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Play Online Poker

How To Bet After The Flop

WindsorPoker.com links to some of the current top professional poker players:

Joe Hachem
John Juanda
Phil Ivey
Chris Ferguson
Ted Forrest
Jennifer Harman
Gabe Kaplan (yes this is the guy from the 70's TV show Welcome Back Kotter.)

Also see:
Casino Rama
Fallsview Casino
Montreal Casino
Niagara Falls Casino
and...
Party Poker , Poker games, Online Poker, PartyPoker



Betting After the Flop

Playing after the flop terrifies many players because of the high level of skill and risk it requires.

In fact, many people will go "all-in" pre-flop just so they don't have to "really" play post-flop.

However, post-flop play is where you can establish your DOMINANCE at the table, win most of your pots, and maximize your POKER PROFITS.

Even though post-flop play is the key to success when playing poker, it is a skill that most poker players utterly LACK...

So let me ask you: How do you think YOU size up?

There are several key strategies for post-flop play, and I'm going to share them with you here.

Think about the last few times you've played poker... think about what you did during each hand- what you did RIGHT and what you did WRONG.

The quickest, most surefire way to improve your poker game is to PLAY as much as you can... and then ANALYZE how you played so you'll do better the next time.

In this newsletter I'm going to share six post-flop strategies that will give you an advantage over your opponents...
by allowing you to "out-skill" other players and to keep them from "out-drawing" you.

Once you're done with these free tips, if you got value from them, I want you to check out my poker instructional course (if you don't have it already).

There are more details near the end of this newsletter.

Okay, let's get started.

1. Sustained Aggression - After the flop, make sure that you don't show any weakness. If you are confident that you have the best hand pre-flop, and the flop yields nothing but scraps, you probably still do.

For example, let's say that you are dealt big slick and the flop comes 2, 5, 8. If you bet strong before the flop (as you should have), it is likely that the flop didn't help anyone.

Also, if the turn card is yet another small or unimportant card, don't be afraid to fire out another strong bet.

It takes guts to fire out two bets and your opponents will rarely put you on a bluff after two strong moves.

So, make sure that you stay aggressive even if the flop does not help you. Since bad flops usually help no one, when you remain aggressive, you can usually scare away your competition and take the pot.

2. Remember Pre-Flop Action - There are many players who will see small flops and turns as a way to buy a pot.

Let's say a player calls a bet before the flop, then checks after, and checks on the turn. If the river is also
unexciting, but the player leads out for a big bet, chances are he's bluffing.

Always think back to how other opponents played EARLIER in the hand when you think about how to play YOUR cards.

3. Raise And Re-Raise - You will never win a pot when you just call bets. I laugh when a player with a weak hand call bets all the way down the line.

Then, when they are beaten by another weak hand, they immediately realize that a RAISE could have WON the hand.

If you have a mediocre hand, don't just call a bet- raise the pot and force others out of the hand. If your opponents re-raise you, chances are you are beaten and you should fold.

If you have a good hand, continue to bet more and more after each card. This will make it too expensive for weak hands to stay in the pot and will increase the pot size for you to win.

4. Look For Cheap Draws - If you are on a flush or straight draw, try to get as many cheap cards as you can.

Let's say that you have an open-ended straight draw after the flop. If someone leads out with a small bet, just call.

When you are on a draw, it is not your job to scare people out of the hand. You want as many people as possible to be in for a low price. This will fatten the pot if you catch a card and reduce your risk if you don't.

5. Never Show Weakness - After the flop, there are many people who will be looking for you to show weakness. A check or a small bet will suggest weakness.

When you show weakness after the flop, you are just asking for your opponents to come out firing...

This means that staying in the hand will become very expensive and you will not be able to stay in the hand with marginal cards.

6. Watch For "Make" Cards - If you have a good hand, your biggest fear should be a card that can complete an even stronger hand.

Once, when I was playing at a casino in St. Louis, I flopped a nut-flush draw. My opponent, Josh, however flopped a monster hand, trip aces!

Josh decided to slow-play the trips, but failed to see the flush draw on the table. Then, on the turn, I caught my fifth spade.

Still, Josh failed to look past his trip aces and finally led out with a huge bet. With my nut-flush, I pushed in all my money- which covered his bet and his remaining $250.

Finally, Josh realized that I might have a flush, but it was too late. After already investing most of his stack in the hand, Josh called my all in bet.

Josh could have easily won that hand and raked in a fair-sized pot. Instead, he ignored the "make" cards on the table and ended up losing all his money. (Not that I'm complaining...)

Playing your hands after the flop requires patience, aggression, and persistence. Also, effective post-flop play requires a solid understanding of basic and advanced poker concepts.

To help you learn and MASTER these concepts, I've gone through the long and painstaking process of developing my instructional poker course, called "Texas Hold 'Em Secrets."

This course will teach you to control the tempo of a game, intimidate other players, effectively bet before and after the flop, and ultimately win more money playing poker.

Texas Hold 'Em Poker Secrets

This book has helped thousands of poker players improve their game and it is 100% guaranteed to help YOU.

So, if you're SERIOUS about making more money playing poker- or who knows, maybe you want to make it to the World Series of Poker- whatever the case, you NEED this course to advance your goals.

Your Friend,

Roy Rounder
Texas Hold 'Em Poker Secrets

How To Improve Your Online Poker Game (Q & A)

WindsorPoker.com links to some of the current top professional poker players:

Joe Hachem
John Juanda
Phil Ivey
Chris Ferguson
Ted Forrest
Jennifer Harman
Gabe Kaplan (yes this is the guy from the 70's TV show Welcome Back Kotter.)

Also see:
Casino Rama
Fallsview Casino
Montreal Casino
Niagara Falls Casino

and...
Party Poker , Poker games, Online Poker, PartyPoker

*** QUESTION FROM READER ***

I was wondering if I should quit playing but am I not sure if it's the right decision. I play NL and win 75% of the time usually $50 to $100. However, I have a big problem with tilt. I have actually gone on tilt and lost $1000 in one session.

The tilt hand or hands (usually 1 BB doesn't impact my play) is something like this.

My hand QJ board Q3J - I raise a big amount and get called. Turn is a Q - go all in and get called. River is a K and I lose to QK.

I know its dumb to go on tilt but I can't seem to control it - is it lack of experience (I have been playing for 1 year)? Or do I need to take up bowling?

Thanks
J.H.


>>> MY COMMENTS:

Well, if you're winning 75% of your NL poker games, then you're on the right track...

What you need is DISCIPLINE.

The next time you sit down to play, here's what I want you to do...

Tell yourself the MAXIMUM amount of money you can afford to lose in this one session of cards. Then give yourself a maximum of what you can WIN.

And as soon as you reach one of those numbers, I want you to...

IMMEDIATELY STOP PLAYING!

Seriously.

For example, decide before your next game that if you're up $300 at any point, you'll get up and leave. Or if you are down $200 at any point, you'll leave.

Period.

Stick to that plan and see how it works.


*** QUESTION FROM READER ***

Dear Roy,

PLEASE HELP. I am an avid reader of your e-mails. I love your advice and apply everything to teach to how I play. Here are 2 things I am having a hard time getting past and it is making me resent the game...

#1 They say the less hands you play the more you will win... correct? Why is it that since I am a tight-agressive player I always seem to be the lowest at my table in chips.

All the loose players are catching all the cards AND the money. When I do go to bet, since it's not often...everyone folds. This is SOOOO frustrating when I really have something. It happens even when my bets are not huge, maybe just double the blind or something.

#2 How do I get past when I fold a hand like K 3 and 3 3 K comes up on the flop or something like that? That may be a bit extreme but you get the point. When you play tight you fold alot of crap but in turn you have to live with the decision when you see a killer flop that would have made your hand.

Both of these things are really bothering me and majorly effecting my play. I would be greatful for any type of response.

It doesn't have to be in a newsletter, as I'm not looking for that...JUST HELP!!!

Hope to hear from you.
[name withheld]


>>> MY COMMENTS:

Listen. I wouldn't normally include this question here since you wanted a personal response... but you've hit some VERY IMPORTANT points. And many readers are going through the SAME EXACT THING AS YOU.

It's immediately obvious to me that you're playing TOO TIGHT for your game. The way I know this is because everyone is folding as soon as you bet!

Here's something you can IMMEDIATELY do to improve the action you get on your "monster" hands:

At your next game, I want you to raise the pot pre-flop with a 2-3x big blind raise. I want you to do this with BAD CARDS.

When everyone folds, SHOW your cards... and say something like, "C'mon guys... no one had my six high beat?"

Do this a couple times. This will immediately set you up for action later.

Got it? Good.

Now that I've given you a "quick fix", let's talk about the REAL PROBLEM that's happening here...

First, you're getting very EMOTIONAL. And that's not good.

Second, you're hanging on to a BELIEF that "the less hands you play the more you will win"...

You're forgetting about CONTEXT.

Every poker game and opponent is different. And therefore the "best" way to play in any given situation is different.

Your starting hand selection in a 5-player cash game against your buddies WON'T be the same as your starting hands in an online MTT with 100 players.

Make sense?

When you hear a bit of "poker wisdom" or advice, don't treat it as an "ultimatum" that's relevant for any game, any time.

If you need to loosen up to get more action, do it!

Don't just sit there and be stubborn.

Do what works, and keep adjusting your game until you see the results you want.

The great thing about poker is that you can ALWAYS try new things... test out new methods... and continually refine your style of play.

Hope that helps.


*** QUESTION FROM READER ***

Roy:

I'm really enjoying the e-mail newsletter and the book. I feel it's helped me reach the next level in my poker playing.

Thanks a bunch.

I have a question though. When I play STTs, I use the same technique that you teach, namely, I play real tight early on and when I get a monster, I play aggressively. This helps me to consistently make it to the top 4, but that's where I run into problems.

When I make it to the top 3, I manage to finish 1st about 40% of the time and 2nd about 40% of the time and I'm quite good at heads-up, but when I make the top 4, I only seem to survive to the money about half the time or less. Even when I get to 4-up with the big stack, I get bumped out more often than I should.

Do you have any tips on how to play when you get close to the money, specifically, with 4 players left on STTs?

Thanks again.

T.S.
Florida


>>> MY COMMENTS:

This is actually a COMMON problem for Single Table Tournaments...

Here are some pointers:

- Remember that when the field is down to four players, EVERY player is intensely trying to make sure they place "in the money"... and NOT in 4th.

This changes the style of play and psychology of what's going on...

- If you're low on chips, you've got to make some large bluffs to buy blinds (which are high at this point). Bluff when you've got POSITIONING and when you sense WEAKNESS.

- A common mistake many players make is trying to buy the pot when they're in the BIG BLIND over any other position. This is a no-no.

The common reason for this mistake is because you already invested some money in the pot... and you REALLY WANT it back.

But it's a much smarter move to buy pots when you can win SOMEONE ELSE'S blinds... that way you can do it with better positioning and build your chip stack.

(I'm not saying you SHOULDN'T protect your big blind... just be careful.)

- A lot of your strategy at this stage should be based on the BETTING PATTERNS and habits of your opponents.

Use what you've learned about them from the game and use that to your advantage now. If it's a loose table, play tight. Let them kill each other off.

It's a tight table, be aggressive and steal blinds. Build your momentum so that you can finish first.

- Don't be afraid to push!

Starting hand requirements are much looser with just four players in the game...

Don't be SCARED of fourth place. Focus on FIRST.

Push your chips in and buy blinds... be aggressive when you get two painted cards, an Ace, or any pair pre-flop.



*** QUESTION FROM READER ***

Thanks for all the good advice. Another TILT, Using all the logic that we gain from experience (yours or ours). Having a mediocre hand, J,8 or Q,8 non suited. sitting in good position, Three BIG raises, you muck the hand and see a monster flop.

(trips or straight) "IF ONLY I CALLED".

(the winning hand is just a pair)

How do you check your emotions when you see this several times during the game? It seems to happen when 2 people try to by the pot. (semi bluff suited connectors) This goes back to people who don't fold.

I know that was last hand... and every hand is different. When I see this happen, after I drop out I get up (bathroom break, get something to drink) just so I don't see what happens.

Anything other advice will help.

Thanks again
M.


>>> MY COMMENTS:

You just gotta get over it. Period.

If you play Q-8 offsuit with three big raises, you're going to lose FIFTY times more chips over time than you'll ever win... Be logical. Stick to your game.


*** QUESTION FROM READER ***

Roy - A question.

How do you deal with flat-callers?

I'm dealt QQ in 3rd position, so I raise high, everyone but the button folds, the button just calls. River comes, rainbow, no straight draws, no pairs, but I don't improve either.

I put in continuation bet of 1/2 to 2/3 pot, button calls. Alarm bells ring. 4th street, innocuous card. Do I check to see what he does, or lead out again? If I check I'll look weak as if I was trying to steal, if I bet out again its going to have to be a considerable bet. I normally bet out, and get called again, leaving the same problem on the river.

At the low limit cash games I play, ppl seem to like slow-playing (I mostly hate that play, you have no way of knowing if your opponent has hit trips), and so many times I have lead with QQ only for them to re-raise me on the river and to show KK or AA (I don't like to fold on the river - if I get that far I'll have a decent hand of some kind and they may just be trying to steal the now large pot, as many ppl on the button believe it is their god-given right to do). At what point should you stop betting into them if you suspect you are beaten?

If you have time, please have a look at this in one of your newsletters.

Regards

B.T.


>>> MY COMMENTS:

Great question.

It sounds like you're mostly playing these hands properly. You want to raise pre-flop and force the field down to one or two callers.

Then you want to REPRESENT the flop aggressively with a bet.

Now... if your opponent called pre-flop and post-flop, then YES-- the "alarm bells" are ringing.

What you want to do is "put your opponent on a hand" at this point. You don't want to go into the river card clueless about what he's got...

Here are some possible ways to do this:

1. Betting patterns. Is your opponent consistently aggressive when he's on the button? Has he been tight or loose lately? How does he play monster hands?

2. Check-raise. If the amounts you're betting are small compared to your chip stack, this may be a good time to check-raise (on the turn).

See what your opponent does when you check... and if he BETS, raise him (even just by doubling his bet).

3. Look for tells. See any signs of weakness or strength? Study your opponent.

If you've made the appropriate raise and post-flop bet, your pocket Queens are probably beat. If there's a King or Ace on the board, get out.

Try that out and let me know how it works for you.


*** QUESTION FROM READER ***

hey roy my name is robby im 26 years old from kansas city mo. i have been playing poker for 7 years now, my dad taught me the basics and odds back then and ever since i learnd it i have been playing his and my friends for there pay checks monthly.

what i really would like to know is if i could make a living out of it for real i have never enterd a turnament before and if i did i really think i could win with the little skills that i have.

R.


>>> MY COMMENTS:

No.

If you've never even ENTERED a tournament, you MOST LIKELY can't make a living at poker right now.

My recommendation is to ENTER a tournament first, play against different opponents, and keep building your skills.

Poker can be lots of fun... and a great secondary income. Don't rush things.


*** QUESTION FROM READER ***

Dear Roy:

Been a avid reader for a while now. I love your newsletters. Have a couple of questions regarding this email that you just sent.

1/ I dont know if its only me but, I make money on the low stakes sit & go $5 or $10, thats where I get my "bank roll" which averages $200 but on the cash games its where I loose it. When I get down to $75 I start playing the S&G again.

Dont get me wrong, I love S&G but the real money is in the CASH GAMES and I sad that i am part of that 99% loosing stat you mentioned. I play $25 or $50NL up to 6 players, sometimes I win but most of the times this is where I loose my cash and I have several friends that have the same "symptom".

What is going on here???

I know how to play 6, 4, 3, 2 handed play (I do it all the time) but somehow I get beat almost every time. I am sure there are hundreds of readers like me, can u suggest something?

Can it be that I have to move up to the higher stakes? Where more "normal" players play? Let me give u an example.

[Long "bad beat" story withheld]

Can we get some 6 handed cash game advice? We would really appreciate. Thank you.

G.P.
Miami, FL


>>> MY COMMENTS:

Oh jeeze.

All right man... listen closely:

You're making THREE CRITICAL MISTAKES. And you need to fix them IMMEDIATELY or else things are just going to get WORSE.

MISTAKE 1:

"Dont get me wrong, I love S&G but the real money is in the CASH GAMES"

This is a BELIEF that you need to release.

The TRUTH is this: "Real money" is made in the games where you can WIN... and NOT LOSE!

If you're winning $200 in low-stakes Sit and Go's, you may want to try your hand at a $20 Sit and Go. And then $30 ones.

Why are you so attached to winning the ring games?

Is this an ego thing?

There's plenty of money in the Sit and Go's, and if those are working for you, why not keep playing them?

MISTAKE 2:

"I know how to play 6, 4, 3, 2 handed play (I do it all the time) but somehow I get beat almost every time."

OK, this worries me.

You say you KNOW HOW to play short-handed... but you always lose?

And you lose almost EVERY TIME?

It sounds to me like you DON'T know how to play at short-handed tables. Maybe you know the RULES... but that's about it.

MISTAKE 3:

"Can it be that I have to move up to the higher stakes? Where more "normal" players play?"

The answer to this is "NO".

An emphatic NO.

If I could increase the font size on these two letters, I would...

And if I were in a room with you right now, I'd write "NO" on a post-it note and super glue it to your forehead.

Get my drift?

OK, I'm going to be brutally honest with you.

You're demonstrating the beginning symptoms of a gambling ADDICT. Yep, that's right. ADDICT.

It's something I don't talk about nearly enough in my newsletters, but it's a very serious topic.

People lose their ENTIRE lives to gambling addictions.

And of the VERY FIRST THINGS that initiates the process is this thought:

"Maybe if I move to higher stakes I'll do better."

Let me save you a lot of pain and agony and tell you what will happen if you move to higher stakes.

You'll lose MORE money... FASTER THAN BEFORE.

It's true.

I know, because I've made this mistake in the past.

What's REALLY happening here is you're SEARCHING for a "logical reason" why you can't beat the short-handed tables online.

And you're REFUSING TO ACCEPT the fact that it's YOU to blame. Yes, YOU. You just don't have the "mojo" to beat them yet.

But it's OK!

That's what I'm here for buddy. I'm here to teach you how to play better and improve your skills.

Before I do that, promise me you'll do this one thing...

LEAVE YOUR EGO AT THE DOOR!

OK, I'm made my point.

Here are three quick ways to improve your skills at the short-handed tables online:

1. Take LONG BREAKS between Sit and Go's and short handed ring tables...

These are two COMPLETELY different games. To be successful at both, you have to adjust your style DRAMATICALLY.

Tight, "survival-focused" play is what works for Sit and Go's. Aggressive, "bully" play is what works for short-handed ring games.

In Sit and Go's, you want to win a FEW BIG HANDS and otherwise stay out of things. But in ring games the pots won't be as big. Three way all-ins are much less common!

I recommend stealing blinds and bullying fish in ring games... that's the quickest way to win lots of chips. THE POINT IS, you can't just go immediately from a Sit and Go to a short-handed cash game and expect to win.

You need to "readjust" your thinking first... and start fresh.

2. Watch what winners do.

If you're really serious about mastering this part of your game, you need to just WATCH a few games and NOT PLAY.

Log in to your favorite poker room, open up a short-handed "cash" game, and just WATCH. Watch what the CONSISTENT WINNERS do.

Take notes.

Then watch the LOSERS. Spot their mistakes. Find out what it is they're doing WRONG. This is a very useful exercise in becoming a stronger player...

3. When things aren't working, switch tables.

A common mistake that happens to players in ring games (especially EGO-driven players... ahem) is that they JUST DON'T KNOW

WHEN TO GET UP.

If you're out-matched at a 4-player table, YOU WILL LOSE.

Fortunately, this is usually IMMEDIATELY OBVIOUS.

You can tell when you're outmatched when every time you get a good hand, everyone folds. And each time you try to BLUFF, everyone calls. Your opponents are reading you like a book. And instead of fighting a long uphill battle, just get up and MOVE TO ANOTHER TABLE!!!

Don't be so damn proud. Just get up and try another table... because here's the good news:

WHEN YOU FIND A TABLE THAT "WORKS", YOU CAN MAKE A TON OF MONEY QUICKLY!

When things start going well, they'll KEEP going well with those same opponents. Ring games don't usually have many "swings".

The winners keep winning. And the losers keep losing.

Period.

So if you START losing, use that brain of yours and find some place where you can start winning. All right...

Before I wrap up this issue, I want to leave with ONE FINAL THOUGHT.

Here it is:

WHERE you play poker is just as important-- if not MORE important-- than HOW you play.

When I say "where", I mean:

- Which GAME TYPE you choose. (MTT, STT, Heads-Up, Ring, etc.)
- The STAKES you choose.
- The POSITION at the table you choose.
- And the online CASINO you choose.

The reality is, you probably have the skills to excel in CERTAIN GAMES, but not in others.

If you're a "losing" poker player right now, you could probably be a WINNER... just by making better decisions on WHERE to play.

Your Friend,

Roy Rounder
Texas Hold 'Em Poker Secrets

Poker Stars

One of my favourite online poker sites is POKER STARS. I was drawn to this site when two World Series of Poker champs played at this site.

Poker Stars offers sit and go tournements where you can play for free and develop your online poker skills. Beware of some crazy "all in" players who start almost every sit and go by going all in with anything. Some times they get lucky and take out a few good hands in these bad beats.

I have created this new online rseource all about poker stars, .... more info

Gary

Casino Regina + Other New Directories Added

Casino Regina is the home of the Canadian Poker Tour.

A new directory with information about Casino Regina has been added.

Also we have created an intensive list of Casinos in Canada. It is available here. Many of Canada's casinos now feature poker rooms with daily poker tournments.

Also see:
Casino Rama
Fallsview Casino
Montreal Casino
Niagara Falls Casino

and...
Party Poker , Poker games, Online Poker, PartyPoker,


Gary

Online Poker - Daily Tournaments

How to use bad beats to your advantage

WindsorPoker.com links to some of the current top professional poker players:

Joe Hachem
John Juanda
Phil Ivey
Chris Ferguson
Ted Forrest
Jennifer Harman
Gabe Kaplan (yes this is the guy from the 70's TV show Welcome Back Kotter.)

When I first started playing online poker I'd log on to a low-stakes game... thinking I'd win EASILY against all the fish.

I'd make my deposit... buy-in to a tournament or ring game... and use the same strategies I'd use in casinos and local cash games.

But in no time... sometimes MINUTES... I'd be out of money.

Poof!

Just like that. Back to zero.

I'd think to myself, "Wow, I just caught a cold streak of cards... I'll make it back."

I'd put in another deposit (this time without the bonus) and play again...

Poof! Gone again.

And again.

And again.

Then I started thinking, "Wow, these poker rooms must be rigged somehow... or someone must be cheating..."

The WORST part was when I'd catch a "bad beat".

But not just ONE bad beat...

It seemed I was catching them CONSTANTLY-- way more than in "regular" poker...

I'd hit trips and put my opponent on two pair... only to learn that he chased an inside straight draw and hit it on the river.

Opponents would bet middle-pair aggressively... and then make three-of-a-kind on the turn.

I'd have K-Q and the flop would come K-10-3. I'd bet my top pair aggressively and my opponent would call. Then I'd watch in awe as he beat me with A-5 as the Ace fell on the river...

Then I'd scream at my computer:

"WHAT IN THE WORLD WAS HE CALLING WITH? THIS IS
COMPLETE BULL$&#@! WHAT AN IDIOT!"

Has this ever happened to you?

If so, give me a silent nod.

Now... here's the thing:

After a lot of frustrated nights of cursing at the avatars on my computer, I made a BREAKTHROUGH.

It was this breakthrough that helped me turn my online poker game into a PROFITABLE, money-making MACHINE... the same as when I played in casinos and cash games.

What was this breakthrough?

I STARTED TO USE THE "BAD BEATS" TO MY ADVANTAGE.

Yes, you read that right.

Now hear me out...

It all started when I finally asked myself one crucial question:

"Could it actually be MY FAULT that I'm suffering all these bad beats?"

And the answer was YES.

Indeed... I wasn't necessarily CAUSING them to happen. But I was LETTING them happen over and over.

You see, online poker is RIPE for bad beats. If you've played much, you already know what I'm talking about.

The reason is because the amateurs chase when they shouldn't, bet when they shouldn't, and call when they shouldn't.

It's that simple.

Now as I've explained in previous newsletters, when you pick up a monster hand pre-flop you MUST narrow the table down to one or two callers.

DO NOT see a flop with pocket Kings with five other players in the hand. You'll lose.

The solution is to raise EXTREMELY aggressively -- more so than you'd do at the local casino.

Then the odds are fully in your favor going into the flop... and your chances of getting "sucked out" decrease dramatically.

Now... the SAME EXACT CONCEPT can be extended to your betting patterns AFTER the flop.

It just gets more tricky.

For instance, let's say you limp-in with a hidden hand like suited-connectors or a small pocket pair. Then you hit big on the flop. What do you do?

Obviously there are a lot of considerations. But in GENERAL, the natural thing to do is SLOW-PLAY it...

But online, you CAN'T do that if there are multiple players in the hand. Because that's what leads to bad beats.

The key is to BET AGGRESSIVELY and always find out "where you stand" against your opponents.

And when I say "aggressive", I mean AGGRESSIVE. You'll have to risk more chips than you're used to in order to get rid of the chasers.

To find out where you stand in the hand, you've got to use some special techniques...

The first is simple: RAISE. If your opponent is chasing, he probably won't go over the top of you. But if he's already made a hand, he'll re-raise.

Another technique is to simply make two very large bets in a row. Anyone who calls TWO large bets in a row (after the flop and turn) probably already made a good hand.

Also, watch for "check-calls". That's when you have positioning on your opponent and he checks... then calls your bet. This is a sure sign of a chaser, or someone with a marginal hand.

"Check-call" usually translates to:

"Please don't bet... Please don't bet... Damn! He bet. Oh well I have to call... I have to see the next card..."

OK, one last point.

DON'T be afraid of scaring EVERYONE out of the pot. Sometimes you'll mis-judge the situation and EVERYONE will fold to your bet or raise... and all you'll have won are some blinds.

That's OK. It will happen... but it's better to err on the side of TOO AGGRESSIVE rather than getting busted.

All right... let me show you an example. This will show you how to use bad beats to your ADVANTAGE...

Let's say you're in the big blind. You pick up your cards:

Jd-9c

Three players limp-in... including the small blind. You check to see a free flop.

The flop hits:

Jc-9h-3d

Nice. Top two pair.

The guy in the small blind is first to act... and he comes out firing with a medium-sized bet. Now it's on you. What's the play?

You have to raise. You want the next two players OUT and to go heads-up with the SB. He'll probably call your raise if he came out firing first...

But let's say you DON'T raise. Let's say you call and the other two players call.

Now let's look at your PERCENTAGE CHANCES of winning this hand... based on some "hypothetical cards" that your opponents are holding.

Let's say the guy in the small blind is holding:

Qs-10s

That means he just flopped the open-ended straight draw.

The other two players have:

Ad-9d and 2c-2h

The guy with A-9 has middle pair. He can hope for the Ace or runner-runner diamonds.

Deuces boy on the button is just looking for a third deuce.

IF THIS WERE THE SITUATION, WHAT ARE YOUR ODDS OF WINNING?

Well, if the hand plays out with all four of you, the odds of you winning are just 45.9%.

That's right... LESS THAN 1/2!

Now if you were playing this hand in real life and lost to either:

- The Ace on the river...
- A deuce...
- Or a King or an eight...

...you'd probably call it a "bad beat".

At least it would FEEL like a bad beat, right?

After all, your odds of winning are HIGHER than anyone else's!

But the fact remains, your odds of winning this hand are LESS THAN 50%.

Now here's the kicker...

Probably MOST of your low-stakes opponents online WOULD call a medium-sized bet with those hands...

SO, the solution is to raise. You already know that. When you raise, your odds go way up...

If you raise enough to force only the small blind to call, your odds of winning are about 70%. Sure beats below 50%!

Now... the turn comes:

7h

Great. You know this didn't help him... He checks to you, which suggests he has the straight draw or a marginal hand.

Now THIS is where you make your move.

After the turn your odds of winning are over 80%. LEVERAGE THOSE ODDS.

If you know your opponent is on a draw MAKE HIM PAY FOR IT.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should you let him see a free river. Because if he misses he's going to fold.

This is where your all-in move is good. You've got an 80% chance... and your opponent is feeling pot-committed.

Get all your money in the middle RIGHT NOW.

OK, so you go all-in. Your opponent calls with the open-ended straight draw... all he can pray for is a King or an eight...

The river hits:

Kh

BOOM!

Your opponent MAKES HIS STRAIGHT and you lose all your chips.

Haha... I'M JUST KIDDING!

The river is a five of clubs and YOU WIN!

(Hey, they're my examples... I gotta have fun with them once in awhile... ;-)

The key is to LEVERAGE those loose players by UNDERSTANDING what makes them "tick".

LEVERAGE means RAISING THE STAKES. You've got to put all your money in the middle and be OK with losing it 1/5 of the ime... and enjoy the rewards of winning MASSIVE POTS the other four times.

Now the IMPLICATION of raising the stakes is that you must CHOOSE BATTLES WISELY.

Don't bluff very much... certainly not from the beginning of a hand. Only bluff towards the end when you sense weakness.

Choose the high-stakes showdowns when you've already made a hand... not when you're on a draw. And do it against opponents who don't have as many chips as you...

When you take everything into consideration, you realize it's not just about "betting big". It's about adopting BAD BEATS into your OVERALL STYLE OF PLAY.

For example, you'll think twice about getting into a showdown with 60:40 odds (in your favor) when you're playing in a big tournament. Because you know that there's a 40% chance of getting ELIMINATED... and you know that your opponent is probably loose enough to risk all his chips on it.

It's the same way with something like flush and straight draws. How you play them will depend on WHERE you're playing them...

Ring game? Multi-table tournament? 6-player Sit and Go?

And WHO are you playing them against... Chip leader or short stack?

And at WHAT STAKES?

Listen... the thing that immediately transformed my online poker game was simply realizing that all the bad beats were coming for a REASON.

Don't just play the cards... and don't just play the players... also play the fact that PEOPLE WILL MAKE IRRATIONAL DECISIONS.

Risk lots when the odds are in your favor... and don't count on your opponents being too intelligent. You'll start winning HUGE POTS by feeding on the "fish".

Here's something SCARY...

Rumor has it that 99% of online poker players LOSE money over time.

Yeah... 99%.

A portion of that is because of the rake, of course. I mean... if you play break-even all the time you'll end up DOWN because of the rake.

But the rake doesn't account for THAT big of percentage!

If this is true that 99% of online poker players are losers, it means something VERY important...

THAT 1% IS MAKING A FORTUNE!

Think about it: The only other place for all that money to go (besides the rake) is to those winners!

Crazy to imagine, huh?

Now if you're one of those LOSING players right now, you have three options:

1. Stop playing and go spend your money somewhere else.
2. Keep playing for the fun of it... and think of your losses as the price of "entertainment".
3. Figure out how to be in that top 1%.

Option three is pretty damn sweet... I'm not gonna lie. Because there's nothing better than knowing you can sit on the couch in your underwear, click your mouse a few times, and START MAKING MONEY.

You should also study and LEARN MORE about poker every chance you get. If you haven't read my eBook yet, go get it now...

Just click here:

Texas Hold 'Em Poker Secrets