Big poker night

If you have any advice, please share, so I don't get ribbed again....

[edit_g]

My monthly Friday night poker game is coming up... Texas Hold-em with about 7 players.

Low stakes but very competetive. I keep being ribber quite badly.

Any advice from old hands (or rising stars) would be much appreciated.

[hayluke]

cheat

[webdevsf]

Fold most of the time. Don't bluff but once a night. Only bet when you have a winner.

[mat]

Isn't steveb the man to ask?

[Knowles]

Stop jumping up and down when you get all 4 aces!

[edit_g]

"Fold most of the time. Don't bluff but once a night. Only bet when you have a winner."

This is actually what I usually do... But I've realised that its quite an easy strategy to see through. I think I'm going to have to change tack (somehow) without betting too aggressive.

[Brett_Tabke]

Don't move your cards an inch when you get them. In fact don't even pick them up and look at them - just bet. Studies have shown that amature poker players do better when they don't know what they are betting on ;-)

And drink lots of beer.

[VictorE]

A few thoughts:

* In Texas Hold 'em, make a decision after two cards whether or not you want to be playing the hand. There are rankings for the first two cards and when they can be played, here is an example [holdempoker.com ]

* Emotional control is probably the biggest factor between winners and loser in our games. The biggest reason people I play with end up losing big is because they go "on tilt." They are so numb after losing say $50, that loosing another $50 doesn't really register to them. They get frustrated and keep trying to draw out hands that have no realistic possibilities. Next thing you know they're down $200 for the night. If you are in a bad mood, or are really frustrated, it's time to step away from the table to regroup.

* Most people play hands that they shouldn't be playing ... in hopes to "draw" something out

The book "Thursday Night Poker" is a good book for people who like playing poker for fun w/ their friends.

Best of luck!

Regards,

Vic

[edit_g]

"And drink lots of beer."

This is a given. ;)

Great tips VictorE, that site is a goldmine as well.

"Don't move your cards an inch when you get them. In fact don't even pick them up and look at them - just bet."

I may have to try this just to see peoples faces.

[AgentSmith]

Buy out the small pots as many times as you can. Always check...if someone raise the pot, you run with him/her (unless two cards up on the table and you have absolutely nothing)...if you have something, even a pair, you run with him/her. Three or four minimum raises are worth it if you can clean out the pot. With 7 players, your odd of buying out a small pot is good.

Be like KGB..."I'll bet it all!"...LOL:)

But surprisingly, when bluffed well, this will win you the pot of the night.

[caution: last time (actually last week) I tried the KGB, my bluff was called sick nasty:)]

[Robert Charlton]

I had a college roommate who went on to become a professional poker player in Las Vegas. At the time he was in school, he was something like ninth ranked junior chess player in the US, and he spent most of his days dealing out poker hands or running through chess openings. Needless to say, he flunked out.

The gutsiest thing I ever saw him do was in a game of five-card draw. He threw away part of a full house to suck someone in for an extra $50. His opponent drew one card. He had three kings and a pair of tens. If he stayed pat and raised, he reasoned, his opponent might fold. Since the odds were that his three kings would probably beat whatever the opponent drew to, he threw away a ten.

A couple of things I learned...

- In stud poker, always fold if you're beaten by what's showing...

- Checking and then raising might be good strategy in an aggressive game, but it sures ticks off people in friendly games.