What are the first 5 things you do when you look at your cards?

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10TICK

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Hi guys,

I am a very new beginner (played some freerolls and play money cash games), but other than that I am fresh and excited to start learning. My questions is, what are the first 5 things you do when you first get your cards?

Right now, my main thought process is reminding myself what position I'm in and what I will do if x folds or 3 bets or limps. I remind myself my chip count. and then I plan out my play (3-bet, limp, fold, etc.). What else could I be doing before I make my play?

Thanks guys!
 
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cursed989

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I immediately unleash every tell that I have.
 
lcid86

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curse the dealer, order another drink, pull up my hoodie, spill some chips and raise!
 
S3mper

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A long time ago I heard a player (I think it was Phil Galfond) when talking about the thought process of which action to take:

Completely paraphrasing here
"I ask myself if I should bet/raise, call/check, or fold, always in that order because aggression should be first on your mind and you just go down the aggression ladder."

That's probably way off but you get the idea. It's something that enters my mind a lot. Of course this doesn't completely apply to your question but it tends to be what I do throughout the hand.
 
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CallmeFloppy

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I think a more appropriate question is what are the five things I think about BEFORE I look at my cards. What is my position, what are the blinds, what is my stack, who is acting behind me, who is acting before me, what is their and my table image.

Then I usually look at my cards and fold.
 
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JPainTrainSicko

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Eventually those things will come naturally and happen almost without thought. But you're definitely on the right track here, first make sure to observe your opponents. Understand what the tells they are giving off as they look at their cards are and what you can understand about their bet including sizing and from what position and with what stack relative to the bb. Key note... Make sure to look to your left! Observe players behind you as they look at their cards, if they look before its their turn.

That one alone is a hand full at first lol. Timing for looking at your cards has a few common theories. One is wait until action is on you. The benefit is that you get to watch others actively and don't miss anything. The draw back is everyone gets to watch your reaction if you have one. Give them nothing and try to have a standard timing to how long you look at your cards. Another is to look at your cards immediately or soon before it your turn. This has the benefit that most will be paying attention to someone else and not you. The obvious draw back is you may miss a piece of info.

Consider action that has happened if any, consider your options and I definitely like the Phil galfond reference here to consider the most aggressive action first :). Like Daniel Negreanu said recently, "most players are looking for a reason to fold, I'm looking for a reason to raise". From that consider likely scenarios that could play out based on your action and how you would like/respond. Pay attention to your left and see if anyone is giving off honest or misleading signs of their intentions. Then decide on your move and make it.

From that watch, draw conclusions and act similarly for each street! Good Luck and enjoy the learning it take minutes to learn and a lifetime to master!
 
Carl Trooper

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Pray I have aces

Accept I won't have aces

Peel an ace

Start to do a cartwheel

See the next card is a 2

Get mad

Shove anyways

Get called

Bust

Go home







:p
 
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ph_il

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1. Place card protector on cards.
2. Watch as everyone looks at their cards; try to pick up any tells.
3. Look at my cards and see 93o. Exclaim "Aces! Oh, yeah!"
4. Confidentially announce "All-in." and push my stack forward.
5. Hope other players believe me.

This strategy actually works about 1 in every 221 hands dealt. So, you can really catch players off guard.
 
arbahool

arbahool

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A very good question and a post itself.I personally start thinking when its my turn to play.It all depends of a situation you are at.You need to consider a lot of details,your stack,other opponents stacks,blinds,overall position in tournament,wich players are before you wich are after,blinds...but most important is what are you holding.And when you consider all that details its up to you will you play that hand or not.But if you are close to cash out you should play with more causion and wait for that place
 
Goldog

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a.What Game am I Playing?-
b.What have I seen so far?-
c.Should I Raise?
Oh Yea My Cards-(Looks at cards)
Do what I decided in point c. Fold/Raise.
 
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Terrell

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Try and keep an eye on everyone lol
 
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ShoTyme

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Wonder to self:

Why am I here?
Where's my beer?
Where's my wife?
Where's my girlfriend?
What was the question?
 
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Tosh_67

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Good question... Not sure I have a clear defined thought process although sub consciously there probably is something computing in my head

Primary thoughts are of the cards themselves and how strong they are then I'll consider my position and stack size... then how i will bet and if I should bet if action occurs before me. Other things to consider are how aggressive the players are after me and if I'm likely to be raised or put into an all in situation... I suppose the thought process is pretty standard really, I guess to a large extent we should all be thinking similarly...
 
ribaric

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Watch other players first then look at your cards your position and then decide what to play
 
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vascoace09

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A long time ago I heard a player (I think it was Phil Galfond) when talking about the thought process of which action to take:

Completely paraphrasing here
"I ask myself if I should bet/raise, call/check, or fold, always in that order because aggression should be first on your mind and you just go down the aggression ladder."

That's probably way off but you get the idea. It's something that enters my mind a lot. Of course this doesn't completely apply to your question but it tends to be what I do throughout the hand.

Very nice know i 'll try to do in this order.
:) :)
 
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kazmeer

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1. memorize your cards immediately. this way you don't have to look at them again for the rest of the hand and you can focus on attempting to read people.
2. watch everyone else as they look a their cards. look for even the slightest reaction of someone as it may be a tell they have a good hand. if you see someone raise their eyebrows and then they raise pre-flop, they generally will have either a pocket pair or two large face cards.
3. RELAX, try not to strain your face or sweat. just chill it is just a game after all :).
4. think ahead. count the cards left in the deck that can make your hand better and attempt at doing the math as to chances of you having the best hand.
5. dont regret folding junk hands, say you have 3-8 off suite, you fold and the flop is 3-3-8. don't kick yourself man! you folded the right hand, sometimes the deck just comes out that way. :)
 
ubo

ubo

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I think that the opponents based on their game and bets... And I bet if I'm going to go to the Bank
 
pescaofish

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After I look at my cards,I will mess my chips ( to seem nervous), grab a beer, look at the cards again, stare at the other players and finally laugh. :D
 
DuffMcGruff

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Wow what a great question!
I'd have to say, in order, this is (usually) my thought process
1. Position
IMO the most important aspect of preflop play. This will determine what hands you can play

2. Action before me
What players before me have done also very important. For example, let's say I hold KQ off in the HJ. If it folds to me, I'll probably raise vs folding if it has opened before me. KQ and similar hands (kJ, A10, QJ, etc. play much better when your opening the pot. Suited is a different story, but that's for another thread!

3. My cards
Yes this is not the most important decision preflop, although it is still very important

4. Stack Sizes/blinds
Stack sizes can change my decision on even playing a hand or not. If there's a small stack left to act, you usually need to be willing to play for that amount unless you have a good read/are willing to fold to a shove

5. My/opponents image
I think too few poker players play hands without thinking about what their table image is. I suggest buying every mike caro book available, he is the mad genius after all.

Great thread buddy! Hope I helped at least a little bit
 
chicopaw

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cross ur fingers and shove ur top pr an A hi kickers
 
nutthink

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1.shove 2.just call 3.ok im raise 4.try to steal blind 5.bluff (everybody call and im in late position)
 
Jauheni Danilenka

Jauheni Danilenka

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1. Assess the chances of their pocket cards;
2. Position on the button;
3. Compare your stack (in big blinds) and stacks of other players;
4. Determine the style of play (tight, loose);
5. Monitor the behavior of other players.
 
AjsmenX

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Wow what a great question!
I'd have to say, in order, this is (usually) my thought process
1. Position
IMO the most important aspect of preflop play. This will determine what hands you can play

2. Action before me
What players before me have done also very important. For example, let's say I hold KQ off in the HJ. If it folds to me, I'll probably raise vs folding if it has opened before me. KQ and similar hands (kJ, A10, QJ, etc. play much better when your opening the pot. Suited is a different story, but that's for another thread!

3. My cards
Yes this is not the most important decision preflop, although it is still very important

4. Stack Sizes/blinds
Stack sizes can change my decision on even playing a hand or not. If there's a small stack left to act, you usually need to be willing to play for that amount unless you have a good read/are willing to fold to a shove

5. My/opponents image
I think too few poker players play hands without thinking about what their table image is. I suggest buying every mike caro book available, he is the mad genius after all.

Great thread buddy! Hope I helped at least a little bit

I like this way :)
 
CriesuaID

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-Number of Big Blinds/ Stack
-Position
-How the other players are (tight, loose, agressive)
-Action before me
-Determine, after see my cards, if I have to fold, raise or even limp.
 
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