Poker Bonus Codes » Strategy

Short Stacking Strategy

BonusWhore — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:38:04 +0000

Short Stacking is term meaning ‘to buy in for less than the table maximum’. It’s usually considered to be 20bb (big blinds). The short stacking style is great way to make money on a somewhat limited bankroll whilst still allowing you to improve at the desired discipline of Poker.

The whole concept of online poker is to move up through the limits as quickly as possible (or as bankroll/skill will allow) in an attempt to master the game and make maximum profits in relation to your ability. However, it is imperative that you perform solid Bankroll Management as you do so! You will soon realise that Bankroll Management is the key to success and without it; you likely won’t make a penny at the game.

A good rule of thumb in any form of Poker, but especially SSS NLHE (No Limit Hold’em), is the 30 buy in rule. Basically meaning you need 30 bi’s for a certain level before you even think about moving up!

Example:

In order to play 50nl (.25/.50c) you will buy in for $10 (20%). So, your bankroll will have to be 30bi’s x $10 = $300

In order to play 100nl (.50/$1) you will buy in for $20 (20%). So, your bankroll will have to be 30bi’s x $20 = $600

You need to know when to move up or down. If you stay a level too long whilst losing money, you will go broke, and quickly!

The next step is working out if you are going to play FR (Full ring i.e. 9/10 seater tables) or 6 max (6 seater tables). This decision is entirely up to you, but you will need to adjust accordingly to which ever variant of the game you decide.

First off we are looking to raise small. Opening for 2.5bb/3bb is more than sufficient for what we want to achieve from our SSS. 4xing or just open shoving as a SSS is really bad. Although don’t be surprised to see people still adopt this strategy on your poker travels.

Short stacking is not just push or fold. You can open for 2.5bb, 1/2 pot cbet (continuation bet) and then fold. If you make a hand you’ll always have a reasonable SPR (stack to pot ratio) for stacking off, and people don’t have implied odds to draw out on you. The regulars at that level won’t call you much as they understand that trying to outplay a 20bb stack is pointless, but you can have fun playing a little poker with the fish.

Auto-reload! Always keep your stack topped up to 20bb.

Steal against people who don’t defend their blinds; steal less against aggro players but shove over their 3bets with a greater proportion of your range until they adjust. Resteal from the button and blinds against frequent stealers. PPs and high card strength are good, restealing with A4o or QTs is better than 56s or other implied odds hands deep-stacked players like to 3bet with sometimes.

Play tight from EP (Early Position). Your range should be AJ+, 88+, QK for the first 2 seats of 6max. Obviously in the alter positions you can open these ranges and adjust to your opponents.

Short stacking is a lot more like real poker than people imagine. Obviously shallow stacks cut out a large element of skill; but you’ve still got to respect position and consider equity against steal and resteal ranges in late position battles.

Beat 50nl Ring Games Online

BonusWhore — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:37:01 +0000

So you’ve made it up through the minefields that are the micro’s and want to kick on at 50nl and up through SSNL? If you haven’t then back to the drawing board I’m afraid, if you have then read on…

50nl will provide far more challenges then the micro levels that have gone previously, but with a little work and adjusting there’s no reason why you can’t be a significant winner at the level.

If you haven’t already you need to purchase tracking software such as Hold’em Manager or Poker Tracker. These pieces of kit are essential to becoming a successful player at any of the limits from 50nl and upwards. It’s imperative that once you have made your purchase that you learn how to use it properly as they are both extremely good at finding leaks in your game. They may at first seem slightly daunting, however have a look round and get a feel for the program before you start playing and you will immediately see how much information you can gain about your game.

50nl will probably provide the largest playing pool on your chosen site. It’s very much a middle ground where there’s a steady mix of fish and regulars. One thing to note is to not be afraid of playing the better regulars. I’m not advocating to go and find them to sit with, but playing some hands with people that are better then you (or at least seem to be) will only bring on your game and put you in good stead for when you next move up and encounter a higher regs (regulars) to fish ratio.

Table selection is now very important! Sitting on a 6 max table with 5 other regulars playing a standard TAG game of 20/18 will be ludicrously pointless at 50nl and there will only be one winner at that table, the rake! Don’t be afraid to jump around from table to table in search of the fish. Often you can spot players who are likely going to be bad before you have even sat down at a table. You can do this by searching for people sat with anything from $25-45 (or just under $50). These people are usually sat with ‘case money’ (last remaining money in their account) as they were unable to reload to the maximum amount.

The games at 50nl will be more aggressive then you are used to at the lower limits. There will be less calling and more raising/re-raising which means you are going to have to adjust to these guys. If you use one of the tracking software packages such as Hold’em manager then you can see stats on your opponents allowing you to determine if people are 3 betting (re-raising) often, therefore ‘light’ or infrequently, therefore ‘tight’. A host of stats will be available to you and from this you need to learn to adjust ranges to each opponent accordingly in order to succeed at 50nl.

A great way to improve is being part of a ‘poker community’ or forum. Contributing hands that you have struggled with and getting advice with any queries you have from players that have beaten the respected levels, is a great and often free source of information.

Bankroll Management

BonusWhore — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:36:26 +0000

As Poker becomes tougher, the need to have solid foundations in your game is becoming an integral part to being successful! A Bankroll Management Strategy has become an ever increasing element of this. There is however no secret formula for Bankroll Management, but this article will go some way to giving you a good grasp and rule of thumb to keep your bankroll from ever going broke.

Your bankroll depends highly on your circumstances, ability and level of play. For example, if you are a recreational player who also has a full-time job, does not rely on poker as an income and sees it more as hobby, then you could probably afford to be a little looser with your bankroll. The option to replenish your ‘roll will always be there. However, if you keep withdrawing when you exceed the bankroll requirements for the level that you are playing, then you have a much higher chance of going broke (in fact, it’s almost certain at some point).

For those who decide to be a bit more careful with their money (this category normally falls in-between people playing as a ‘Pro’ and recreational players looking to make long term money from the game) then obviously you will need to be a bit more constraint about your bankroll requirements for each given level, especially if it will be tough to replenish.

Professional’s requirements are going to have to be extremely conservative and are designed for the kind of people who wouldn’t be able to top their roll up and be in financial ruin after some horror sessions at the table. ‘Pro’s’ would also have to skim off the top of their bankroll for living costs and expenditures making it harder for their bankroll to grow.

Obviously each different poker discipline will need a separate Bankroll Management requirement. Below we look at suitable buy in/entry amounts for NLHE (No Limit Holde’em) cash, FLHE (Fixed limit hold’em) Cash, SNGs (Sit and Go’s) and MTTs (Multi Table Tournaments).

PRO

FL Holdem – 550 Big Bets

NL Holdem – 45 Buy Ins

SNG – 65 entries

MTT – 200 Entries

Protected

FL Holdem – 400 Big Bets

NL Holdem – 25 Buy Ins

SNG – 45 entries

MTT – 100 Entries

Recreational

FL Holdem – 200 Big Bets

NL Holdem – 15 Buy Ins

SNG – 20 entries

MTT – 40 Entries

The main reason we need these bankroll requirements is to handle to swings of Poker (variance). Variance is a term massively over used in poker communities and people often use it as an excuse for bad play. However, that does not mean it doesn’t exist. Some people will feel the effects much greater then others and sometimes that is tough to grasp for a lot of poker players. Coping with these factors will often make or break your poker ‘career’ and many people fail as a result.

As part of practicing good bankroll management, a big part is knowing when you have to move down in limits simply because a ‘bad run’ does not allow you to comfortably play at your normal level. Whilst most people will see moving down as failure in poker, try to look at it from a point of view of it being temporary, but necessary for you to rebuild thus, becoming a better player.

Treat your bankroll with respect as it may not be around for long if you don’t!

Advanced Hold’em Strategy

BonusWhore — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:35:47 +0000

At this point in your poker ‘career’ you should be at the stage of being able to beat the micro limits and looking to take the next step. Throughout this article we will look at ways you can do this and things you can add or develop into your game.

As you move up, the games get a lot tougher, the players are better and they have a greater understanding of not only their game, but also of your game. To combat this it’s vital you take a pro-active role in your poker development. By this we can be doing things such as reviewing hands from previous sessions, then seeing which hands you really struggled to grasp against a certain opponent and look to maybe post that hand on one of the many forums available for advice and guidance. Even if you feel the feedback hasn’t really helped with the hand, it will have at the very least meant you are thinking about how the it played out and other avenues in which to take during it.

Taking notes on players is really important at the higher levels (they will be doing so of you, so you should of them). When note taking think about notes they might have on you such as ‘has seen me check-raise when deep with bottom set on a monotone board’. This will give you an insight as to what they will know of you and then give you an edge and the ability to adjust to counter this. Watch how people react with different hands if you can i.e. bet sizing with made hands/ bluffs, timing tells (you will be surprised, even online, how many timing tells people have during hands) and how light they are prepared to put their stack in. If you mass multi-table or feel you don’t have time whilst midsession, make sure you go over your hands and make notes from the hand histories you have in Hold’em Manger or Poker Tracker.

Don’t stagnate! Just because you are beating a level for a certain x bb/100, does not mean you have poker cracked. The games evolve so much (especially these days with all the poker training sites available) that you must stay pro-active in your quest to beat the next level. This is one the most common problems with poker ‘professionals’. After previously beating a level, all of a sudden they have lost a lot of money through the mentality of ‘Well I used to beat this level a year ago and now I’m a losing player’. It’s more than likely going to be because they haven’t adapted their game at all whilst people around have improved.

Don’t limit yourself with learning directly from poker sources. Sometimes reading literature from ‘the outside world’ can be just, if not more, effective in the quest to improve as a poker player. This is defiantly apparent when it comes to learning about tilt issues and keeping yourself in shape (both in body and mind). Advancing in poker is tough and if you don’t work hard and put the effort in to improve, then you will get left behind wondering why you can’t beat 25nl.