Morg said:Pokerstars? meh, I prefer to do it with real people so I can see their faces
kainedamo said:I'm not a very experienced player. In fact I've only been playing on and off over the last two or three months. So maybe you guys could clear up something?
It seems to me, from the games I've played online, and from the games I watch on tv with the professionals... the game has more to do with luck than what some people are willing to admit. One card can make all the difference. One card can turn a sure win into a loss.
So I watched a lot of poker online. And in some ways, the pros are worse than amatuars. I mean, they make these stupid bets and they let their pride get in the way. The pros do not like backing down - and that is very dangerous.
Jamie Gold said:Ok, the "luck factor".
Yeah, a lot of poker is about luck and yes one card can make a difference. This is inherent to the game. However, poker players can turn the odds in their favour.
For example, raising before the flop can make some people fold poor hands and thus emilinating people catching lucky cards with weak hole cards. Furthermore, a good poker player will know when he's beat and will fold - even if they have a monster hand like three of a kind. (Example, I had pocket Queens today and folded on a flop that came K93 and it turned out to be the right decision.)
But if you're the short stack, then yes, luck is needed. However, any winner of a poker tournament that says luck plays NO part is a liar.
As for the proffesionals v amatuers, well, you gotta remember proffesionals play a certain way. They believe if they hold AK preflop and make a big raise, anyone holding crappy cards will immediately fold. A lot of new players are willing to gamble on the most awful hands.
Also, poker on TV is heavily edited. A lot of the plays you see on TV are the result of hours of play, hours of memorising how players played certain hands.
To be fair, it's hard once you're a pro. Everyone wants to bust you. Imagine if you were a famous poker player, everyone will want to be the one that knocked you out of a tournament. Thus, proffesionals often have trouble playing amatuers as a consequence of this.
Hope this semi-long post answerd your questions![]()
Poetic Chaos said:Jack/4 is my all-in hand.
Not necessarily. My husband's "winningest" hand is 2/6. I don't know how many times he's won with that, it's kind of strange. When the rest of the table (of people we play with) usually automatically folds these low, spaced-out cards and only play higher cards, he may wait for the flop to see if it's worth his money. Having pockets Aces or trip 5's and losing to a Full House or Straight can really piss a guy offScottyBBadd said:Not a good all in hand.
It's still not a good hand, but you are very correct that it can win you a lot of money. In fact IMO the worst starting hands win you the biggest pots (although they also lose you a lot of money). Like you said, your J/4 off doesn't have a straight draw, but if suited has a flush draw. The only problem with that is that when you're suited, you have an 85% chance to NOT hit your flush, but like you said, if you do, you can not only make some good money, but you can also get under the other player's skin which can be just as advantagous.Lurk said:Not necessarily. My husband's "winningest" hand is 2/6. I don't know how many times he's won with that, it's kind of strange. When the rest of the table (of people we play with) usually automatically folds these low, spaced-out cards and only play higher cards, he may wait for the flop to see if it's worth his money. Having pockets Aces or trip 5's and losing to a Full House or Straight can really piss a guy off![]()
Granted, you can't make a Straight from Jack/4, but you're still open for a Flushy or more when others like to play two high pair or trips. Heh, having a straight and losing to a Flush sucks. So does losing on the river! Losing to four of a kind sucks, cuz you're looking at the guy like, "Nah. He doesn't have it. What are chances?.......DAMMIT!!"
I don't play much, I don't like to concentrate for five hours straight on just poker. Games where you can buy out when you're tired are nice. Just don't play for fifteen minutes, double up and bail![]()
The best advice I can give you is to constantly keep adapting your strategy. I change my play considerably depending on what stakes, and who else is at the table.kainedamo said:If I do decide to play for real money (Texas Hold 'Em online), do you guys have any tips?
I've read up about playing tight-aggressive. Playing only a few hands, and when you do play a hand, you keep raising, freaks out the other players.
And I was thinking, I'd put aside about 200 quid for playing. If ever I lost all of it, then I stop playing forever.
Lurk said:Not necessarily. My husband's "winningest" hand is 2/6. I don't know how many times he's won with that, it's kind of strange. When the rest of the table (of people we play with) usually automatically folds these low, spaced-out cards and only play higher cards, he may wait for the flop to see if it's worth his money. Having pockets Aces or trip 5's and losing to a Full House or Straight can really piss a guy off![]()
Granted, you can't make a Straight from Jack/4, but you're still open for a Flushy or more when others like to play two high pair or trips. Heh, having a straight and losing to a Flush sucks. So does losing on the river! Losing to four of a kind sucks, cuz you're looking at the guy like, "Nah. He doesn't have it. What are chances?.......DAMMIT!!"
I don't play much, I don't like to concentrate for five hours straight on just poker. Games where you can buy out when you're tired are nice. Just don't play for fifteen minutes, double up and bail![]()
Jourmugand said:I also play Yu-Gi-Oh.
I'm talking about that site, I never like to play online. More fun facing your the person and get to know his tellsbeing deaf I'm kinda good at reading faces
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