::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
:: Shorthand Game
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
::
|
|
Deceit
In this small introduction to the spectacular domain of poker deception, we're going to take a look at two concepts that even beginners should learn to master: bluffing and slowplaying. Remember that playing poker is like being a spy - the more adept you are at misleading those around you, the more success you’ll have. Enjoy the information which follows!
Bluffing
Contrary to popular belief, bluffing is pretty much useless in low-limit games (anything less than $2-$4). It's rare that people wouldn't call all the way to a showdown, so there's really no point in trying to scare people out of the pot. Bluffing should be saved for higher-limit play, or ‘bigger’ events.
When you play at higher limits, the best time to bluff is when you "represent" something and when there are only one or two opponents in the pot. 2 illustrations: betting at the flop with a high card on the board "represents" a pair; raising when a flush is possible "represents" a flush. Although there's a lot of in-depth strategy to bluffing in poker, it's best to start small and gain more confidence (and therefore, skill) with each success. Click here for more information.
Slowplaying
What is slowplaying? Slowplaying means deceiving your opponents into thinking you have less of a hand than you actually do. To illustrate this, let’s say you hold a pair of kings. The flop shows another king and a pair of 3's. That means you've flopped a full house-congratulations! Obviously there's no reason to scare people out of the pot, because it's hardly likely someone will beat your hand. So, instead, you should wait until the turn or maybe even the river to fill the pot with bets and raises. This way, you'll maximize the advantage you have with that special hand.
There are two basic conditions for when to slowplay:
1. You hold a killer-hand and there's almost a 0% chance of someone drawing out on you.
2. You'll only get action if some other cards come out that will improve your opponents' hands-but those cards still aren't good enough beat what you've got.
|
|
