Tournament Strategies
After receiving pocket cards, you are immediately faced with a choice: play your cards and either raise or call the blinds, or fold.
Practice Matters
You will occasionally face a super-aggressive player
You will occasionally face a super-aggressive player who bets whenever checked to and raises or calls every bet. Continuation-bet fairly often against this type of player. You will lose these bets most of the time, but you must make them to induce him to continue calling and raising because when you make a hand, he will be unlikely to slow down. Once you continuation-bet with a strong hand, be willing to check and call down, letting him bluff every street.
Some players play an odd style unlike any I’ve discussed.
Some players play an odd style unlike any I’ve discussed. Take your time and try to determine optimal lines against them. Whatever you do, don’t blindly play poker. Always be mindful of an opponent’s image and how you have seen him play. Make the proper adjustments against anyone and that person will be in trouble. Play your standard loose, aggressive game if you run into a player that mixes up his game well. Unless he is going out of his way to exploit you, your default game, as outlined in this book, should be profitable. Tighten up your pre-flop raising range if people play back at you often. Most opponents will assume you are still playing loose and will make decidedly incorrect decisions against you. Throw your opponents a curve ball as soon as they think they have you figured out.