Notes: +EVolution of poker #2

+EVolution of Poker #2

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Where to start learning poker and the elements of poker

- Managing your bankroll
- Maximizing the use of videos and forums
- Using software
- Poker Fundamentals

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VARIANCE

- Variance is why bad players keep playing!

- Winrates and Variance

The higher your winrate, the less variance will hurt you.

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WHAT ARE FUNDAMENTALS? / WHAT IS FUNDAMENTALLY SOUND POKER?

- Understanding why a particular play is correct
- Putting money in when you have an edge / not putting money in when you don't have an edge

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BASIC PREFLOP FUNDAMENTALS

- You can only win preflop by raising

- Limping in 6-max

There are two types of limping - open limping and overlimping

Open limping is often a poor choice, because you place yourself in an awkward spot if a player behind you raises. You either have to call, investing more than you had wanted to preflop, or fold, in which case you have lost your preflop investment without even getting to see a flop.

Clearly, when someone limps in front of you, you have the opportunity to put them into that same difficult spot.

- Multiway or shorthanded?

Which way does your hand play best? Think about the types of hands you'll can flop with that hand.

ATo - usually top pair. Not a good hand multiway, as you'll usually have top or second, pair which isn't all that good against multiple opponents

44 - A set or nothing. A good hand multiway, as you'll have an easy decision on most flops against any kind of action.

- Deep stack or shallow?

Hands that favor deep stacks are those that can hit very strong hands - sets, flushes, nut straights = multiway hands

Hands that favor short stacks are those that hit moderately strong hands more frequently - high cards = heads up hands

- Position dependant hand?

Hit-or-miss hands (pocket pairs) are less position reliant than those that involve a lot of draws (76s) or high cards.

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BASIC POSTFLOP FUNDAMENTALS

- Hand Reading
- Ranges

Once you know what your opponent is holding, you can play against him perfectly.

Lacking that, you want to narrow down his range as often as you can. Every action that your opponent makes tells you something about his hand.

- Continuation bets

- Draws

How much value does your draw have?

Do you have overcards that may be good? How likely is your draw best when you do get there? Do you have extra outs via a gutshot, or are you more limited with a straight draw on a flushing board?

What odds do you need to chase?

- Slowplaying

- River, calling and betting

- Getting all in

- Sizing your bets