Texas Holdem Hot Tips and Secrets

Can You Really Make A Living Playing Poker?

2005-11-06T15:39:00.000+01:00

Can You Really Make A Living Playing Poker?
By Rory Monahan
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It's no secret.

Within the last 12 months, poker has literally EXPLODED into perhaps the world's fastest-growing hobby.

Some people even say that poker is "America's New National Pastime."

But unlike baseball, you can cash in on the new popularity of poker.

That's right. YOU can make huge amounts of MOOLA by mastering the game of Texas Hold 'Em.

Every time I sit down to play, I meet a new player who saw the World Series of Poker and now thinks he is a real player. Lol.

Of course, I don't MIND these players giving me their money. With the newfound popularity of Hold 'Em, there are thousands of FISH out there, and by mastering Texas Hold 'Em, you can become a very happy SHARK.

But can you really make a LIVING from playing poker? Is the game really something that can pay your mortgage, car payment, electric bill, and keep food on the table?

Absolutely!

In fact, it also can pay your college tuition, pay off your loans, and give you the freedom you've always wanted... all while doing something you truly love and enjoy.

With the explosion of Texas Hold 'Em onto the world scene, I have been able to make a comfortable living using only my poker skills.

I own my own car, consistently save for the future, have extra spending "dough," and I am looking to move to a new home... and I don't even have a "real" job.

Unfortunately, no matter how many "fish" there are, you are never going to make any money if you are one of them.

So if you want to take advantage of this incredible opportunity, and you want to start making big money playing poker, you are going to have to master the game of Texas Hold 'Em. Period.

Now, this doesn't mean that you should go out, buy a brand new Corvette, tell your boss where he can put his reports, empty your bank account, and hit the poker tables.

Texas Hold 'Em takes time and patience to master. But the good news is, you can dramatically SHORTCUT your poker education...

My e-book, "Texas Hold 'Em Secrets" is a complete "tell all" course of all my tips, tricks, and lessons about Texas Hold 'Em poker... so that YOU can immediately get started on mastering the game and getting to the "next level."

Is it possible to make a living playing Texas Hold 'Em Poker?

The answer is, "YES."

I'm living proof.

And I hope that you'll join me.

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The Texas Hold 'Em Secrets e-book reveals the closely guarded secrets of professional poker players.

(I never even told my friends these secrets before I released this product.)

Inside you will learn how to:

- Win More Money Playing Poker - Prevent Bad Beats And Being "River-ed" - Impress Your Friends With Your New Skills - And Much, Much More...

So don't wait, visit

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today. Your small investment could very well pay itself off within the first few pots of your next Texas Hold 'Em game.

I'll talk to you again soon.

Your Friend,

Rory Monahan

P.S. Remember, even if you aren't looking to make a full time income playing poker, you can STILL rake in some nice, quick money from home games and online poker.

Wouldn't be nice to learn how to win $300... $500... even $1000 or more every time you play cards? Well I want to show you how. So join me here:

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Know EXACTLY What Your Opponents Are Holding

2005-10-03T17:09:00.000+02:00

Know EXACTLY What Your Opponents Are Holding

***QUESTION FROM A READER***

Roy,

Your newsletters have greatly helped my play
I used to be a tight wad player. Now that I
have changed gears (play more aggressively)
in my head its thrown players off balance a
lot. I take notes on my friends poker play
so it helps me remember betting patterns
etc.

I am really good at sniffing out stone cold
bluffs (I've been known to call with queen
high before) or strong hands that are hard
to recognize like small sets and low and
medium straights. I've even folded full
houses before knowing that other players
have four of a kind by their erratic
breathing and confidence in their voice and
shaky hands.

However I need advanced improvement on
reading tells and avoiding traps. Other then
the ones mentioned in Caro's book of poker
tells it is a little outdated. Especially I
have had also a problem with reading people
when they play medium strength hands
aggressively - especially in casino
tournaments unlike my weekly poker games
with my friends.

After a while you learn your friends play
but in tournaments they are all strangers
how to get a read on them? Some players bet
medium strength (not weak strength hands)
aggressively. Does your e-book cover these
questions?

Does it also have a section on poker tells
as well. I've played players giving off
false tells as a trap such as acting weak
when weak and strong when strong? My
friends do this as well giving off false
tells doing the opposite of the opposite of
what you would expect - we've read the same
books.

Thanks,
A.C.

***MY COMMENTS***

I want to start off by saying CONGRATULATIONS,
my friend.

Calling bluffs with a queen high and laying
down full boats is a sign of a BALLSY
player... That level of faith in your
abilities is a CRUCIAL step towards a
successful poker career.

I am also impressed by your choice to take
notes on your opponents. I notice that there
are a lot of players who CLAIM to want to be
better, but don't take the TIME to do what
is needed.

As far as your question about reading poker
tells against players you aren't familiar
with... here's what you can do:

When you are at a new table, it is obviously
VERY important that you pay close attention
to the GAME and to the PLAYERS- right away.

Most players... when they sit down... get so
caught up in themselves and their own heads
that they don't even make it to this first
step...

To put it bluntly:

"SIT DOWN, SHUT UP, and WATCH."

Don't start running your mouth... don't try
to act cool... and don't daydream. The
first few minutes you're at the table is
the most IMPORTANT time in the game.

Once you've done this, be sure not to rush
into any hands. In fact, I recommend NOT
getting involved in any hands at the very
beginning... and here's why:

If you're an experienced tournament player,
you know that most players are eliminated
from tournaments when they are in "shuffle
times" (when they are moving from table to
table).

It is at these times when the BIGGEST
MISTAKES are usually made.

Let's say that you sit down a new table. You
may have been playing at a tight table where
you could buy a lot of pots...

You sit at this new table... and fall right
back into your betting pattern. You make a
bold move, try to buy a pot, and get burnt
because THIS TABLE is much LOOSER than the
last one.

This puts you at a disadvantage right away...
one which you might not recover from.

When I move to a new table... or begin at a
game where I don't know the players... I
always wait at least 3-4 rounds of betting
before I get involved in a hand... and a lot
of times I wait EVEN LONGER.

This gives me a chance to get to know my
opponents... BEFORE I risk any chips.

I call it my "Study Period."

Of course, the WHOLE GAME is a study period
in itself... but these first few hands is
100% devoted towards just watching my poker
opponents.

And here's the added benefit:

If I don't know my competition, THEY don't
know ME, either. By taking my time and doing
my study period, I learn about THEM... but
they DON'T LEARN ABOUT ME.

If anything, they just ASSUME that I'm a
tight player...

That means within 10 minutes, I immediately
have an advantage over all the other players
at the table... even if I haven't won a pot
yet... or even played a hand.

OK, so when you do your study period, what
should you look for?

A lot of newbies think it's all in the face
and in the eyes... which is a mistake.

Most poker tells are the COMBINATION of an
entire set of movements and behavior...

On TV- especially in movies- poker tells are
portrayed as something as simple as the
twitch of a nose or the movement of a leg.

Kind of like in "Rounders," when Mike McDee
figures out Teddy KGB based on how he ate
his cookies.

TAKE NOTE...

For the most part, this type of portrayal
of poker tells is a TOTAL MYTH.

If you think you can figure out a player's
hand just based on how he blinks, you're in
for a rude awakening... and you'll lose
your chips fast.

In REAL LIFE (where you play), tells are
much more complex...

...VERY RARELY are they "cut and dry."

When you study your opponents... here are
the things you should think about:

1. Past Play

Think about how this player has acted in the
past...

Is he usually strong or weak?

Aggressive or timid?

Smart or dumb?

And so on...

2. Timing

If your instinct tells you that a player
deliberated for a long time trying to make a
choice, chances are that his hand isn't too
strong.

However, you should also note how long he has
taken to play in the past, to make sure that
the move wasn't just a regular timing move.

3. Posture

Especially with bad players, the posture of
a player is a key tell that will reveal a
lot about a hand...

If the person leans back, that USUALLY
represents strength. If he leans forward,
that USUALLY represents weakness.

Once again, poker tells aren't black and
white. It's a gray area, where everything
needs to be considered together...

4. Bet Amount

If a player tends to make small bets, but
then places an unusually large bet, he
could be holding a strong hand. Or he may
be trying to buy the pot.

Always watch for irregularities in betting
patterns... most amateurs don't mix up their
bets enough, which gives you an easy edge
if you pay attention.

5. Pulse

This is one of the only "body tells" that I
find works most of the time. You can usually
see the intensity of a player's pulse by
looking closely at his neck.

Often if a player gets "shaky," he usually
has a great hand. If the player is cool and
collected, it's probably a fake.

6. Your Gut Feeling

Depending on your poker experience, your gut
will often be your best guide...

I've been playing poker for so long now that
when I sit down with newbies, I can usually
read the players almost INSTANTLY, without
much thought.

It just comes naturally... and it will come
naturally to you, too... once you gain a
lot of experience under your belt... and
once you spend enough time studying the
game.

With the pros, of course, you've got to be
much more careful, because they DO know how
to disguise their tells and play their hands
in an unpredictable manner.

So, to recap:

1. When you sit down to play at a table of
strangers... especially in a tournament...
take your time before becoming involved in a
hand.

2. Go through a careful "Study Period."
During this time, SHUT UP and STUDY the
players intensely.

3. When you start betting, watch for the
six things we discussed: past play, timing,
posture, bet amount, pulse, and your own
gut instincts.

Finally... there's one more step to add...

And that is:

NEVER REVEAL THE WAY YOU THINK.

Here's what I mean...

Poker is truly a BATTLE of minds. The tells
we've been discussing are mostly simple
REFLECTIONS of how a player is thinking at
the time of a bet.

For some reason, it's a natural tendency in
all of us to share our thoughts at the poker
table... ESPECIALLY when we aren't involved
in hands.

This is more common during "home games" than
in tournament play or casinos...

For instance, let's say there's a heads up
match between Drew and John after the river
card.

Drew goes all in...

The river was the third diamond on the
board. John has trip aces.

(Of course, a flush would beat John's three
of a kind.)

Anyway... John's has to decide whether Drew
is a on a bluff... or if he caught the
diamond flush.

THIS is where everyone starts screwing up:

Since Drew is all in... and can't change his
mind... John shows his trip aces to the
other guys at the table who aren't in the
hand.

He says, "Man, I don't know whether to call.
Drew made a pre-flop raise... I think he's
just pot-committed and is trying to buy it."

Someone else chimes in, "Yea, but he seems
like he's got the flush. Did you notice how
he's been quiet the whole hand?"

Someone else says, "C'mon wuss. Just call
his bet and go all in... I'm getting tired
and want to get going."

And so on...

Do you see where I'm going with this?

John should NEVER show his aces to the other
guys of course... because now they just saw
an entire "free hand" and got to see how
John acted the whole way with his three of a
kind.

The next guy just revealed that he's been
watching how SILENT Drew has been... which
clues everyone in on how this guy thinks
about tells. Now you know to be very
conscious about how much you talk around
this player.

And the third guy reveals an attitude of
carelessness... which means as soon as I
caught a good hand I'd try to get in a
heads-up match with him and go all in...
because there's a decent chance he'll call.

When you reveal your THINKING PROCESS,
you're simply GIVING AWAY tons of crucial
information... FOR NO REASON.

The other players at the table with pick up
a read on you quickly... both consciously
and subconsciously.

So don't do it.

Period.

As you know, Texas hold 'em is filled with
TONS of techniques and strategies like
these, that anyone can understand if they
just take the time to learn them.

Unlike popular belief, poker is NOT about
having "natural" talent.

It's about LEARNING- through experience,
analysis, and expertise- how to MASTER the
game.

To develop YOUR poker genius, get your hands
on my one-of-a-kind instructional course...

It will give you the expertise you need to
blow past your opponents and turbo-charge
your winnings...

Get it today, and start raking in more pots
TONIGHT. Here is the link:

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Your Friend,

Roy Rounder

Do You Make These 7 Poker Mistakes?

2005-09-30T20:06:00.000+02:00

By Rory Monahan, http://texas-holdem-tips-n-tricks.top-10-list.com/

In my time as a card player, I've found these 7 simple mistakes to be responsible for TONS of lost pots and lost money...

Ultimately, if you make them, you'll end up like the rest of the "suckers" out there.

Either that, or you'll give up at poker (claiming that it's based on "luck"), and never play again...

So, here are the seven mistakes to avoid:

1. Getting Too Emotional

Don't let your emotions come out at the card table!

It's easy to get "into" the game, but you've got to practice self-control!

By staying cool, calm, and disciplined, you'll be able to concentrate on your strategy and winning the hand.

2. Focusing Too Much On The Cards

Remember, poker is about the PLAYERS rather than the HANDS. Sure, what cards you have is definitely important, but the only way to consistently WIN Texas Hold 'EM poker is if you are able to "read" the other players at the table.

Study their habits, watch their faces, observe their peculiarities... and THEN focus on your own hand.

3. Folding Instead Of Checking

Don't fold if you can check! Unless it's part of some "bigger strategy" you've got going (like the ones I talk about in my book), then it's silly to fold a hand when you can just check instead.

4. Trying Too Hard To "Fool" The Opponent

Many beginners try to deliberately "fool" the other players by "acting" a certain way.

This usually backfires.

Most people are good at reading body language, and your pretending will only give you away.

A better strategy is to let your ACTIONS fool the other players. Keep your poker face straight and calm and let them fall for the bait by making bets or placing action in ways that will confuse them.

5. Being Too Consistent

The easiest way to win easy money at the poker table is to just study a person's habits for awhile, and then take advantage of them hand-by-hand because they're so predictable.

Don't be this kind of sucker!

If you make the same moves and same bets at the table every time you play, other players will pick up on it so fast that you'll be out of chips in no time.

Be "spontaneous" in a calculated way, and be unpredictable. It will frustrate the other players... and you'll win all their chips.

6. Not Adapting To The Skill Level Of Others

Everyone knows that some of poker's greats are most frequently beat by BEGINNING players at the card table.

A lot of professionals refuse to play with "newbies" because they know there's such a high risk of losing and being embarrassed.

So how exactly can these beginners beat these PROS?

It's simple.

The pros are SO MUCH BETTER at poker, that they are actually FOOLED by how BAD these new players are.

The pros are USED TO playing against other pros... which makes it difficult for them to even "remember" how to play against beginners.

Every card table is different. You need to learn how to adapt your game to each different situation...

Sometimes you'll have to increase the complexity of your strategy. Other times you'll need to "dumb down" the strategy and only focus on the habits of the players.

7. Not Getting Help.

You weren't BORN knowing how to play Texas Hold 'Em. You were TAUGHT how to play.

The problem is, most players never bother to take their skills to the NEXT LEVEL, by getting professional instruction.

In less than a few hours, you can increase your skill at this game TREMENDOUSLY.

You can win more pots... night after night... and discover the secrets to making tons of cash playing poker in your spare time.

I've been playing this game for over 13 years, and I can show you the way.

But it's up to YOU to take the next step.

Grab my e-book today... for a special low price, and start winning more poker games starting tomorrow.

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Yours In Winning Monster Pots,

Rory Monahan

P.S. Remember, my e-book is backed with a 90-day money-back guarantee policy that ensures you are completely satisfied with your purchase.

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How To Win WITHOUT Great Cards

2005-09-30T19:59:00.000+02:00

How To Win WITHOUT Great Cards
By Rory Monahan, http://texas-holdem-tips-n-tricks.top-10-list.com/

331 to 1.

Those are the odds AGAINST getting dealt an Ace and a King suited before the flop.

220 to 1.

Those are the odds AGAINST getting pocket Aces before the flop.

Monster hands like these are GREAT when you catch them... and you'll definitely have a good shot at raking in a killer pot...

But the fact is, when you play poker you WON'T catch monsters very often.

The same is true with wired pairs and suited connectors...

When you hit with one of these hands, your opponents will usually NEVER see it coming...

And once again, you'll rake in a nice pot.

But how many times do you get hands like these AND hit the right cards?

Not too often.

ANYONE... no matter what their skill level... can win a pot with a monster.

The SECRET to poker success, my friend, is learning how to win hands WITHOUT having the "nuts" or great cards.

It's what separates the AVERAGE card players from the poker LEGENDS.

So how do you play hands that are DECENT, but not GREAT? Hands like QJ, J10, 9-10, Q10, K10, K9, and so on...

If you FOLD every time you see cards like these, you're playing too tight. Because you're going to see these types of hands A LOT.

To WIN... consistently... at Texas Holdem poker, you've got to learn how to WIN with hands that AREN'T great.

But how?

I'll tell you how...

The key is POSITIONING.

That's the magic word.

In Texas Holdem, positioning is EVERYTHING...

You can see a hand in one position and the right play is to FOLD it...

And then see the SAME EXACT HAND in a different position and the right play is to make a BET.

For example, let's say you're in an 8-player no- limit Holdem game... where the blinds are $1-2.

You're first to act before the flop (a.k.a. "under the gun") and look down at your cards:

Queen and a jack... offsuit.

What do you do?

Playing the hand shouldn't cross your mind.

Calling with a Q,J offsuit can easily turn into TROUBLE when first to act.

Because SOMEONE at your 8-man table is probably going to throw out a pre-flop raise.

Think about it...

How many times does the action go COMPLETELY around the table before the flop without SOMEONE making a raise?

Not too often.

Even if it's just a small $5 raise... you don't want to pay $7 with your Q,J offsuit just to see the flop.

After all, even if you HIT top pair, you're STILL going to be one of the first to act, if not THE first. What then?

Your kicker isn't too strong, and you don't have a read on the other players.

It's just a bad situation to be in...

Which is why I muck "decent" hands like these when I'm under the gun or in an early position.

And you should too.

Now let's say you're fourth to act before the flop (sixth position at the table) and you peek down at a Queen, 10 offsuit.

You're positioning isn't great, but it's not too bad either.

The action is on you to call the $2 big blind...

What do you do?

Instead of mucking, this is where I'd limp in and call the blind.

The key is to pay $2... don't raise it. You've got a good chance at seeing the flop for just $2 and you won't have to act first after the flop hits.

Even if someone throws out a small pre-flop raise, you can call and see a cheap flop without getting into too much trouble.

Now let's say you're on the BUTTON (dealer position) with a Queen, Jack offsuit. Four of your opponents limp-in and the action is to you.

What's the play?

This is where I'd make a pre-flop raise. Nothing crazy... just a small $5 that's not going to get me into trouble.

And I'll do this with any good positioning, not just when I'm on the button...

Here's why:

First, it gets rid of the "crap" hands at the table...

Anytime you can force the scraps at the table to fold, your odds of winning the pot increase.

(The reason you don't want them in the hand is in case one of them gets lucky on the flop.)

Second, I get to see what my opponents do AFTER the flop... before I have to act.

This is a HUGE advantage. I can get a read on everyone else's hand... and NO ONE gets a read on mine. Use this advantage EVERY chance you get.

And third, my bet gives me relative control over the table... and is likely to result in a free card if I want one.

Let's say the flop hits 9,10,2 (an open-ended straight draw with my QJ).

There's a good chance my opponents will CHECK, because they anticipate another bet from me.

So I'm in a win-win situation...

I can throw out a semi-bluff bet... or... I can see a free card by checking.

Getting control over the board also puts me in a position to buy the pot if I sense weakness at the table.

Which brings me to another point...

Positioning is a fundamental part of Texas Holdem, but you had better have a good read on your opponents in order to win the hand.

And you'd better know the right size to make your bets... and what to do if there's a draw on the board... and how to bluff if you get into trouble.

That's why I recommend you read my book, "Texas Holdem Secrets", to get the ENTIRE SYSTEM as a whole... in order to improve your poker playing skills.

You'll get an "insider's look" at the many different scenarios and situations you'll face at the poker table... and step-by-step how to play each one... all while learning my core philosophy and methodology for winning Texas Holdem.

Whether you prefer to play online, in casinos, in tournaments, or in home games, this book is an absolute "no brainer" investment. It will EASILY pay for itself with just a couple of pots.

And think about how much more money you'll make over the LONG TERM when you know these expert secrets and tips... (Hint: The answer is a LOT.)

So go right now while it's fresh on your mind and get your personal copy of my course.

It's the best way to learn how to win Texas Holdem poker, and plus it comes with a 100% money-back guarantee if you're not COMPLETELY satisfied (like, if you're crazy).

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I'll talk to you again in a couple days.

Your Friend,

Rory Monahan

How To Beat Anyone At Poker

2005-09-30T19:56:00.000+02:00

How To Beat Anyone At Poker
By Rory Monahan, http://texas-holdem-tips-n-tricks.top-10-list.com/

The trick to WINNING POKER is to always be at least ONE STEP AHEAD of your opponents...

To be one step ahead, it helps to understand the COMMON EXPERIENCES and thoughts that every poker player goes through.

It seems to me that there are three distinct LEVELS of poker intelligence. Knowing which level your opponent falls under can be a MAJOR ADVANTAGE for you at the table...

I call these the "Three Stages of Sophistication".

As you read these, think about the guys you play cards with.

Think about what level they're at... AND... think about which stage YOU ARE IN right now. It will help tremendously.

Here they are...

STAGE 1: Analyzing the CARDS.

This is when a player focuses his mental energies strictly on the cards.

This is someone who waits to play only premium hands, and perhaps spends a lot of time calculating "pot odds".

Usually, this type of guy plays TIGHT, and is fairly "see through". He'd be better off playing LIMIT Texas Holdem rather than NO-LIMIT.

STAGE 2: Analyzing the PLAYERS.

This is the person who understands that to win at no-limit Holdem, you've got to PLAY THE PLAYERS, not just the cards.

This is the guy who sits there all night and STUDIES your every move. He's convinced that there are "secret tells" behind every player...

And he'll do ANYTHING to figure them out.

You can spot a player like this just by watching him when the cards come out. If he's watching YOU, rather than looking at his cards, then he's probably in the second stage of sophistication.

STAGE 3: Analyzing how players will analyze YOU.

Stage 1 players are easy to beat. You can bluff them out of big pots, rile them up, and then sit back until you catch a monster and put them all in...

It's like taking candy from a baby.

Stage 2 players are harder to beat, because they understand the Cardinal Rule of no-limit Holdem, which is to...

PLAY THE PLAYERS, NOT THE CARDS.

You can't always push them around at the table, which means you have to devise a different strategy...

Which is why Stage 3 is so powerful.

Because when you're a Stage 3 player, you KNOW that the Stage 2 player is analyzing you. And you simply stay ONE STEP AHEAD of him.

A Stage 3 player is someone who gets pocket Aces before the flop and takes FOREVER to call a pre-flop raise.

Why?

Because by taking his time and making it LOOK like he's contemplating a decision, the Stage 3 player knows HIS OPPONENTS WILL THINK THEY CAN BLUFF HIM out of the hand.

Sure enough, after the flop one of the STAGE 2 players will go all-in... trying to buy the pot... not knowing they just fell right into the Stage 3 player's trap.

To be a Stage 3 player, you've got to ADOPT YOUR STYLE OF PLAY ACCORDING TO WHAT THE OTHER PLAYERS THINK ABOUT YOU.

That's the key.

Here's an example that happened to me recently...

I was in a local game with a bunch of friends and players who know me well.

I've built up a reputation in my town for being an AGGRESSIVE player at the table... who's always pushing around the action and throwing out feeler bets.

In addition to being aggressive, people also know me as a BLUFFER. My buddies have seen me push my entire stack into the middle on a 2-7 offsuit... when I can't even beat the board.

And they've seen this happen MORE THAN ONCE.

This reputation has a TREMENDOUS IMPACT on my strategies at the table. And I can use this "image" to my advantage.

In this particular example, I was dealt pocket 3's while on the button. Three of my opponents limped in and the action was to me.

I liked my positioning, so I decided to throw out a pre-flop raise in hopes of spiking a three.

"Make it $20 to play", I said.

This was a rather large bet with respect to pot size, but I did it for a reason. I wanted to either STEAL THE BLINDS by forcing everyone to fold, or create heads-up action... which would give my small pocket pair better odds at winning.

Anyway, Blake was the only player to call my bet, so I was feeling pretty good about my chances.

The flop came out:

A, 4, 3

All different suits.

Fantastic. I just spiked my three... which gives me trips. AND there's an Ace on the board.

Blake checks.

Now here's where I have to make a decision...

Do I slow-play the hand by checking right behind him?

The answer is NO.

Because like I said, I have a reputation with these guys. They know I bluff a lot, so they'll usually give me a lot of action.

So instead of slow-playing, I actually OVER-BET the pot in this situation...

Blake called my large pre-flop raise... and now there's an ace on the board. So he's probably sitting on a hand like AJ or AQ and thinks that HE is slow-playing ME.

"Seventy-five to play", I say in a very arrogant tone. (This was a large bet for this particular game.)

Blake- who is a Stage 2 player- thinks I'm pushing him around. He's sitting on about $300 in chips and decides to go all-in.

EXACTLY what I wanted.

I call, and throw over my threes.

He throws over A9 off-suit.

And sure enough, I took the pot down. All because I was ONE STEP AHEAD of him...

I KNEW that he was analyzing me and putting me on a bluff, so I reeled him in by "over-betting" the pot with a touch of arrogance.

Of course, I didn't always know how to do this.

I can remember a hand I once played COMPLETELY WRONG on a riverboat in St. Louis.

This was when I was first really "getting into" poker. The guys on the riverboat didn't know me... so they weren't familiar with my style of play.

They didn't know I was a very aggressive player who often bluffed. (Which I was, even back then.)

It was the second or third hand of the night and I was dealt pocket 6's. One of my opponents made it $10 to play and I was the only one to call his bet.

I spiked my six on the flop... which means I had three-of-a-kind.

My opponent was first to act and threw out another $10 bet. The action was to me.

Unfortunately, I was only focused on my cards and my opponent. I was between levels 1 and 2 of the "Three Stages of Sophistication."

I figured he had a strong hand since he'd raised the pot twice... and I was excited as hell about my three 6's.

So without hesitation, I made a raise.

"I raise you $40", I said... in the same "pushy" tone I'd use with my buddies.

My opponent thought about it for a moment and then mucked his cards.

I had COMPLETELY misplayed the hand... and all I made with my monster was a lousy 20 bucks.

The MISTAKE I'd made was failing to adjust my style of play to WHAT MY OPPONENT WAS THINKING ABOUT ME.

Back at home, I would've gotten a call with my $40 raise.

But not on this riverboat.

Because on the riverboat, my opponents didn't know me... they didn't have a "read" on my style... and we were only a few hands into the game.

For all they knew, I could've been an extremely TIGHT player... just like most of the young guys they show up on the riverboats.

Anyway, the lesson I learned is this:

THINK ABOUT WHAT YOUR OPPONENTS ARE THINKING.

Do they see you as tight, aggressive, reckless, bad, good, crazy...?

See the game through the eyes of your opponents, and you'll be able to win against ANYONE, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE.

A lot of pros will tell you that the only way to master these skills is through EXPERIENCE.

But don't take this advice too seriously.

I've known guys who have played poker for 40 years and STILL can't play worth a damn.

And I've known guys who pick the game up and after ONE YEAR are making a FULL-TIME INCOME in card rooms across the country...

The secret is NOT experience.

The secret is KNOWLEDGE.

What matters is how far along you are in your "Poker Intelligence".

If you're young, and you understand the strategies and techniques I share, then you can have a MAJOR ADVANTAGE over your opponents...

Because a lot of guys will underestimate you.

If you're older... or more experienced... the exact OPPOSITE is true. You'll be at a clear DISADVANTAGE if you're up against someone with a higher POKER IQ than you.

The solution... no matter what your age or experience level... is to KEEP READING MORE and STUDYING MORE about the game.

Discover the strategies and exact STEP-BY-STEP TECHNIQUES to follow for different scenarios...

You'll be AMAZED at how quickly and easily you can start winning more pots and moving up to the higher stakes games.

And before you know it, you could be making some SERIOUS CASH playing no-limit Texas Holdem poker.

Sound good?

If so, then the first place you should start is with my groundbreaking eBook, available for immediate download right now.

It will take your poker skills to a level you NEVER thought possible.

Just click this link:

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I'll talk to you again soon.

Your Friend,

Rory Monahan

P.S. Just think: Your opponents DON'T EVEN KNOW these "Three Stages of Sophistication" even EXIST.

Let alone how to IDENTIFY and PLAY against players in each stage.

This single tidbit of information alone can give you a HUGE edge at the poker tables.

Now imagine knowing HUNDREDS upon HUNDREDS of strategies and "poker secrets" just like this...

What would that do for your game?

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How To Win With Big Slick In Early Position

2005-09-30T19:51:00.000+02:00

http://texas-holdem-tips-n-tricks.top-10-list.com/

Let's discuss how to win when you're dealt Big Slick (Ace, King) in an early position.

First, let me clarify what is meant by the term "early position".

If you're in an early position, it usually means you're one of the first three players to the LEFT of the dealer.

Of course, if you're small blind, that means you're almost last to act before the flop, but first to act AFTER the flop.

If you're big blind, that means you're last to act pre-flop, but second to act after the flop.

And last but not least, if you're the THIRD player to the left, that means you are the FIRST to act before the flop, and third to act after the flop... This position is also known as "under the gun".

Ok. Enough with the definitions. Re-read those four above paragraphs if you're confused. Otherwise, let's dive into the strategies...

As we discussed a few days ago, Big Slick is a "monster" hand that most players pray for... BUT... it can actually be a TERRIBLE hand for you if you don't know what you're doing.

It can be terrible if...

1. You go "all in" (or bet a substantial pile of chips) before the flop, but then don't catch anything...

Or...

2. You catch an ace or king on the flop, bet a lot of chips, but then get run down by another player who gets a better hand.

Since even a pair of DEUCES can beat Big Slick by itself, I recommend that you don't go all-in with Big Slick before the flop.

It's just too risky. Because there are so many hands that can beat you.

Going all-in with Big Slick pre-flop is the equivalent to saying, "Hey, I'm not that confident I can win this game, so I'm going to HOPE to get LUCKY and risk all my chips on the CHANCE that an ace or king hits, or that my ace high wins."

Obviously that's not ALWAYS the case, but for the most part it's pretty accurate.

The second scenario- getting run down by another player even though you hit your ace or king- can be EXTREMELY frustrating.

For example, let's say you're holding Big Slick and the flop comes out A,K,5. You're obviously excited because you flopped top two pair... but what if Marty, that new guy who just learned how to play Hold'em a couple weeks ago, is holding a pair of fives?

Chances are, he's going to clean you out for all your chips.

Your strategy then, should be to DECREASE the chances that someone at the table (like Marty) is going to get lucky on the flop.

And you do that by making sure they don't even SEE the flop in the first place, by making a pre-flop raise or strong bet.

The ultimate goal should be to create "heads-up" action before the flop when you get dealt Big Slick. Force players like Marty to fold before the flop hits.

That will prevent the "bad beats" and allow you to focus on a single opponent.

The most difficult way to win with Big Slick is if you're in an early position AND you don't catch anything good on the flop.

Here's how I play it:

Let's say I'm "under the gun" (first to act before the flop... third player to the left of the dealer) in a no-limit cash game.

I look down to see AK of diamonds.

Great hand, terrible positioning.

Instead of limping in and letting all the crap hands at the table see the flop, I make a raise as we discussed.

"$15 to play."

Some players will limp-in with AK when they're first to act, hoping someone ELSE will make the raise for them (which gives them the chance to re-raise).

I don't like this strategy. Because if someone else makes the initial raise, that means they get control over the table and betting.

For example, let's say I limp-in and Josh makes it $25 to play. Everyone else folds and then I come back over the top of him for $100 more.

Without hesitation, Josh goes all-in and pushes in his stack of $350 in chips.

See how this could get ugly?

Josh may be holding pocket 9's for all I know... which will BEAT me if I don't catch the right cards on the flop. Then again, he might be holding a pair of face cards... or maybe just AJ.

No matter what, I really don't care.

Because I don't want to risk all my chips on AK and leave my night up to chance.

As much as possible, I want to be in FULL CONTROL of my destiny at the card table.

There will inevitably be players who are more reckless with their chips- and these are the players who rely on LUCK more than SKILL...

But not me... I know I can beat the game, which is why I don't limp-in here when I'm first to act with Big Slick.

OK, back to the hand...

"$15 to play", I repeat.

I'm hoping to get just one caller, or two at the most.

The action goes around the table, and everyone mucks their hands... except for Drew. He splashes the pot and calls.

So I've created heads-up action and taken control of the betting... exactly as I wanted to do with my monster hand in this position.

The flop hits: 2h, 9d, 7s.

I'm first to act.

Obviously, this flop is terrible... the best thing I've got going is a possible runner/runner diamonds draw.

So what do I do now?

Should I check my ace high?

No. This is where you should fire AGAIN, and continue to play aggressively...

Because the flop probably didn't help Drew either.

If I CHECK, Drew will sense my weakness and might try to steal the pot.

My bet will give him the impression I'm on on over-pair and have the best hand... so he'll probably muck his cards now.

Even if he calls, I'm still in good shape.

If the turn card doesn't help me, I'll back down and minimize my losses. I DON'T want to dig myself in a deeper hole and try to bluff it out.

Or I may catch my top pair on the turn or river and be able to win that way.

So no matter what happens, I'm not risking too many chips and I'm putting myself in a great position to win the hand.

Now... rewind for just a moment. What if my $15 pre-flop bet had multiple callers?

Having multiple players in the game would have increased the odds that someone actually benefited from the 2,9,7 flop.

Which means I would NOT have made a strong bet after the flop. Instead, I would have backed down and just checked. If someone else bet strong, I would have mucked my A,K and lived to see another hand.

So THAT is how you play Big Slick under the worst of circumstances... with scraps on the board and bad positioning... and STILL have a great chance at winning a nice pot.

Of course... the chances of getting AK are just 1 in 83. And the odds of getting AK suited are just 1 in 332. And that doesn't even factor in the odds related to your positioning.

So if you want to get an IN-DEPTH and EXTENSIVE Texas Hold'em education... with a complete analysis of both the techniques and the CONCEPTS behind the game... in COUNTLESS different scenarios, then it's time you got my course, "Texas Hold'em Secrets."

Look, I've been figuring this stuff out for YEARS now, and the popularity of poker has made it EASIER THAN EVER to win more games and make more money playing Texas Hold'em.

Plus, my book will show you the secrets to winning Texas Hold'em poker in plain, easy-to-understand English.

Your small investment will pay for itself many times over... and if it doesn't, or if you're not THRILLED with the course, then you can have all your money back IMMEDIATELY. Period.

The reality of the situation is this:

I can show you how to dramatically improve your poker skills... in the QUICKEST time possible... and start winning more money and having more fun playing Texas Hold'em.

But YOU have to take the first step.

So click this link now to get started:

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I'll talk to you again soon.

Your Friend,

Rory Monahan

P.S. JUST IMAGINE the look on your friends' faces when you start winning tournaments night after night after night... and start going home with bundles of cash every time you play poker.

How would that feel?

I can tell you from experience, it feels GREAT. And there's no better time than NOW to begin...

Go to this webpage:

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The SECRET To Poker...

2005-09-30T19:47:00.000+02:00

Let me ask you something.

Have you ever played poker with someone who seemed to CONSISTENTLY catch lucky cards, time after time after time?

I'm not talking about any luck.

I'm talking about the kind of luck where your opponent flops a boat... gets dealt pocket rockets... catches a flush on the river...

And so on.

Have you ever found yourself wondering: "Jeez... he can't POSSIBLY catch another hand like that- it's simply statistically impossible!"

Yet... the luck CONTINUES, until he rakes in all the chips, and empties your pockets.

And then you go home for the night.

And you rationalize to yourself that the only reason you lost was because your opponent was LUCKY... and that you just couldn't seem to catch any good cards.

Am I right?

If you've ever been through this, you're not alone my friend. Far from it.

Because THAT is exactly what poker is all about...

If the odds played out the way they're "supposed to" every time, poker wouldn't be fun at all.

Indeed, over time... eventually... the odds will "catch up" and "even out".

If you caught a cold run of cards last night, you may get hot tonight.

Then again, you may not.

So... here's the million dollar question:

Is it possible to somehow "control" the unpredictable nature of poker odds?

I have the answer...

And here it is...

No!

Of course not!

Are you crazy?!

This is the mistake amateurs make. They catch some good cards, win a few times, and then think they're "poker naturals".

Then they watch Rounders... maybe buy a chip set and some "casino" cards... and start fantasizing about making it to the final table of WSOP.

THEN... these players catch a BAD streak of cards.

They run into some bad beats.

They get beat by other amateurs.

And you want to know what they do after that?

THEY WHINE ABOUT BEING UNLUCKY!

But they forget the cardinal rule.

And that is...

TEXAS HOLD 'EM POKER IS NOT ABOUT LUCK!

This is so important, it's worth repeating:

TEXAS HOLD 'EM POKER IS NOT ABOUT LUCK!

Got it?

Now... here is the REAL secret about Texas hold 'em poker.

Instead of thinking about odds and luck, you should be thinking about HOW YOU CAN LEVERAGE THE POKER ODDS AND LUCK IN YOUR FAVOR.

Here's what I mean...

I've broken it down into four categories.

I call these the "4 Stages of Momentum."

Stage 1: HOT STREAK

This is when you catch tons of great cards and "lucky" draws.

Stage 2: CATCHING COLD

This is when you keep getting "scraps" and bad draws.

Stage 3: TILT

This is when you start acting crazy and making poor decisions... usually because of a previous bad beat.

Stage 4: READ MACHINE

This is when you've got a fantastic read on your opponents and know what to play in each situation. (This, of course, is the stage you want to be in.)

Okay... now, back to the secret.

When you're playing hold 'em, you WILL go through each of these 4 stages of momentum at different times.

Sometimes you'll be hot... sometimes you'll be cold... sometimes you'll be on tilt... and sometimes you'll have a great read on the other players.

And just as importantly, the OTHER PLAYERS at the table will each go through these 4 stages as well.

The secret is to learn how to CAPTIALIZE on these "natural" forces of momentum.

When you catch a great streak of cards, be thankful for your good fortune and start PLAYING MORE AGGRESSIVELY.

This will keep the momentum on your side and put other players on TILT.

Control the tempo and speed of the game and take on the characteristics of the "table leader". Other players will start saying, "Check to the better" and will give YOU the power in the game.

You'll get opportunities to see cheap flops when you're weak, and raise the prices when you're strong.

THIS is how you get hot... and STAY hot.

Now... what about when you start catching COLD cards? What then?

Catching a cold streak of cards can quickly zap away your chip stack. To prevent this from happening, here's what you do...

First, be AWARE that the cold streak is happening. Become conscious of what's going on... and notice which players at the table are hot.

Then- this is important- you must tighten up your playing style. Even though the odds are the same, hands that you might play when you're HOT won't be the same as hands you should play when you're COLD.

I know this sounds strange, but stay with me here.

Some players, when they get cold, start to loosen up their play... hoping to see more flops.

Bad idea.

Tighten up, only play your good hands, and wait for the tides of luck to change back in your favor...

And then there's TILT.

Tilt is the "cancer" of a poker player. If you go on tilt, just one bad decision can ultimately lead to your losing the game.

Tilt creates a negative momentum that will lead you to lost pots and more bad luck...

So how can you avoid tilt?

Well, since tilt is usually the result of a bad beat, you've got to BE AWARE OF YOUR BEHAVIOR after a bad beat.

Personally, any time I get a bad beat, I instantly fold the next 5 hands or so (unlessI've got a high pocket pair).

It's kind of like taking a break.

This gives me the chance to cool off.. and "restart" my thinking process.

The NATURAL behavior after a bad beat is to immediately start betting more aggressively, in hopes of winning back the chips you just lost.

Of course, that will just hurt you further.

So when you feel "tilt" creeping into you, take a break and relax. Clear your mind and start to mount a comeback.

There's another element to all of this that I haven't mentioned much, and that's watching what stages the OTHER players are going through.

When someone at the table gets HOT, what do you normally do?

Most players feel BITTER and start to play AGAINST the guy who keeps getting lucky.

They want to beat him!

Right?

But... like we talked about earlier... the secret to poker is NOT trying to take things into your own hands...

The secret is to LEVERAGE what's happening.

If someone else is hot, don't go up against them. Especially avoid trying to bluff them or going heads up for a big pot (unless you've got a monster).

Instead of giving this lucky player a chance at winning your chips, MINIMIZE their luck.

Don't let them win too much.

Make sense?

It's the same way with tilt.

When you see someone on tilt, you DEFINITELY want to take advantage of the situation.

Make a large pre-flop raise and try to go heads up with the guy on tilt. YOU want to be the one who wins all his chips...

After all... he's on tilt... so there's a good chance he's going to make a stupid bet.

The secret is to BE THE ONE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HIS BAD BETS...

Try to force him all in and win the rest of his stack.

It's all about LEVERAGE, my friend.

So remember...

The next time you play, here's how you can put into action what you've just learned:

- Know the 4 stages of momentum (good cards, bad cards, good reads, and tilt) and recognize what stage you're in at all times.

- Watch the other players at the table and know which stage of momentum THEY'RE in.

- LEVERAGE each stage accordingly. Don't go heads up against someone who's got luck on their side. Take a breather when you feel yourself going on tilt.

Play tight when you've got a bad run of cards. And win as many chips as possible when luck is on YOUR side.

Try out these concepts... and watch your poker profits go up dramatically.

Of course, the 4 stages of momentum and the concept of leverage are just two small pieces of the puzzle...

There's much, much more required in order to become a really killer poker player.

You won't learn by just watching poker on TV.

Practice will help, but it's still not enough.

You've got to learn the strategies and techniques, AND the LOGIC BEHIND THEM.

You've got to learn what works and WHY THINGS WORK the way they do.

You need the complete SYSTEM of strategies, techniques, and ideas...

OK, now listen.

You know the deal...

You've been on my newsletter list for a long time now. So you know all about my "Texas Holdem Secrets" poker course...

Which is why I'm NOT going to try to sell you on it...

BY NOW, you probably know whether or not "Texas Holdem Secrets" is right for you.

So if you want to take your poker skills to a new level, buy my course and put it into action.

It will surely pay for itself the first night you play cards. Here is the link:

http://texas-holdem-tips-n-tricks.top-10-list.com/

And if you've already got my course, stay tuned. Because more great stuff is on its way for you in the upcoming months.

Your Friend,

Rory Monahan

P.S. Poker isn't voodoo... or magic.

And it's not rocket science either.

The 4 stages of momentum are an important key to understanding the game and making more profits by LEVERAGING what happens in real life at the card table.

And it's just the beginning... the beginning of your transformation into a true "poker shark."

To get ALL my secrets, go here:

http://texas-holdem-tips-n-tricks.top-10-list.com/

How To Dominate The Poker Tables

2005-09-30T15:40:00.000+02:00

Have you ever lost a huge pot because you
had a flush draw or straight draw and didn't
catch the card you needed?

It's happened to all of us.

And frankly, it sucks.

Because when you're on a draw, you're just
ONE CARD AWAY from raking in a ton of chips.

And you WANT to keep calling everyone else's
bets, in hopes that your card will pop out
on the turn or river.

Am I right?

Of course, what ends up happening is you
have to put a ton of your chips in the
middle... just to call everyone else's bets.

That makes you pot-committed... and if you
DON'T catch your card, you're screwed.

Now let me ask you...

Wouldn't it be WONDERFUL if every time you
were on a draw all the other players would
CHECK around?

That way you didn't have to risk any chips,
and could bet only after you KNEW for sure
whether or not you caught your card.

That sure would be nice, wouldn't it?

AND...

What if there was a way to STILL WIN THE
HAND... even if you DIDN'T catch your card?

That'd be nice too, huh?

Luckily, there IS a technique you can use to
make BOTH of these things happen.

Let me show you how...

OK, so let's say I'm at an 8-person no-limit
table and I'm sixth to act.

I'm dealt a 5-6 of diamonds.

Josh comes out firing with a $10 pre-flop
bet. Sarah and Derek both call.

Now it's on me.

I love suited connectors... especially
busting my opponents with them unexpectedly,
so I jump in and call.

The players behind me muck their cards right
away... scared to death of so much action.

The flop hits:

4d, 9s, 7d

That means I've just flopped an open-ended
straight flush draw. I couldn't have asked
for a better flop in this situation.

Unfortunately, Josh comes out firing (again)
with a no-hesitation bet of $20.

Sarah and Derek both FOLD this time...

And the action is to me.

I'm putting Josh on a high pocket pair, or
maybe A9 or A7. And he's figuring the scraps
on the board didn't help anyone, hence the
strong bet.

Which puts me in a tough situation.

Think about it... If I CALL, I might miss
my flush or straight on the turn card. Then
what? Josh will make another strong bet...
what will I do then?

And if I call to see the river and miss,
then I'll have just given Josh most of my
chips and lost a major hand.

On the other hand, I don't want to FOLD,
because I have a ton of outs and I want to
WIN this!

Now let me ask you, what would YOU do in
this situation?

Most amateur card players don't think ahead,
and they'd call Josh's $20 bet. And if they
missed on the turn, they'd call another bet
to see the river.

And if they missed on the river, they'd
probably fold, watch Josh rake in all the
chips, and wonder why they "never catch the
right cards".

Now a more skillful player would ANTICIPATE
what's about to happen... and would probably
call to see the turn, but then fold if Josh
bet again.

And of course, there are always the tight
players who would never have played the 5-6
of diamonds in the FIRST place.

So what do I do?

Remember, I'm sitting on 5-6 of diamonds.
The board reads: 4d, 9s, 7d. And Josh, who
made a strong pre-flop raise, just bet $20
after the flop.

Here's the answer...

I RAISE.

Not some wimpy raise either... I raise him
$40 more to play.

Most players would NEVER think to raise in
this situation... but here's what I've done:

1. I've TAKEN CONTROL of the hand and bought
myself a FREE CARD when it matters most.

You see, if Josh calls the $40 raise, when
the turn hits he'll CHECK to me.

(Remember what I said at the beginning of
this email?)

That means I get to see the turn and river
for a total of $40 more, which is a BARGAIN
compared to what Josh's next bet would have
cost me.

2. I'm representing possible trips.

Josh now has to wonder whether I called his
pre-flop raise with a low pocket pair and
just caught trips on the flop.

Or I could be sitting on a high pocket pair
and I'm not "phased" by the flop.

3. I've raised the stakes of the hand in MY
favor... not his. You see, if I just call
Josh's bets and then hit a 8 of diamonds on
the turn, what will happen?

Well, Josh will SEE the three diamonds and
the straight possibility, and he probably
won't make any more huge bets or call any
huge bets from me.

This way, I've raised the stakes $40, which
increases MY CHANCES at winning an even
bigger pot than if I had just called.

Make sense?

And last but not least...

4. I've given myself a way to WIN even if I
don't catch the straight or flush.

Now I get to see Josh's reaction to my $40
raise...

If I sense weakness, I may decide to BLUFF
and buy this pot if I don't catch my flush
or straight.

If I only call Josh's bets the whole way,
he would't fall for this type of bluff. But
my raise of $40 will sure get him thinking.

OKAY, BACK TO THE HAND...

Josh shuffles his chips around for a moment,
and looks back down at his cards. It turns
out he's holding an A9... so he's got top
pair with the kicker. A good hand, but not
a monster by any means.

He calls.

The next card comes out... queen of spades.

No help.

Josh checks.

THAT WAS IMPORTANT.

This is my "free card" opportunity that my
$40 raise bought.

Now I'm in complete control... and feeling
pretty good about this hand.

I can check and see the river for free. I've
still got a lot of outs here.

Or I can bet STRONG and try to scare Josh
away.

"One hundred dollars", I say, as I push a
huge stack of red chips into the middle.

True, I only have a queen high... and the
beginner card player may think this type of
play is crazy.

But then again, that's why they're called
"BEGINNERS".

Anyway...

Josh thinks for a minute and then mucks it.

I rake in a beautiful pot.

Even if Josh had called, I still had a good
number of outs. And if I missed, I could
have tried to bluff again.

Now think back to when the flop came out...

After Josh bet $20, what if I had called?
(And not raised.)

Well, here's what would have happened...

The queen would have came and Josh would've
immediately fired a huge $80 bet.

I would've had to either call the $80 to see
the river, or muck my beautiful straight
flush draw.

And THAT, my friend, is why it's CRUCIAL
that you TAKE CONTROL of the game.

This type of technique allows you to truly
DOMINATE THE TABLES and win more money
playing poker. Period.

That's what makes Texas Hold 'Em such a
fascinating game... there are just so many
scenarios that can occur, and so many
special "tricks" and "techniques" you can
use to beat the competition.

Of course, you'll probably never figure them
all out on your own... and that's why I'm
here to help.

If you're serious about taking your card
playing skills to the next level, then it's
time you buy my book, "Texas Hold 'Em
Secrets".

This proven, step-by-step "roadmap" will
improve your game TREMENDOUSLY and help you
achieve your goals...

Whether that means winning more money, just
beating your friends, having more fun, or
perhaps going to the WSOP.

No matter what you want out of poker, THIS
book will help.

Here's the link where you can buy it now:

http://texas-holdem-tips-n-tricks.top-10-list.com/

I'll talk to you again soon.

Your Friend,

Roy Rounder
http://texas-holdem-tips-n-tricks.top-10-list.com/

Ten Expensive Poker Betting Mistakes... And How To Fix Them

2005-09-26T20:57:00.003+02:00

Have you ever lost a huge pot because you
had a flush draw or straight draw and didn't
catch the card you needed?

It's happened to all of us.

And frankly, it sucks.

Because when you're on a draw, you're just
ONE CARD AWAY from raking in a ton of chips.

And you WANT to keep calling everyone else's
bets, in hopes that your card will pop out
on the turn or river.

Am I right?

Of course, what ends up happening is you
have to put a ton of your chips in the
middle... just to call everyone else's bets.

That makes you pot-committed... and if you
DON'T catch your card, you're screwed.

Now let me ask you...

Wouldn't it be WONDERFUL if every time you
were on a draw all the other players would
CHECK around?

That way you didn't have to risk any chips,
and could bet only after you KNEW for sure
whether or not you caught your card.

That sure would be nice, wouldn't it?

AND...

What if there was a way to STILL WIN THE
HAND... even if you DIDN'T catch your card?

That'd be nice too, huh?

Luckily, there IS a technique you can use to
make BOTH of these things happen.

Let me show you how...

OK, so let's say I'm at an 8-person no-limit
table and I'm sixth to act.

I'm dealt a 5-6 of diamonds.

Josh comes out firing with a $10 pre-flop
bet. Sarah and Derek both call.

Now it's on me.

I love suited connectors... especially
busting my opponents with them unexpectedly,
so I jump in and call.

The players behind me muck their cards right
away... scared to death of so much action.

The flop hits:

4d, 9s, 7d

That means I've just flopped an open-ended
straight flush draw. I couldn't have asked
for a better flop in this situation.

Unfortunately, Josh comes out firing (again)
with a no-hesitation bet of $20.

Sarah and Derek both FOLD this time...

And the action is to me.

I'm putting Josh on a high pocket pair, or
maybe A9 or A7. And he's figuring the scraps
on the board didn't help anyone, hence the
strong bet.

Which puts me in a tough situation.

Think about it... If I CALL, I might miss
my flush or straight on the turn card. Then
what? Josh will make another strong bet...
what will I do then?

And if I call to see the river and miss,
then I'll have just given Josh most of my
chips and lost a major hand.

On the other hand, I don't want to FOLD,
because I have a ton of outs and I want to
WIN this!

Now let me ask you, what would YOU do in
this situation?

Most amateur card players don't think ahead,
and they'd call Josh's $20 bet. And if they
missed on the turn, they'd call another bet
to see the river.

And if they missed on the river, they'd
probably fold, watch Josh rake in all the
chips, and wonder why they "never catch the
right cards".

Now a more skillful player would ANTICIPATE
what's about to happen... and would probably
call to see the turn, but then fold if Josh
bet again.

And of course, there are always the tight
players who would never have played the 5-6
of diamonds in the FIRST place.

So what do I do?

Remember, I'm sitting on 5-6 of diamonds.
The board reads: 4d, 9s, 7d. And Josh, who
made a strong pre-flop raise, just bet $20
after the flop.

Here's the answer...

I RAISE.

Not some wimpy raise either... I raise him
$40 more to play.

Most players would NEVER think to raise in
this situation... but here's what I've done:

1. I've TAKEN CONTROL of the hand and bought
myself a FREE CARD when it matters most.

You see, if Josh calls the $40 raise, when
the turn hits he'll CHECK to me.

(Remember what I said at the beginning of
this email?)

That means I get to see the turn and river
for a total of $40 more, which is a BARGAIN
compared to what Josh's next bet would have
cost me.

2. I'm representing possible trips.

Josh now has to wonder whether I called his
pre-flop raise with a low pocket pair and
just caught trips on the flop.

Or I could be sitting on a high pocket pair
and I'm not "phased" by the flop.

3. I've raised the stakes of the hand in MY
favor... not his. You see, if I just call
Josh's bets and then hit a 8 of diamonds on
the turn, what will happen?

Well, Josh will SEE the three diamonds and
the straight possibility, and he probably
won't make any more huge bets or call any
huge bets from me.

This way, I've raised the stakes $40, which
increases MY CHANCES at winning an even
bigger pot than if I had just called.

Make sense?

And last but not least...

4. I've given myself a way to WIN even if I
don't catch the straight or flush.

Now I get to see Josh's reaction to my $40
raise...

If I sense weakness, I may decide to BLUFF
and buy this pot if I don't catch my flush
or straight.

If I only call Josh's bets the whole way,
he would't fall for this type of bluff. But
my raise of $40 will sure get him thinking.

OKAY, BACK TO THE HAND...

Josh shuffles his chips around for a moment,
and looks back down at his cards. It turns
out he's holding an A9... so he's got top
pair with the kicker. A good hand, but not
a monster by any means.

He calls.

The next card comes out... queen of spades.

No help.

Josh checks.

THAT WAS IMPORTANT.

This is my "free card" opportunity that my
$40 raise bought.

Now I'm in complete control... and feeling
pretty good about this hand.

I can check and see the river for free. I've
still got a lot of outs here.

Or I can bet STRONG and try to scare Josh
away.

"One hundred dollars", I say, as I push a
huge stack of red chips into the middle.

True, I only have a queen high... and the
beginner card player may think this type of
play is crazy.

But then again, that's why they're called
"BEGINNERS".

Anyway...

Josh thinks for a minute and then mucks it.

I rake in a beautiful pot.

Even if Josh had called, I still had a good
number of outs. And if I missed, I could
have tried to bluff again.

Now think back to when the flop came out...

After Josh bet $20, what if I had called?
(And not raised.)

Well, here's what would have happened...

The queen would have came and Josh would've
immediately fired a huge $80 bet.

I would've had to either call the $80 to see
the river, or muck my beautiful straight
flush draw.

And THAT, my friend, is why it's CRUCIAL
that you TAKE CONTROL of the game.

This type of technique allows you to truly
DOMINATE THE TABLES and win more money
playing poker. Period.

That's what makes Texas Hold 'Em such a
fascinating game... there are just so many
scenarios that can occur, and so many
special "tricks" and "techniques" you can
use to beat the competition.

Of course, you'll probably never figure them
all out on your own... and that's why I'm
here to help.

If you're serious about taking your card
playing skills to the next level, then it's
time you buy my book, "Texas Hold 'Em
Secrets".

This proven, step-by-step "roadmap" will
improve your game TREMENDOUSLY and help you
achieve your goals...

Whether that means winning more money, just
beating your friends, having more fun, or
perhaps going to the WSOP.

No matter what you want out of poker, THIS
book will help.

Here's the link where you can buy it now:
http://texas-holdem-tips-n-tricks.top-10-list.com/

I'll talk to you again soon.

Your Friend,

Roy Rounder
http://texas-holdem-tips-n-tricks.top-10-list.com/