Factors To Consider When Playing Poker

Poker Articles

14/10/2009

Factors to consider when playing a hand

Most newbies in poker make the big mistake of only deciding whether to play a hand or not based on the hole cards they have been dealt. This is dangerous as there are many other factors that need to be taken into consideration, these are:

1. Position

Position is a big deal in poker, and it should be something you think about every hand you play. Annette Obrestad, the youngest ever winner of a World Series Of Poker, once played a 180 man game without looking at any of her cards - and came first! She did this to show just how important it is to play in position. If you are 'Under the gun' - meaning the first person to act after the big blind, then this is not the best position to play in, you have no information from anyone else around the table about their hands, it is a dangerous spot. If however you are 'on the button' - the person before the small blind, then you are in a good position, because most people will act before you, you can gather information from other players about their hand strength by the betting and raising patterns and you can choose to play your cards accordingly.

2. Stack sizes

Not just your own but those keep track of players around you too. If you enter a pot with someone who has a stack much larger then yours, be aware that they will most likely put a lot more pressure on you. And if you are the one with the large stack it often pays to be more aggressive with the smaller stacks, taking them all in when you have a good hand and a decent position.

3. Blinds

How big are the blinds, and how big are they in relation to your stack and the the others players? If the blinds are large and a certain player has a small stack it can often force them into going all in with a low or marginal hand. If your own stack is low in comparison to the blinds you should consider pushing marginal hands, or hands you wouldn't normally play, this way you can blind steal if everyone folds and if you do get called you can always get lucky and double or triple up. This is much better then letting then blinds wipe out your stack, whilst hoping for that monster hand that never arrives.

4. Tournament Stage

If the tournament stage is approaching the 'Bubble' - the area around the payout - then people start playing more cautiously, because they want to get in the money. You have to ask yourself, will you be happy just to get a small amount of money, or are you playing to come first? If it is the latter then around the bubble is a good time to play extra aggressively with marginal hands as people are more likely to fold to stay in the game and get in the money.

5. The type of tournament

The type of tournament dictates how people play. Is it a Freeroll? People don't care so much about losing because they haven't put their own money into it, hence they play more aggressively. Re-buy tournaments are generally more aggressive too. Always keep the tournament type you are playing in mind when choosing whether or not to play your hand.

6.Your cards

Last (but not least) is your hand, obviously there are a few monster hands you will always want to play regardless of the situation e.g AA, KK, KA suited. But now knowing all the other things you should be taking consideration, it is not just as simple as playing your cards ABC. Hopefully this guide will have expanded your awareness, so not only will you play those big hands, but you can spot opportunities to play marginal hands, you would otherwise of folded.

tags - deal in poker, Annette Obrestad, World Series of Poker, WSOP, Freeroll, type of tournament, re-buy tournaments, aggressive, monster hands, marginal hands, blubble, payout, tournament stage, hand strenght, raising, small blind, on the button

<a href="http://www.webmastersmallorca.com/formbuild/view.php?id=34" title="Comment On This Poker Article">Comment On This Poker Article</a>