poker | Page 6

Why is it So Important? The playing style that a player has at the table is considered his table image. If an opponent has not played any hands for a long time period, he will have a tight table image. A player who enters many pots with a raise will have an aggressive table image. It is important to try to determine the playing style of your opponents since it will improve your decisions. For example, holding A-Q is a stronger hand against the aggressive player than a tight player. The reason is that the aggressive player is entering many hands and probably does not have a hand as strong as yours, while the tight player will need a premium hand to enter the pot. As a result, while raising the aggressive player is a smart play, folding may be the right play against the tight player. It is important to think about the table image you have created for your opponents. Importantly, you will find that not all of your opponents perceive your image the same way. As a result, your decisions against one opponent may differ against another opponent. As a general rule, though, you want to play the opposite your table image. If your opponent views you as never being able to bluff, it will be easier to make a play that will bluff him out of a hand. If your opponent views you as a maniac, you will be much more likely to be called or even raised to put you to the test. Tip: Fear. Dish It Out. Don’t Take It In. Ask yourself the following question: Will your bet put fear in the heart and mind of your opponent? If it will create fear for your opponent, make that play. If not, is there a move that will? If your opponent makes a bet that puts fear in you, ask yourself if that is true or false. Remember that fear is often referred to as False Evidence that Appears Real. Is he bluffing? Semi-bluffing? Calling your opponent’s bet may slow him down, or raising his bet may make him hide in the corner.

Tip: Domination Isn’t All That Dominate in Poker Players like to have hands that “dominate” their opponent. A dominated hand scenario would be when you and your opponent hold the same highest-ranking card, but you have the better kicker. A common example is the A-K versus A-Q. In general, in these types of situation the player with the better kicker is better than a 2-1 favorite. Unfortunately, the word domination is a poor choice. Domination means you have control or power over someone. You don’t have anything of the sort. You are going to lose almost one in every three heads-up battles when you “dominate” your opponent. Does that sound like domination or just being a solid favorite? Tip: What Are Odds? Why Are Odds Important? a) The pot odds are the ratio of the size of the pot to the size of the bet. For example, if the pot has $800 in it, and your opponent bets $400, the pot is $1,200. For you to call that bet, you have to put in $400. Therefore, the ratio of the size of the pot is $1,200, to the size of the bet or $400. $1,200 to $400 is 3-1. b) The pot odds are important since you want to make bets where the pot odds you are getting are better than the odds of you making your desired hand. (An odds chart is in the appendix). In the above example, if you flopped a straight draw your odds are about 2.2-1 to make your desired hand by the river. Therefore, assuming you are going to the river, you are getting favorable pot odds and should call the bet. c) Implied odds are based on how much you expect the pot to be at the end of the hand. It is often calculated where you plan to fold if you miss on the next street, but you will continue to play if you make your desired hand.

The implied odds are important since there are times where the pot odds are not good enough to call a bet, but the implied odds change a fold to a call. Using the above example, if your opponent had bet $1,000 into the $800 pot, your pot odds are $1,800 to $1,000 or 1.8 to 1. These odds are not