Top Six Tips for Running Deep in Poker

Poker has become a very popular pastime in the US and beyond. The rise of online casinos and the increasing government acceptance of gambling, in general, has brought more and more people to the poker table. But what if you want to take your poker skills away from casual gaming and instead try your hand at some tournaments? In this article, we’ll break down six of the best ways to increase your chances of success in this much-loved game.

Number One: Steal often, but don’t draw attention to yourself

In poker, you can win a lot of rounds by making small bets. Doing so, and refusing to fold, means that you have to rely on the other players to fold and so steal the pot without ever having to reveal your own cards. This is an especially useful strategy if you are playing against weaker opponents, as the likelihood that they will realize your strategy is lower. Additionally, when it comes to online poker in Texas, you will likely not see your opponents and they will not see you, which reduces the chances of them calling your bluff. As Gavin Beech points out, these offshore sites provide a way to practice running deep, given that online gambling remains prohibited in Texas.

On the other hand, you don’t want to overdo it and thus give away your strategy to your competitors. It’s all about finding the balance and playing smart.

Number Two: Defend your big blind

Defending your big blind as much as possible is of vital importance during a poker tournament. The Big Blind is a specific position where you have to bet before seeing your cards. In this position, when someone raises you have the opportunity to call or raise the bet. The odds suggest that you should do this unless you have a weak hand. Even if you do, calling might still be a good idea, but if you repeatedly call weak hands you do risk losing money.

Number Three: Be wary of middling stack 4-bet shoves

If you have raised, and an opponent re-raises you, you have to decide on whether or not to raise again. Know that you should be very cautious about making a further raise, and avoid it unless you are sure of the strength of your hand. When it comes to 25-40 big blinds, if your opponent goes all in it is a good idea to fold unless you have incredible confidence in your hand.

Number Four: 3-Bet when you have deep stacks

When you have a large stack of 100 big blinds or more, you should approach 3-betting like you would a usual cash game. As such it is a good idea to mix your best hands with other strong hands and strong playable-suited hands to create your 3-bet. Doing this keeps your players guessing and prevents your moves from becoming predictable.

Number Five: Don’t continuation bet every hand

Back in the day, continuation bets tended to be the norm. This involved betting on the next round after raising pre-flop. However, as they often do, times have changed since then and many players have become much more attuned to continuation bets and are more likely to catch on. As such you should only make a continuation bet based on the board and the hand your opponent is likely to have.

Number Six: Learn how to play heads-up

Heads up, when only two players are left in the round, happens rarely but it is still a good idea to know how to play it. This is especially the case because the biggest cash prize usually goes to the winner of this game. There are many resources online that explain how to win at heads-up, and it’s a good idea to practice prior to entering any tournaments.

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