Poker Tip of the Day: Roundup of Our Top 15

by Bodog Poker | Sep 24 2009

The Bodog Beat online poker magazine has a plethora of information to make you a better player. As well, Bodog Poker features lots of free poker information for poker players of all levels to peruse, and one of our favorite educational tools is the Poker Tip of the Day. These poker tips describe particular topics that you'll surely encounter on your poker travels - from bankroll management to game strategy. Here are the top 15 tips selected for improving your game . . .

1. Value Bets. Most value bets consist of putting your opponent on a hand, and betting the maximum that you think that player will call with their hand.

2. Being the Bully. When you find yourself with a big chip stack in a tournament it can be an effective strategy to make the game more expensive for the other players to play.

3. Variance. Variance refers to the ups and downs you will experience in any game of chance. Even though poker is a skill game, every player must endure a variance between winning and losing.

4. Changing Gears. Changing gears is a concept that means a player should change the style that they play from time to time to throw off their opponents.

5. Tournament Buy-ins. It's best to follow the 10% rule when buying into a multi-table tournament. Never buy into one that is more than 10% of your bankroll.

6. Continuation Bets. Continuation bets are bets that you make after you raised the action pre-flop and the flop missed your hand in an attempt to steal the hand.

7. Over Betting. Over betting is a tricky method of getting action on a monster hand by you making your opponent think you're bluffing.

8. Donkey Lists. Make a list of all the action players you encounter during your play. When you start a session you can seek out these players to increase your edge in the game.

9. Probe Bets. These small bets are made to gain information in a hand that you may feel that you're vulnerable in.

10. Counting Your Blinds. In a tournament where you're short-stacked, it helps to count how many big blinds are remaining in your stack so you can adjust your aggression.

11. Check-Raise Bluff. When playing against a loose player, the check-raise bluff can be a profitable play when used properly.

12. Short Table vs. Full Ring Games. Different poker settings require different approaches. Adjust your aggression based on how many players are seated at the table.

13. Betting Patterns. The best way to figure out where you stand in a hand is to watch the betting patterns that each player employs in their game.

14. Trapping Aggression. Letting hyper-aggressive players push you around in small pots again and again until you have a monster hand that wins you a big pot.

15. Game Selection. Choose a game that's right for your bankroll. You should have at least 300 times the big blind in your bankroll to play on any poker table.

Find out more about how YOU can play a poker pro and win great prizes!