Poker strategy

The poker strategy is an integral part of the poker game that is not a game of pure luck. This article discusses general, basic strategies that are largely independent of the chosen poker variant valid.

Basics

Generally, the goal of a poker player to maximize the expected value of its action, that is to select the one of the options in any situation in which it makes the long-term average or the most gain.

When this is the case, describes the fundamental theorem of poker by David Sklansky, which he puts forward in his book The Theory of Poker: A player makes in the long run then profit, he plays as much as he would play if he maps the his opponents would know. Conversely, a player loses if his playing style is different from that which he would choose if he had known the cards of the opponent.

Thus it is in the interest of every player to find out what could keep his opponents for cards to align his actions afterwards. Conversely, it is often profitable to entice the enemy with feints as the bluff or the slow-play to actions that they would not make the knowledge of the opponent's cards.

The concept of hand - Range

As a poker player rarely enough information has to reduce the likely hands of the enemy on a single card combination, is the concept of hands -range, the distribution of possible combinations of cards held by a player in a given situation, is of central importance. While the range of the enemy at the beginning of a poker hand contains all possible combinations of cards, it can be narrowed down further due to the playing style of the opponent in the course of a poker hand. Retirement of any player is therefore to estimate the chances of success of your cards against the range of possible opponents hands in order to align its actions thereafter can. Must be taken into account the " pot odds ".

Pot Odds

Main article: Pot Odds

The " pot odds " describe the comparison of the size of the pot with the probabilities (odds ), a made hand ( handmade ) to get. The application of the " pot odds " decides in many moments of the game as to whether call or fit a player should, especially in draws, where the actual hand is worthless, but can be a strong hand by an appropriate additional card. Is a pure Draw the ratio of the insert to the size of the pot smaller than the odds to look for the next card a good hand, can be called, conversely, you should fold. In order to make long-term profit, it is important to note the " pot odds ".

In some situation, it makes sense to go along despite the lack of pot odds because you can expect in the event that you meet their card to win additional inserts in the further course of the poker hand. This is called Implied Odds ( implied odds ). Conversely, mean reverse implied odds that you actually in the best case, that you meets its desired hand, can still lose bigger bets in the course when an opponent has a stronger hand made.

Position

Main article: Position ( poker)

When position is defined as the point at which a player is sitting (relatively speaking to the dealer ). It means a distinct advantage, being the holder of a late position, since one obtains information about the players who are on the front of a row. A player in early position needs therefore on average better hands as a player in late position since the early players, the lack of information that he does not know how his opponent will play the hand.

Particularly important is the position in late betting rounds in which it comes to higher amounts. Therefore, it is recommended that in the blinds, which have the advantage of the last position only in the first round to play tight despite initially favorable pot odds.

Deception

With a deception, a player tries to bring his opponent to play differently than if he would know the cards of deceptive. It is necessary for the fundamental theorem to integrate elements of deception in your game. There are two ways to play deceptive:

Slow play is when a player has a strong hand at all or not fully alludes, so rather calls and checked rather than raise or set to give the opponent the impression that they can win with a medium strong hand, and take him as to later betting rounds to leads to mistakes. This slow play is the exact mirror image of a bluff.

Reasons to increase or set

There are several reasonable reasons to raise to (increase).

• In order to increase the pot when you are of the opinion that you hold the best hand (raise for value )
• To expel the player with the even weaker hand (especially in draws )
• In order to move players with a stronger hand to give up.
• In order to bluff or semi- bluff to
• To get a free card in a later round of betting (when a player raises, he represents a good hand. A raise can now cause an opposing player plays more careful and checked rather than speculate. , If the player now has a Draw, gives him a raise a free card on the turn or river, especially in late position )
• To get information (If a player raises is, his opponent forced to pay or get out. This action gives him additional information )

Reasons to go along

Even for a call there are several motives.

• To see another card as cheaply as possible (especially in draws )
• If a raise instead of a call would result that the enemy would put away all weaker hands of his range and would only play the superior hands.
• In order to prevent a re-raise (especially with aggressive players )
• To deceive his opponent by pretense of relative weakness ( Slow Play)
• To prepare for a later Bluff ( floating)

Gambling behavior

Poker players can assign different attributes due to their general gambling behavior over several poker hands: Loose players play more hands than tight players. This one builds up with the other players on an image, which can be crucial in later game situations. Raise and set aggressive players, while passive players call and check more. An aggressive game is considered to be more effective, as a passive player is easier to see through.

When Image is referred to the impression that a player leaves behind his opponent. A player can build and exploit by changing his style of play, while his opponent noticed nothing of a certain image. So it is easier to bluff a player considered to be tight. Progresses, skill level, both of their own, as well as the enemy, establishing and making use of the images is becoming increasingly important. The targeted building an image is part of Deception (English for deception ), the masking their own way to entice his opponent to erroneous moves.

Bankroll Management

For poker strategy also belongs to minimize the risk of their own to play poker available amount of money to lose ( bankroll ) ( see also: Ruin of the player ). At variance -prone games with negative (eg roulette ) or neutral ( eg fair coin toss ) expected value of the risk of ruin is upon repeated games basically 100 %, but the average time to ruin depends on the starting bankroll and the expected value.

Many aspects of portfolio theory can be transferred to the poker bankroll (eg Sharpe ratio ), the other way around can be derived from game theory concepts, such as the Kelly formula applied to financial markets.

Due to the variance of the game and the finite sample sizes not a poker player knows his real expectation value, ie its profit rate. But even with a player with a positive profit rate of the risk of ruin can be at 100 % because of the close match inherent variance.

This risk can only be reduced by a smaller choice of inserts. As a general guideline (ie 30 x 100 big blinds ) shall in no limit cash game at any time at least 20-30 full buyins for the limit to have that to play. If this should not be the case, requires proper bankroll management to play smaller stakes. The fewer opponents at the table, the more buy-ins needed one, since this increases the variance. For tournaments as a guideline often 200 buyins ( entry fee ) is given (all figures for No Limit Texas Hold'em ).