 HOW TO PLAY POKER
HOW TO WIN POKER
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Poker Card Counting! |
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The father of card counting is Edward O. Thorp. Back in 1962, he authored a book named "Beat the Dealer" in which he described various betting and playing strategies for optimal blackjack play. Although mathematically sound, the techniques described no longer apply as casinos took counter-measures (such as no longer dealing to the very last card). Card counting is the process of tracking high cards played versus low cards played so as to gain an advantage in future hands by having an idea of the cards still to come. If there has been many more high cards played, than there is a greater chance of low cards coming out, for the deck is disproportionate with low cards. Even though card counting for Poker is an fantastic skill to have, it does not mean that it is difficult to learn. Once card counting is mastered, you still wont be able to state exactly what the next card is in the pack. However, you will have some insight into the most likely value of card to come next, and indeed whether the odds are in your favour to bet high. It is not uncommon to assign some kind of heuristic points score to each card in the deck(s) used and keep track of the overall score. Particularly true of games that are played with many decks of cards at the same time. A common system (the Hi-Lo Count) is to assign positive one (+1) to 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and negative one (-1) to 10, J, Q, K, A. The 7, 8, and 9 are neutral. As cards are played, their values are summed, and the result helps determine whether high or low cards are to come, which in turn influences betting. A positive value would indicate that the deck has more high cards. In the game of Blackjack, the player gains huge advantages over the house by knowing when there are more high cards in the deck, as the dealer is more likely to bust, double downs are more likely to succeed, and blackjacks will be more prevalent. Card Counting "Easy Method" Putting it simply, Card Counting works because the player benefits when a deck has a lack of cards valued two to eight. When a deck has a limited cards valued at nine, ten, and Ace, the player is at a disadvantage. When you beleive you can tell when the deck is ambundant in nines, tens and Aces you may chose do one of the following: • You may bet more money when the deck is in your favour. • You may alter your basic strategy play to account for the favorability, thereby increasing the odds of winning a specific hand. Now we have all played 52 pick up and realise that their are 52 cards to a pack! The following is a breakdown of each cards worth regarding the Easy Method: • Cards Two to Six - Total 20(four suits with five cards in each) • Cards Seven to Nine - Total 12 (four suits with three cards in each) • Cards Ten to Ace - Total 20 (four suits with five cards in each) If you are going to add the Easy Method to your list of poker tips, then remember to wait until the cards have been shuffled, allowing you to start with a fresh pack. One key point to remember is to watch for extremities. Meaning the predominance or absence of exposed high cards are obvious even in a casual observation. Most times you may play for several hands where the mixture of low value cards and face cards are generally even. Nevertheless, when you see a noticeable absence of high value cards you would be wise to increase your next bet, so if you your running total (while using this method) is reasonably high, then the odds are most in your favour. Counting split-second so you don't hold up the table. The reasoning for counting cards is to generate an advantage for determining hands, calling and raising bets. Counting cards and suits will eventually become second nature to you, and will be easier the more experience you have. Counting cards in stud does not necessarily imply making a check-list of all cards that are out of play and having to memorize the cards for each and every hand. Don't right this strategy off simply because it sounds hard. This stragey is probably the most important when it comes to increasing your winnings. It becomes easier to establish which cards are live, and what variety of hands are playing, when there are more people in the hand. When playing online, opting for the four-coloured deck, will make card counting, a lot easier. The method of card counting is similiar to 'connect the dots', when at low limit tables and stud 8/b with family pots. This style of card counting utilises your own hand as the main point of reference, for knocking dead hands and cards off of the list of possible occurences. You should take notice of all door cards, once the first round is completed. Confirm which cards are out that you may need to create any type of connected straight, inside or out. You are not required to remember these numbers. You should probably consider the cards dead if you have one or more of them in your hand and you need it or them to get a pair or better. Lets say that you have 69J, you would then be looking at door cards on the table for any 5, 7, 8, T and Q, along with any other 6, 9 or J to pair your hand. In this example starting hand, you are not playing for a straight when you are counting the cards. You are just using this as a reference of what cards are out. At the end of the first comparison you have either potentially added or eliminated 8 cards from the deck, excluding the card numbers in your own hand. To give you a general idea of what type of flush is dead and which is alive, count the number of same suits in comparison to your own hand. Don't think you need to memorize how many of each suit is out, just focus on which type of flush is potentially alive or dead. On Fourth Street: Again, you will take note of the cards at the table, for anything that would have possibly given your hand a straight or a flush to eliminate cards from the deck, the variety of hands being played, and how live your cards in your hand are. Perhaps this emlimates another 8 cards from the deck also, and starts to give you an picture of what hands the other players are betting and calling with, giving you a better chance of when to fold. You will be looking at any double suited 4th street cards in a hand, whilst checking the flush draws. Eg: If there are too many hearts on the table at the door and you see a hand which has two hearts up on 4th Street with yet more hearts on the table, then there is probably no danger of a heart flush. It is particulary apparent that a player is on a draw if they are calling with low or medium cards with other overcards at the table. You should also be becareful of higher pocket pairs and potentially two pair on 4th Street, which leaves the likelihood of an early full house. On Fifth Street: The types of hands that are being played, become more apparent. Again, locate the card that would potentially give your hand a straight or a flush. Look for live or dead cards that may make your hand. Using the previous information that you have collected, determine who is drawing to straights and flushes. Remember to conscious of overcards to your hand that are calling. Take notice of players who are checking and where possible get an idea of which card is their strength. Eg: A player checks when they turned a J and bet when they turned a 7. Look for anything duplicated on the board, such as a K showing in three seperate hands. On the board between fifth and sixth street there should be several duplicates, they are generally considered dead to being paired in someone's hand. This can be of great help when determining if the King that re-raised the bring--in was bluffing a split pair or includes a high pocket pair and used the king for control, in order to intimidate other medium paired starting hands. Should you or anyone else have cards in their hands that could make another players's straight, then they are still potentially on a draw. Do not however, underestimate that they may have made their straight on fifth or still have one live inside or outside card for that hand to be made. When on fifth street realise that any pairs appearing on the board that could possibly give a player three of a kind. Beware of any straight draws aswell. When there a lot of callers at a full table, you can see just about half the deck of cards. Verify if any fifth street flushes which appear, are still potentially live. With some practice under your belt, by fifth and sixth street at a low limit stud-hi table, you should probably know which type of hands are playing a good percentage of the time. You should also have a good hold on which cards are still live for you to change a weak hand to a stronger hand, or possibly out draw players with early made hands by the river.  |
