improved strats...

I noticed that in my return to poker, i was playing a bit differently. I maintained a similar style as before, but i had improved my overall gameplay greatly.

1. Manipulation:
-I have found that i can manipulate my opponent into doing what i want them to do. If i want them to fold, a bet/raise is very likely to get them to fold. If im slow playing and i want them to bet out, a check or a weak bet will very likely to get them to bet/raise. Does it work all the time? No, how they are playing the hand, showing weakness or strength, determines how i want to play my opponents.

2. Action and re-action:
-The saying "For every action there is a reaction." works well in poker. Pay attention to your opponents reactions for every action you make. In fact, if a player before you acts, pay attention to your opponents reaction to that particular player. How your opponents react can give you an idea of the kind of hand they might be holding and how you plan on playing that hand. for ex:

a. its my turn to act, i pick up some chips and think about making a raise.

1b. players who quickly pick up chips are ready to throw usually have a decent hand to play with. if they dont double check their cards, i expect them to be sitting mid pockets, suited connectors or possibly KJ or KQ type hands.

2b. players who pick up chips and count out the rest are probably thinking 2 things. 1. "if i call, ill have X-amount left." for these players i can put them on a hand they like, but is weak in general. ex: K/9 or Q/10. another tell is they like to check their cards to make sure they have what they have. 2. "im going to call and go all in for x-amount." I can put them on a decent hand, maybe mid pockets. ultimately, they want to take the pot or go heads up. an easy way i found that tells which player is which. #1 players usually have the bet ready to throw in if they do call, they might hesitate and decide to push all in at the last minute, but i know that at that moment i probably have them beat. #2 players usually have their chips stacked and ready to go if they decide to push. Here i have to determine if im beat or if im golden.

3. Fold, Bet, Reraise...call.
-Thats how i play my hands. Most of the time im folding preflop, but if i do decided to play a hand im either betting or reraising. I dont see a flop for cheap and i dont let my opponents see a flop for cheap either. unless im slow playing, i rarely just call.

4. raising with 2/7
-If i raise i am telling the other players that i have a "strong" hand. I am telling them that if they want to stay in they're gonna have to pay and they're going to have to have a decent hand to play with. Since im representing a strong hand, im also saying that i can outplay you when the flop comes. Especially if i had taken note of my opponents reation to my raise, i can play my 2/7 as a hand stronger then their own. Do i do it? no...its a bit silly, but the idea is: it doesnt matter what you're a raising with, its what hand is your opponent planning on calling with. and judging their reaction, you can play your hand like its stronger then it actually is. i have made more money off of small pots by representing a strong hand w/ 8/9 off, then i have winning big pots with say AK.

..more to come later.

Your observations are applicable but only against "good" players. By good players, I mean folks that respect a pre-flop raise as a sign of strength. So many new players just play any two cards and hope to catch a flop. Another fact I have discovered when playing live is watch what chips people use to make their play. If they use the lowest demonination - they probably have a weak hand and don't expect the chips back. If they use their premium chips they are showing strength. I've found this to be accurate a large percentage of the time but skilled players will use this to their advantage...