Archive for the ‘Omaha Holdem’ Category

Deciding Your Poker Game of Choice

Tuesday, January 5th, 2010

Omaha is an interesting game and, as many attest, is quite profitable, but there is comparatively little material you could find to learn safely from, and Hold’em is in fact a good place to start for anyone. At the present time Hold’em ranks as the most popular game in casinos and online and has received much attention in media and literature (online and in book form).

Having decided that, there are still several more personal questions to ask yourself before deciding which Hold’em variant to try. It is of utmost importance for any poker player to know whether they are risk oriented or not, or, to be more exact, to what extant they like to risk.

It is a very peculiar thrill, and those who cannot stand, having calculated your best chances, to make that step into the air, like Indiana Jones towards the end of The Last Crusade (he did not so much summon the faith the walk on air, but merely calculated that his father’s diary implies an invisible bridge), had better keep away from the poker table (watching others play might be the compromise to settle for). Nor is poker the right activity for people who cannot control themselves and play kamikaze-style. For those who feel they do not sufficiently understand themselves, there are tests which determine inclination towards risk. The more risky you are the more sense it makes to play no-limit cash and tournament poker.

Determine whether you are best at “math” or “psychology”: if you are a human calculator, best try limit games; if you can read the opponents hands by reading his body language, your best shot is at no-limit and in multi table tournaments(MTT).

If you are willing to devote the time, complex no-limit and MTT games offer the best means to develop as a player. If you are just taking a look around, at first stick to sit-and-go tournaments and limit games.

For those whose aims are to grow as players, limit offers the least potential. High-level limit games are much rarer than no-limit or tournament games. Tournaments make the most sense for aspiring champions.

Limit poker is becoming rarer in casinos and clubs and is more accessible online. Tournament poker is the only form of the game officially considered a sport, so that it may be important to pay attention to tournaments in public establishments.

If you consider poker as a profitable profession, you will systematically target games with a high percentage of weak players. Because of accessible literature, the amount of weak players is particularly low in limit Hold’em. Focus on no-limit and tournament poker, training yourself accordingly, whatever you feel your inclinations are initially. Limits higher than $1/$2 may already prove too large a piece of cake. In SnGs, the beginner may want to stay bellow $20+$2, in no-limit bellow NL$100. Below these levels, basic knowledge of poker principles are likely to suffice. Higher levels will demand intense efforts to study the game, and even the studious player is not guaranteed consistent wining.

These considerations are a good preliminary to your first games, but the answers to the questions will become clearer as you accumulate experience.

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Choosing Your Poker Game

Monday, January 4th, 2010

In deciding upon the perfect poker game for you, you should begin with one that has copious literature available, whether online or book format. Omaha, for example, is an interesting and profitable game but very difficult to get information on because there is very little written on the subject. Hold’em is where you should go. It is the most popular form of the game out there today in both actual and virtual casinos and so has much written about it.

Okay, now that Hold’em is the game of choice, which form of Hold’em suits you best personally? Do you gag on risk or thrive on it?

To some, the thrill and adrenaline rush of risk-taking is a motivating force. To others, it is a source of pure nausea. Poker is not a game for the latter. If you are the risk-taking type but cannot control your impulses, the game is not for you either. But for those who have a high degree of self-understanding, tests can be taken that disclose your risk inclinations. If the test reveals that you are the risky type of personality, you should opt for no-limit cash and tournament games.

Decide for yourself if you are a mathematician or a psychologist. Human calculators will be comfortable with limit games. The body language deciphering psychologist will be most at home with no-limit and multi table tournament (MTT) play.

Should you really want to invest some time and brain matter in the game, the complexity of no-limit and MTT games give you the best shot at developing as a player. For the dilettante, stay with sit-and-go tournaments and limit poker.

The least potential for players desirous to grow in the game is limit poker because of their rarity compared to no-limit and tournament games. The best games for would-be poker champs are tournament games.

Limit poker is far more prevalent and available online than in casinos or clubs. Tournament poker should gain the attention of all players in public establishments because it is the only form of the game officially designated as a sport.

Those considering poker as a profitable career should focus on those games with a high percentage of weak players. Hold’em poker involves the fewest of the weaker players due to the widely available literature devoted to the game. No-limit and tournament poker should be your target, as long as you have made the decision to educate yourself on it and continue to do so. The beginning player should play limit poker in games with limits below 1$/2$. If in a SnG game, the novice should stay below $20+$2 and in a no-limit game, below $100. If you want to play in games below these levels, just a basic knowledge of the rules of poker is probably sufficient. More intense study is required of higher limits and even the most apt student of the game is incurring risk.

All of these suggestions are preliminary for you to play and gain experience. With experience, you will be able to answer your own questions much more clearly.

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A Poker Decision: Which Game Should You Choose?

Saturday, January 2nd, 2010

While Omaha is an attractive and profitable choice, there is so little literature on the subject that it is not your best option. You want to start with Hold’em with its rich body of literature both in book and online form. It is easily accessible to players because it is the most popular form of poker played today in casinos and clubs as well as online.

Now that that’s over, the next step is some personal soul searching to determine your proclivity for risk..

If you are the one that goes sky-diving and opens your parachute at the last minute, you thrive on risk. If the mere thought of sky diving at all makes you quiver all over, you do not. If you fall into the first category of risk but cannot control your impulses, just watch other people play the game the game and stay out of it yourself. If you are unable to figure out the degree of risk you are comfortable with, there are tests available to help you determine this. For the risk takers, no-limit cash and tournament games are the best bets.

Next in your self-awareness exercise program is to determine if you are a mathematician or a behavioral psychologist. You calculators are meant for limit games. If you are able to discern the cards that your opponents have in their hands by reading various bodily signals, you are the one that should be in no-limit and multi table tournament (MTT) games.

No-limit and MTT games are both very good poker forms for you to develop your game if you are willing to put in the time to learn them well. Due to the rarity of the high-level limit games, you won’t find as much chance to develop your skills as you would in no-limit and MTT. The best place for future world poker champions to grow their game is in tournament play.

The least potential for players reach the heights of fame and fortune is in limit poker. The best games for would-be poker champs are tournament games and high profile no limit games.

Limit poker is more accessible online than in casinos and clubs, where it is becoming rarely played. Your attention should be turned to public establishments and tournament poker as it is the only form of the game officially recognized as a sport.

If you are looking at playing poker as a major (or only) source of income, what you want to do is zero in on games with an excessive complement of weak players. Limit hold’em is not one of the forms of poker that fits this category because of the aforementioned plethora of literature on the game. Your target is no-limit and tournament poker, where of course you will focus on learning as much as you can about the game. As a beginner, stay below limits of even $1/$2. In SnGs go no higher than $20+$2, and for no-limit, below $100. At these lower limits, it is sufficient for beginners with a basic knowledge of the rules of the game to play without risking too much. Playing at higher monetary levels requires intense study of the game and a depth of experience. Even then, there is no certainty of consistently winning, but that’s why we play the game in the first place, lack of certainty.

The above suggestions are all well and good for first steps. With experience and continuing education, you will be able to answer many of your questions clearly on your own.

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