Not Playing By the Book
Written February 6, 2008 by Jack Jones
Many people are mechanical at the table, but sometimes you have to realize that not playing poker by the book can be a bigger benefit to you. Once I am actually involved in the hand then most of my actions after the flop will be automatic, or almost anyway. Therefore, most of my decisions in No Limit Hold ‘em take place prior to the flop.
The key question I ask myself is should I play the two cards I’ve been dealt?
When I first started learning how to play poker I reviewed all of the charts that suggest which two cards to play from each position. These charts are an excellent guide but they don’t tell the complete story because poker is not a game that is best played by the numbers. It’s more of a game of situations.
In games like blackjack, there is always a correct decision to be made, the perfect strategy. You simply have to compare your hand against the card the dealer is showing and the odds dictated whether you should hit, stand, split, or double down.
The information in poker is a little less complete. You have to consider additional factors that the book can’t factor in. The list includes some of the following:
- My opponents’ tendencies
- My state of mind
- My opponent’s state of mind
- Our respective stack sizes
- My image at the table
A computer can look up hands in a chart, but real poker players analyze situations and make their own decisions after processing all of the available information. There are times when you might raise with A-J from the early position then later in the game fold with the same hand in the same position.
A good chart can help give a very specific set of circumstances, namely:
- You are the first person to voluntarily put money into the pot and are going to come in for a raise of about three times the big blind
- You don’t know much about your opponents
- All the players at the table have an average-size stack
- The blinds are relatively small in relation to the size of the stacks
If any of the above isn’t the case, then you have to go beyond what the chart says.
If you are new to the game, then study the tables. As you get more and more experience then you should feel comfortable parting from the table on occasion due to certain circumstances.
If you liked this article, you may also be interested in:
- Poker Tools: Position, Chips & Cards
- How Many Tables Should You Play?
- Aggressive Play in Limit Poker
- Is Poker Gambling in Colorado?
- Poker is a Game of Skill
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