Here's Some More for You

Dear CALVIN,

Here is this week's issue of poker tips and strategies.

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THIS WEEK IN POKER:
* Bluffing Strategy: Stealing Pots & Winning Big with Nothing
* Trapping: Creating More Action & More $$$ For Yourself
* Learning to Fish
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BLUFFING, TRAPPING, AND FISING

* Bluffing Strategy: Stealing Pots & Winning Big with Nothing
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Bluffing is a necessary component in taking your poker game to the next
level and making some serious $$$. If you sit around and wait to catch
prime starting hands, you'll find yourself getting impatient and
possibly on tilt. Being able to recognize a weak opponent(s) and pouncing in
an effort to steal the pot can keep you earning even when you're not
catching cards.

Bluffing is all about position relative to the button. When you're last
to act, you have the luxury of making your play based on that of
everyone else at the table. If you sense weakness at the table, you can take
a stab at winning the pot regardless of whether or not you're holding
any type of hand whatsoever. (Be careful not to fall into an opponent's
trap.)

A semi-bluff is a safer play than the full bluff in that it affords a
bit of flexibility in the case that your bluff is called. An example of
this would be making a huge play on a flush draw whilst holding the
appropriate Ace. Knowing that nobody has the nut flush might allow you to
make a play suggesting that you in fact have it, perhaps forcing out a
smaller flush that has already been made and beats your Ace high.

* Trapping: Creating More Action & More $$$ For Yourself
--------------------------------------------------------
Trapping is an important technique that can be used by a smart player
to greatly increase the size of his/her winning pots. If you are far
ahead in a hand, exercise patience so as to keep your opponent playing. A
strong bet could force players out of a pot you are sure to win,
preventing you from fully capitalizing on major hands.

Feign weakness, check-raise, make it difficult for your opponent to get
away from a pot. The truth of the matter is that you want to get called
sometimes, so you have to bet accordingly.

Trapping is a great way to generate a lot of action where there
wouldn't necessarily have been any before. Trapping can be a slippery slope
however. By attempting to trap your opponent by feigning weakness, you
might actually allow him/her to catch a miracle card that ends up beating
you.

* Learning to Fish
------------------
A fish is a bad poker player who tends to lose a lot of money. Good
players are excited to find a fish at their table, and always sorry to see
one go. Online poker rooms (such as Party Poker) offer players a buddy
list / chat service through which to chat with fellow players. If you
find a fish at one of your tables, you can add their username to your
buddy list, and then be able to get an alert any time they log on and sit
down. Although you can't get a listing of their table, they will more
than likely be playing the same limits and you can simply perform a
manual table search.

Using this method allows you to take advantage of online players whom
you feel you have an edge over.


SHERMSTICK

Thanks for the info. I especially liked this bit, classic!!

* Learning to Fish
------------------
A fish is a bad poker player who tends to lose a lot of money. Good
players are excited to find a fish at their table, and always sorry to see
one go. Online poker rooms (such as Party Poker) offer players a buddy
list / chat service through which to chat with fellow players. If you
find a fish at one of your tables, you can add their username to your
buddy list, and then be able to get an alert any time they log on and sit
down. Although you can't get a listing of their table, they will more
than likely be playing the same limits and you can simply perform a
manual table search.

Using this method allows you to take advantage of online players whom
you feel you have an edge over.

Hey PJF:


No problem, I recieve these little tidbits once a week to share with everybody. Im glad you could use them to strengthen your game, so stay tuned for the next one.


SHERMSTICK