Learning To Survive When You’re The Underdog
All of us like to think we’re the Master Of The Universe on the table. We have the skills and the strategy to outplay our opponents. But, there are times when you’ll sit at a table and instantly realize that you’re the underdog. You’re a minnow in an ocean of sharks. When that happens, how do you survive? Should you lurk in the shadows and strike when the other players aren’t expecting it? Or, are you better off making them think you’re the player they’ve been afraid to confront. Here’s how to survive as the table underdog. (more…)
6 comments August 3rd, 2008
Bluffing is a key part of playing good poker. But, there’s an art to it. Do it too often under the same circumstances and other players will pick up the scent. You’ll go from predator to prey in a heartbeat. Do it too seldom and you’re leaving opportunities for quick kills on the table. Anyone can bluff. Few have the skills to do it well. So, let’s talk about the art of bluffing. 
We’ve all seen enough poker movies to know what “tells” are. If you’re new to the game, you’re probably giving things away without even realizing it. Don’t worry. I’m going to help you fix the problem right now. I actually wrote this to help players recognize tells in their opponents. But, if you’re reading and saying to yourself, “Geez, I do that.” you’re in trouble. Fix it or prepare to get eaten alive. 
Advanced poker is much more about playing one’s opponents than the cards. The psychological aspect of the game gets front seat, and subtle things (like all sorts of poker tells) become much more important. These are the circumstances under which bluffing inevitably rears its head. Whether it’s a blind-stealing semi-bluff, or a full one, bluffing is going to be present in the game, one way or another. Knowing how to read your opponents, the board and the betting patterns can come in extremely handy in this situation.