can read it here. The relevant line from the article:
“But in any decent game, committing your stack with an unimproved …full article

A few quick thoughts about heads up no limit [ring]

Playing HU ring NL is one of the more, in my humble opinion, exciting things you can do in poker - every hand has an importance and a pretty large implied value. It can also be one of the more frustrating games to play, …full article

Basic differences between full ring and shorthand No Limit Holdem

The development of ‘fixed-short’ tables online [usually 6 player maximum tables] has really increased the popularity of shorthanded play, especially in no limit. Some people prefer fewer opponents, some feel short play is more creative and interesting, some just like seeing more hands an hour; …full article

Made Hand Mistakes in No Limit Hold Em: Straights - Play on the River

[Note: This article is a continuation of an earlier article covering made straights on the flop and turn, which you can read by clicking here. Some of the core concepts mentioned in this article are covered in more detail in the earlier piece]
When you make …full article

Quick Tips for No Limit Bankroll Management - Game Selection

Know your limits. Improper bankroll management is all too common a problem. Many players have read recommendations of what levels to play in limit (usually in the range of 200X the big bet) but in no limit the big bet is the buy-in. Obviously 200X …full article

Playing NL Live vs Online- Additional Thoughts

Click here for part one of this article.
1) When games do have a capped buyin, it’s usually lower than you’d expect. For example, I was out in Vegas a few weeks ago and played no limit holdem at the Mirage. The game had 2 and …full article

Factors to Consider When Bluffing in No Limit Holdem

Bluffing is a important weapon in any no limit poker player’s arsenal - but just like any other play, it should only be deployed after a reasonable amount of calculation and consideration. A brief list of some of the factors that should impact your decision:
1) …full article

Things to Keep in Mind Facing Short Stacks in No Limit Holdem

Players on a short stack can be some of your most frustrating opponents in no limit, simply because the complex style of play you have developed is pretty much useless against people without a lot of money in front of them. No limit is largely …full article

Made Hand Mistakes in No Limit Hold Em: Straights

Related article: Made hand mistakes in NL - flushes
The most obvious leak for your average NL player is paying off the best hand with a trap second best. However this series of articles discusses a more subtle, yet equally damaging, leak that occurs when YOU …full article

Checkraising With a Draw in No Limit Holdem

It’s an oft repeated maxim that everyone eventually gets the same cards in holdem - it’s how you play those cards that determines the winners and losers. A similar maxim can be applied to drawing hands - over time, everyone is going to flop and …full article

When Can You Fold a Set In No Limit?

Sets are your money hands in no limit hold em, bottom line. However, while holding a set usually means you end up with a win, there are some rare times when you might want to think twice about going to showdown. While these scenarios don’t …full article

Bad Times to Bluff in No Limit Holdem

One of the beautiful aspects of no limit holdem is the relative ease [compared with limit hold em] with which you can pick up a pot while holding nada. I personally believe the importance of the bluff has been overstated by TV [after all, bluffs …full article

Trap Hands in No Limit Poker

This article is, generally speaking, for poker players who are making the switch from limit hold em to no limit, although newer NL players can benefit from it as well. The title is pretty accurate, so need for a long intro. Be careful playing these …full article

Made Hand Mistakes in No Limit Hold ‘Em- Flushes

The most obvious leak for your average no limit poker player is paying off the best hand with a trap second best. However this series of articles discusses a more subtle, yet equally damaging, leak that occurs when YOU have the best hand and don’t …full article

No Limit Hold ‘Em : “Limitations”

There’s a lot to be said for moving to a higher level game. Many players do it too early, many do it with too small of a bankroll. This article will discuss what I observe as the biggest mistakes in moving from $25nl to the …full article

Calling Gutshot Draws in No Limit Poker

Some poker players hold a special disdain for gutshot draws. When someone calls a gutshot draw against them and makes, out come the tantrums and sighs and disgusted looks. While players are generally right to be critical of those who consistently call gutshot draws in …full article

Betting Draws in No Limit Hold ‘Em

[Note - this article only deals with betting / raising draws on the flop. Playing through the hand with a draw is another issue altogether]
As your no limit hold ‘em game moves up in sophistication, you’ll get to the point where you bet and raise …full article

Common Preflop Mistakes With Pocket Pairs in No Limit Poker - Strategy

For more in-depth no limit poker strategy, check our No Limit Hold’em Tips Section here
One of the key differences between limit hold ‘em and no limit poker is that the intrinsic value of certain preflop hands change dramatically - especially pocket pairs. In NL, pp’s …full article

Tips for Transitioning From Online No Limit Play to Live Play

As a poker player who learned how to play online, shifting to live play [in a B&M casino] can be quite a transition. For limit, the transition is pretty straightforward - be prepared to be BORED ;). In NL, the transition is a lot more …full article

Calling Raises Preflop in Pot Limit Hold ‘Em

Just like in no limit, raised pots are where you’re going to make your serious money in pot limit hold ‘em. Knowing when to get into these pots is crucial - fold too much and you’ll miss too many opportunities to stack another player, call …full article

When Should I Quit a No Limit Hold’em Session?

Throwing Shakespeare aside, to quit when you’re ahead or quit when you’re losing, that is the question. Every Texas holdem player faces it. When you’re winning, it’s an easy game. The trouble is when you start losing several games the thought of all those wins …full article

Limit Articles

Can You Win Without Looking? Playing Shorthanded Limit Hold ‘Em Poker

Texas Hold’em is the most popular form of poker played throughout the world today. It is typically played with a maximum of 9 or 10 players. Most players are only comfortable playing at a full or nearly full table. When the game becomes shorter the …full article

Straddling in Limit Texas Hold’em: A Primer

Texas Hold’em is normally played with the two players to the left of the button putting up blinds. Typically the small blind is one half or two thirds the amount of the big blind with the big blind being the amount of a “small” bet …full article

Sample Chapter From the Poker Tracker Guide

Love Poker Tracker but feel a bit overwhelmed by all of the info available? You need the Poker Tracker Guide. We like it so much that we’ve reprinted a chapter of the guide for you to check out - read it, love it and then …full article

Finesse: Flop Play in Limit Hold ‘Em

This article will cover one scenario of when to cap, and when to call the third bet on the turn in limit. The scenario:
You hold AcKh
Flop is AsKc2s
Your opponent often will be very aggressive on a flush draw on the flop. You know him to …full article

Don’t Punch the Fish in Limit Hold’em Poker

One of the more common mistakes players at low, and sometimes mid limit texas holdem games is to “go after” someone that took a pot off them. I see good players play marginal hands because they know that the moron/fish at the table is likely …full article

Bingo? No, but we have limit holdem…

Most games start with each player getting 2 cards, looking at those, and accessing their strength in relation to the other players on the table. I came across a game in a casino where this wasn’t the standard process. In this game first, they check …full article

Where are the Mistakes?

The other day a friend of mine was complaining about a bad beat. I normally charge $1.00 to listen to a bad beat, but he caught me off guard while I was online. It seems that someone had called my friend down with an ace …full article

Changing Your Play in Limit Texas Holdem: Part 2 – The Aggressive Maniac

The aggressive maniac can change the table in a few different ways. Some players like to follow the aggressor up with a re-raise for any hand they are comfortable playing against a raise where they don’t respect the raiser. These raises are predictable and easy …full article

Changing Your Play in Limit Texas Holdem: Part 1 – The Loose Maniac

Every decent poker book I’ve ever read has been consistent in at least 2 things. 1- Better hands are needed in earlier positions, and 2- Change your play. Position and style varying are the hardest two things to really understand in poker and yet when …full article

A little thing about position

I had a friend tell me that the books they have read say to play high level the same way you would low level if you want to make money consistently. Whatever book they read didn’t make the point very clear, as he thought that …full article

Switching From No Limit Holdem to Limit Holdem

Players switch from NL to limit for a variety of reasons - some players may just not like the bankroll swings that come with NL; some (like myself) may have taken a prop job where the only game that pays is limit; others may find …full article

Leaks in Your Shorthanded Limit Hold ‘Em Game

Playing shorthanded limit poker can be extremely profitable - see all the reasons why you shouldn’t play shorthanded to understand why a skilled player can significantly improve their BB/hr playing short. But even good players making the transition to short play generally find they have …full article

Raising From the Big Blind in Limit Texas Hold ‘Em

In a past poker strategy article we talked about why raising from the BB with big hands like AA might be a bad idea. Well if you can’t raise with AA from the BB, then you probably shouldn’t ever be raising from the BB at …full article

Laying off Calls From the Small Blind in Limit Poker

One of the most persistent leaks for newer limit hold ‘em poker players [and even some intermediate ones] is calling too much from the small blind. The thing about this leak is that it’s a sneaky one - it generally happens a half a bet …full article

That Idiot Won’t Stop Raising! Dealing with Hyper Aggressive Players in Limit Holdem

“Whenever he makes a mistake its supposed to be good for me, but somehow the more idiots on the table the harder it is for me to win, why?”
It’s a common misconception that it is easier to beat good players than bad players. In a …full article

What Limit Should You Be Playing?

I’ve been told over and over again that the real low limit poker games are unbeatable because everyone plays everything and you get outdrawn. First rule of poker theory is when someone in a hand makes a bet or call with a negative expected value, …full article

Should You Raise With Big Hands From the Blinds in Limit Poker?

Here’s an opinion I have that many others do not share, although I’ve found a few that do … raising AA from the blinds [or kk, qq, ak etc] is a bad idea - especially from the BB.
Here’s the situation: you’re on the bb with …full article

Using Poker Tracker to Improve Your Game: Limit Holdem - Intro

There are many parts to good play; thus, there are many parts to examining your game. In order to do this you need to isolate individual aspects of your game - a goal that PT is pretty much built to help you achieve. A couple …full article

What Books Should You Read on Limit Hold Em Poker?

Reading the right poker books when you’re just starting out in limit hold ‘em can make a big difference in your poker experience. People form habits quickly; read the right books and you’ll form good ones, read the wrong ones [or none at all] and …full article

Should You Play Shorthanded Limit Hold ‘Em?

While it happens far more in online poker than in brick and mortar casinos, poker games that were once full almost inevitably go shorthanded. So, should you [to paraphrase The Clash] stay or should you go? as you gain more experience, you’ll find that you …full article

Sometimes You Just Have To Fold!

You can read Dave’s Blog at http://dirtyvegaspoker.blogspot.com
The most common mistake made in limit poker is the thought that it’s all luck. To consistently win at limit poker, you need to keep attention on the game at all times. Playing after the flop will be crucial …full article

Tournament Articles

Multi-tabling Sit n Go Tournaments - How many is too many?

How many SNG’s is too many to play at one time? First, let’s squash the notion that playing 1 SNG at a time is even feasible. If you’ve never played more than one table at a time, you might be worried about what happens …full article

Increasing your bankroll for SNG players – Different Options

Most new poker players think that the easiest/fastest way to increase the size of your bankroll is to move up in buy-in size. Well, that is a possible avenue, but as a player you need to realize that theoretically, the larger the buy-in the better …full article

Tournament selection: The overlooked art form

There have been more articles than I can count on game selection in cash games. It has been said this is the key to maximizing profits. Post-UIGEA it has been the key to many midlevel cash games pros’ very survival in online poker. A typical …full article

The Misuse and Abuse of the Continuation Bet

I’m sure everyone who has played the requisite number of hours of poker knows what a continuation bet is, but for those fellow degens who have yet to add this term to their poker vocabulary, a continuation bet is the bet made on the flop …full article

Transitioning from TAG to LAG play in tournaments

Lagtard \ n. -ED, -ING, -S A poker player who calls and raises a large variety of hands with the intention of outplaying or outdrawing an opponent’s (usually) stronger hand
Since I couldn’t find an official definition, I created one. Look out Merriam-Webster.
The …full article

A beginners guide to sit and go tournament poker

Sit and Go’s are a vital part of online poker. They are usually one table tournaments with anywhere between 5 and 10 players. To the experienced player SNG’s are a relatively quick way to build a bankroll. Many players have even made their fortune playing …full article

Quick additions to your tournament tool box

If you’re a multi-table tournament player, there’s some good news for you: with just a few clicks of your mouse you can gain access to a ton of tools, mostly free, that can help transform your tournament game with just a little bit of time …full article

Surviving with a short stack in a tournament

More often than we like, we all find ourselves short stacked in a tournament. The important thing is not to panic or tilt, but to adjust your strategy in order to survive and eventually get back into contention. The general consensus is that …full article

Two Situations in NL Tournament that Require Careful Consideration

These are a couple of hands that cost me a stack in two tournaments because they are, in fact, very good holdings in most situations. The purpose of this article is to recognize when they aren’t and where things went wrong.
1. We’re on …full article

Mastering the Freeroll

The freeroll on online poker sites is a beast in and of itself. In some ways, it’s not even poker, in the strictest sense. It can be more like hitting the lottery (more so than winning the World Series of Poker’s main event).
But in playing …full article

The lowest common denominator

When a small-stakes poker pro gets the crap beat out of him during his ‘worst’ bad run to date there’s still a tendency to push the red levels of patience and tolerance of draws-not-getting-there to unimaginable distances in an attempt to weather the storm. But …full article

Using the reraise bluff in no limit holdem

I’m sure everyone has seen an idiot or two in their poker career that will reraise you all in and then show jack high after you fold. In general, these people will never get far in tournaments because they tend to bluff too often …full article

Tight Aggressive vs Loose Aggressive play in holdem tournaments

There are two styles of play in No-Limit Texas Hold’em, tight-aggressive and loose-aggressive. Which style is best and in what situations is it best? Many players think they know the answer and play excessively loose or excessively tight in all situations, which, as David Skylansky …full article

Building a roll through six-handed turbo no limit sit and go tournaments

In poker, everyone wants the big score. They want to be at the final table, with hundreds or thousands of dollars on the line. It is an experience like no other. Personally, I have been there through the $5.50 Turbo NL where …full article

Tips for using the notes feature on PokerStars to increase your tournament profits

As I have looked through many online poker forums, I have not seen much talk about the “note” feature that Pokerstars has to offer. Considering that this feature is an important part of my game, I figured it to be an excellent thing to …full article

Tools of the trade - evaluating the best plays for tight and loose aggressive styles in no limit tournament play

In Texas Hold’em MTTs, we find two types of players which have demonstrated success on the tournament circuit – loose-aggressive players (LAGs) and tight-aggressive players (TAGs). Representing the better known LAGs are players such as Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey, Gus Hanson and Daniel Negraneau (depending …full article

How to be profitable in turbo sit and go tournaments

I typically play micro turbo sng’s. These micro games can be profitable and also help you build a roll, with minimal risk. I choose turbo’s because I find them to be the quickest and easiest routes to make money. Last I checked …full article

Kaelin finally wins a tournament…..almost

Well, I knew it had to happen eventually. I was in another donk-fest tourney with 150+ combatants at Caesars, IN in the Thursday night tournament known as Midnight Madness. The entry fee was a meager $80 plus an extra $5 at the break to …full article

Raising Right is The Key to Cashing

You can read Dave’s Blog at http://dirtyvegaspoker.blogspot.com
Why ALL-IN can to lead to ALL-OUT & Limping can put a dent in your stack
Raises are made in no-limit game. Some will raise 4-5 times the bet, others 2, but most 3. Whatever you raise, you …full article

SNG Annotated #001 - Party 200 NL, April 26th

The following is an annotated SNG I played at Party where I finished in the money. I’m looking to do a series of these, so if you have any feedback, let me know. Note that I’ll cut out a lot of unimportant hands to keep …full article

Some key differences between early and late stage multi play

One of the more challenging parts of tournament play is the shifting nature of the tournament itself. Tournaments can be divided into several stages, each determined by the number of players remaining relative to the prize money, and what “good” play is can vary wildly …full article

Common mistakes I make in the late stages of no limit multis

I am primarily a ring game player; there are, of course, spots in my playing career where I’ve tinkered with multis, but it usually ends up being a passing phase. For whatever reason, I decided to give multis a serious shot about a month ago …full article

Standard Preflop Raise in NL Holdem Tournaments

The standard preflop raise in NL Holdem Tournaments, varies based on a few factors. These factors are:
Are there just blinds, or are there antes as well?
What is your stack size?
Are there any limpers?
Will your opponents fold to a smaller raise as frequently as they will …full article

How much do you need to raise? …

Concept from WSOP Superstars Invitational
I noticed an interesting hand from the WSOP Superstars Invitational, in which the “top 10” players in the World were invited to a winner take all 2 million dollar tournament. There were 7 players left in the event, and the blinds …full article

Don’t talk too much at tournaments

I’m going to relate to you an example of how I used some of my opponents thoughts and comments in between hands against him. We are playing a $200 NL tournament at the Taj Mahal in Atlantic City. The tournament began with 210 players …full article

Multi Table Tournaments and Leaks in Your Ring Game

For many poker players, multi table tournaments are the ‘fun’ side of poker - invest a small buy-in, play a lot of hands, and shoot for a big score. But if you’re progressing more towards serious poker, it’s important to realize that playing multis on …full article

When you’re all in on your next hand…

An interesting situation came up in a tournament last night, where a player made a clear mistake. It’s a $200 NL HE tournament at the Taj Mahal in Atlantic City. We started with 210 players and now we were down to the final 4.
The prizes …full article

Multi Table Tournaments as a Threat to Your Poker Bankroll

Multi table poker tournaments have a strong appeal for most poker players - they speak to the ‘gambler’ in every player, offering the potential for spectacular return. However, it’s important to rationally evaluate the true risk and reward considerations involved in playing multis. Playing in …full article

Multi Table Tournament Strategy: Odds and Ends

1) Remember to separate your tournament notes on a player from your ring game notes on that player - for example, a player may be VERY aggressive in tournament play, but tighten up considerably when every hand is for real money.
2) When you’re down to …full article

Don’t Fear the Bubble: Strategies for Late Play in Sit and Go’s

Generally speaking, in single-table tournament play you are on the bubble when you are one of the elite few remaining players on the table, but not in the money just yet. My contention is that at this time on the table players are much more …full article

A beginners guide to sit and go tournament poker

Fundamental Articles

Empathy - the neglected skill

When I think about what qualities that are vital to becoming a good poker player a capacity for critical thinking, discipline, and creativity come to mind right away. But in talking to a lot of both good and great poker players over the past several …full article

Hand ranging flaws - common causes and solutions

Hand ranging - the process of putting your opponent not on a specific hand, but rather on a spectrum of hands - is a critical skill in poker, no matter what format you play. While there will be some (precious few) times you can …full article

Basic odds for all in situations in hold em

If you play any form of tournament poker (especially SNGs or turbos), you’re going to find yourself facing various types of potential all-in situations. The first step in handling those situations properly is to know the fundamental odds involved. Below, we’ve listed the …full article

Managing your online poker game

There’s a step between being a casual online player and a serious online player that a lot of players don’t take, and it probably hurts them in the long run. I’m not talking about the decision to become a pro and devoting all your time …full article

Assumptions you shouldn’t make when playing online poker

I think everyone is guilty of making assumptions to a certain extent when playing poker. Overcoming and dismissing some of the predetermined ideas you have in your head every time you sit at a table might be one of the biggest obstacles for some poker …full article

Common-sense tips for improving your online game

I’ll start off this article by saying this: Hopefully, you probably know a lot of what I am about to tell you. At least subconsciously. This is meant to be a “common-sense” refresher for the casual or serious online player. Because knowing something and …full article

A basic guide to data mining in online poker

In an era of increasingly tough online games, if you’re not collecting (and utilizing) data on your online opponents, you’re giving up a pretty significant edge. This article is intended to provide a basic explanation of what data mining is and an overview of …full article

Insights at the poker table

I’ve always thought it fortunate that you don’t have to be a genius to play winning hold ‘em. As complex and mystifying as the game can be, it’s not rocket science. You can go a long way in this game on the strength of common …full article

Session stages and player identities

There are few skills more critical at a poker table than the ability to take small pieces of information about your opponents and to extract from those pieces larger conclusions about how they’re likely to play. One thing to consider when you’re attempting to …full article

Branching out from no-limit hold’em

I’m always amazed by the number of people who play poker – both online and in home games – who play no-limit hold’em exclusively. I’ve even seen people sign up for low buy in non-NLH tournaments who apparently didn’t mean to (“I thought this …full article

Surviving long sessions

No work, no school, girlfriend or wife is out of town, just bored for a few days – reasons can be found to play poker as long as the eyes stay open. And when the game is REAL good it’s tempting to never leave. What …full article

Bluffing in low-limit games and low buy-in tournaments

Perhaps this article would be more appropriately titled: “Don’t bluff in low-limit cash games and low buy-in tournaments.” I think most online players who play these kinds of games – those who are trying to build bankrolls, or who are trying to win lots of …full article

One Time I Heard This Guy Say… Life’s Clichés and Poker Tips – Good “Cents” Applies to Us All!

Hey Fellow players, I’m back. The folks at PTP asked me to work on some of the top poker tips and relay that information to our readership. “No problem,” I told my boss, “I’ll just jump on the net and get right on …full article

The little blue article

I’m flying high over the Grand Canyon with newbie rock gods Wolfmother, and we’re all about to die . . . OK, not exactly. My flight from Vegas to Denver IS somewhere near the Grand Canyon right now and the air IS a bit choppy. …full article

Using the tools to stay focused in online poker

Winning at online poker is all about staying focused on profitable activity and avoiding unprofitable activity, just like in business. That really is the secret to success in either venture – staying focused and using your time wisely. Fortunately, online poker rooms provide you with …full article

Friendly poker?

I’m rapidly approaching my one-year anniversary of playing poker for a living and among poker authors, this alone is cause for an article. It’s strange to think of this moment as a cause for celebration or even mentioning in an article – seems self serving, …full article

Meditations of pokus professionalius (things I know to be true about poker)

Awhile back I saw the movie 300 at the IMAX in the Palms Casino with two friends of mine. I’d never seen a Hollywood movie in IMAX, just educational titles like ‘To the Moon’ or ‘This Green Earth’ when I was, like, in grade school. …full article

Position is everything!

Position is everything! Let me repeat that, position is everything! Most new players do not utilize what I believe is the most important factor in decision making and hand choice at the card table. I am going to just give a basic run down for …full article

Strategies for avoiding cascading errors

Poker players make mistakes for a variety of reasons – a lack of information, an off-kilter emotional state, a patch of temporary insanity, and so on. Each time you make a mistake, you probably spend some time immediately afterward playing detective in an attempt …full article

5 tips for getting more out of your poker books

Poker books are a great investment that can pay serious dividends for your game. The great thing about books is how much they can do for your game if you’re just willing to put a in a little effort above and beyond a once-and-done skimming. …full article

Speaking at the table - what do your opponents mean when they say what they say?

People give away a lot more with their chatter than they realize when they’re playing live poker - especially in tournaments, where people tend to loosen up with those around them (since they’re expecting to be there for a decent amount of time). While it’s …full article

Poker and Your Significant Other

Hobbies are great for killing two things: time and relationships. No matter how innocuous a hobby might seem at first, you can be sure that somewhere within those instructions for constructing a ship-in-a-bottle lurks a potential pitfall for you and your significant other. …full article

Dealing with the emotional impact of bad runs in poker

Bad runs are sort of like the in-laws of your poker experience. You know they’re inevitably going to show up, even if you aren’t always sure when or why, you know that no matter how hard you try, there’s nothing you can really do …full article

Playing an Unfamiliar Opponent in No Limit Hold’em

Many times in no limit Holdem you will find yourself facing unfamiliar opponents. If you play in a regular home game, at a small casino, or only at very specific tables online, you may have intimate knowledge of who you are facing. Otherwise, you are …full article

Last Things First

It was Monday and it was raining. I woke up around 4 p.m., not really from a deep sleep but more of a long, focused period of eyes-closed time. I was too excited to do any real resting. When my alarm clock on my cell …full article

The Pitfalls of Poker as a Profession

Well, I’ve been an official poker “pro” (and I use that term loosely) for the last 5 months now, and it has not been working out as well as I had hoped. When I started out playing full time this March, I had about …full article

Hello Kids, My Name is John and I’m Still in Recovery

Man-law speaks of few times when a dude can cry and other dudes should understand the emotional outburst. For example, say your buddy’s dog dies, he gets kicked in the balls by a psycho ex-girlfriend, or he loses something meaningful like a Sweet Sixteen …full article

The Catholic Casino - Lessons in Game Selection

Last Saturday, I volunteered to help out my father and work his booth at the St. Joseph Orphans picnic. For those of you not familliar with the Catholic picnic circuit in Louisville, St. Joe’s picnic is the picnic to end all picnics in the …full article

Your Psychological Bankroll and Managing Risk

You’ll hear the term bankroll thrown around in poker circles and it usually pertains to the amount of money that you have available strictly for poker playing. This is what the term is meant to describe in a perfect world. However, a majority of poker …full article

Podcast: When the Best Play Isn’t the Right Play for You.

This Podcast from Part Time Poker focuses on the gap between theory and practice in poker and offers examples of a few spots where the best play in a perfect world might not work out as well as it seems it should when you’re actually …full article

Prop Masseuse-ing in Tunica

If you know anything about the life of a prop poker player, then you’ll appreciate the following story from my latest poker trip to Tunica.
There I was, minding my own business in a $2-5 NL ring game, when a lovely young message therapist …full article

Don’t Bang on The Aquarium!

Recently on a poker trip to Tunica, MS, I was in a $2-5 NL cash game at Binion’s Horseshoe. A Korean lady, Misty, who I play poker with all the time at my local casino in Louisville, KY, happened to be in the game. …full article

The Trip Full of Beats – A tale from AK’s Poker Adventures

recently traveled to Tunica, MS with some buddies of mine to partake in some poker action at a small Tournament Circuit event that was being held at the Gold Strike Casino. I decided to play mostly NL cash games at the Gold Strike …full article

God, Why Did I Call That? (A Brief Overview of Common Decision-Making Errors).

Admit it - there’s been a time or two where you’re at the poker table and found yourself asleep at the wheel. Your mouth opens, your hands move, and before you know what’s happened, you’ve made a bet or called a raise with no rhyme …full article

Can Nintendo Make You Better at Poker?

I know about 98% of the people reading this article are praying for a positive answer to the title question. There’s a natural crossover between poker players and video game players, especially in the online poker player community.
Even if were just posing the question as …full article

Trimming up Your Poker Strategy with Occam’s Razor

You Could Learn A Lot From A 14th Century Franciscan Friar …… And not just about theology, life before the printing press or how to pull off those haircuts where the crown is shaved, but a ring of curls remains along the edges. You …full article

Poker Peer Pressure – How Other Players Impact Your Games Just by Being There

Peer pressure is a subject that gets a lot of attention in discussions regarding juvenile behavior, but it’s a powerful force for adults as well. Poker is so reliant on interaction and power that it creates an environment where peer pressure can be an …full article

Update On My New Year’s Resolutions

My last article consisted of my New Year’s resolutions pertaining to poker. They included bankroll issues, (bad) preflop calls, reading and studying more, the length of my sessions, and tournaments/live play. For what it’s worth, here’s an update on my progress so far. …full article

My New Year’s Poker Resolutions

2006 is on its way and that can only mean one thing: New Year’s Resolutions. So without keeping you on the edge too long, here are a few of mine that can be useful for anyone trying to improve his game and win some …full article

So Why Didn’t I Leave?

The story I’m about to relate should be so familiar to most readers that I feel pretty comfortable telling it in a severely abridged form. I was at the casino playing some no limit holdem. I was up a modest amount after 5 …full article

Poker Bankroll Management 102

This was going to be 100 or 101 reasons why you shouldn’t play above your bankroll, but ya know - there just aren’t that many reasons worth putting in a list so you’ll get the ones worth listing.
Players watch games and see ‘bad’ play, …full article

Poker Odds 101: Should I Stay or Should I Go?

This is the first in a series of articles that cover some very basic, fundamental poker concepts. If you’ve been playing for a while or have read more than one poker book, this is almost certainly refresher material. However, for the new folks around here …full article

Don’t get great at poker, just get good

If you’re an avid consumer of sports media, you’ll have noticed that over the last year or so there’s been a bit of a growing backlash against sport giant ESPN for what some have awkwardly coined the “highlitization” of sports - in short, that …full article

How Bad is a Bad Beat?

Everyone starts off getting frustrated by bad beats, it’s not a sign of poor play, or bad decisions, but rather just the smaller percentages taking their course. At times I felt like I was being beat up on by lady luck, but now I …full article

Threats to Your Poker Bankroll

Most newer players severely underestimate the importance of a solid bankroll. The benefits of a bankroll is a topic we’ll discuss in a later article; what I’d like to focus on here are risks that players take with their developing bankrolls all too often. Avoid …full article

Tips For Playing Multiple Tables Online

As you get more comfortable playing poker online, you’ll naturally start to think “hey, I make money playing one table - if I played two tables, I would make double the money! three tables, triple!” and so on. Well there are a few reasons why …full article

Considering the Impact of Rake When Playing Online or Live Poker

A lot of new poker players start at an online poker site because of a deposit bonus or because their friends play there; in the case of B&M casinos it may simply be a matter of location. What often isn’t on the top of a …full article

Tips for Pulling an Online Poker All Nighter

As a newer online poker player, you’re probably about to have this experience: one night the cards are running good, the action is fast, you decide to make a late-night pot of coffee and then presto! It’s 8am. If you’re someone who has been playing …full article

Strategies For Getting the Most Out of Online Poker Deposit Bonuses

There probably isn’t an online card room without some kind of bonus offer for your first deposit. Before rushing in to a new site to grab the bonus however, consider a few things:
1) Read the terms and conditions. Carefully. If there aren’t terms and conditions, …full article

Thoughts on Moving to a New Online Poker Site

One day, while perusing your favorite site for poker info, you notice an ad for an online poker room with an attractive deposit bonus offer. Having a little extra cash, you sign up, deposit, and start playing your regular game. Only thing is, while you …full article

What Books Should You Read on Limit Hold Em Poker?

On NOT Complaining in Online Poker Chat

So you’re playing poker online and some guy, or gal, just cracked your flopped set of aces with a runner gut-shot. And they capped the whole way! Unreal! They must be taught a lesson! They must pay for their transgressions! You’ll show them … in …full article

General Tips for Good Online Poker Note Keeping

Notes are an often overlooked, absolutely essential way of improving your online poker game. Some general pointers:
1) Notes have to be dynamic. Jotting down a sentence or two on a player is great, but not so helpful if you don’t keep adding to it.
2) Notes …full article

Why You Shouldn’t Play No Limit Hold ‘Em … Yet.

It’s the game they play on TV and, now, in frat houses across the nation - No Limit Texas Holdem. It’s the “Cadillac of poker,” so if I’m just starting, that’s the game I should play, right? Uh-huh, uh-huh … no. not under any circumstances.
While …full article

Strategies for a Smooth Poker Road Trip

If you’re just starting to play live, here are some quick tips to make the trips go a little smoother [and possibly cheaper].
1) If you plan on staying for a few days, call the hotel and ask them if they offer a poker room rate. …full article

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