Strategy is Not Optional

Poker strategy refers to approaching the game with a set plan based on the long term game.  It is a way of defining a plan of action and a set of rules to take to every game, keeping in mind that what we do in the moment is not always the best for our long-range goals.  This set of rules are referred to as tactics, and they are the tools we use to carry out our strategies.
Strategy and Tactics

Poker strategy refers to approaching the game with a set plan based on the long term game.  It is a way of defining a plan of action and a set of rules to take to every game, keeping in mind that what we do in the moment is not always the best for our long-range goals.  This set of rules are referred to as tactics, and they are the tools we use to carry out our strategies.

So tactics are the small picture and not an independent course of action.  They are simply a step to fulfilling our bigger plan.  A lot of newcomers or onlookers to the game do not understand this element; that’s why what the professionals do doesn’t always seem to them to be the best course of action.  A lot of these players might be highly intelligent, and often their short-term strategies even make sense, but they are not looking at the big picture and have not yet recognized poker as a long-term game.

Planning Ahead

By setting our strategies and tactics ahead of time, we leave ourselves less decisions to make in the heat of the game.  A good solid game plan is good preparation.  A lot of players leave the table more mentally drained because they wing it on every hand and have no consistent plan.

Most players have long-term goals that are way too simple, such as having a plan of winning or having fun.  Some guys even seem to sit down at the table with their only goal to irritate everyone  and spend as much money as possible.  A online poker strategy of winning, though big, is too general and lacks directions.  You need to break it down into more complex and precise components in order for it to be effective.

Effective Strategy

A good strategy takes a lot more into account.  It takes time to formulate, but it makes those spur of the moment decision easy and consistent.  It is like a direct manual to get where you are going—it’s all written out, you just have to follow instructions, regardless of what your emotions tell you.

When you’re sitting at a poker game, listen to the way people talk and what they talk about.  They very rarely talk about long-term strategies and sensible play.  Instead, they talk about the individual hands and the odds that occurred.  “Ah, Man,” one might say.  “I knew I should have played that hand.”  This is self-defeating and makes no real sense.  Every hand is going to play out differently.  You formulate a plan, stick to that plan no matter what, and don’t whine about the variances along the way—they are a part of statistics.

Keep it Complicate

Most good strategies focus on a variety of factors.  A desire to win.  A certain budget.  Strengths.  Weaknesses.  You may choose to encourage bluffing with baiting because you are particularly adept at reading the signs.  You might pick certain tables because they are conservative or aggressive.  You will pay attention to table position to decide your betting strategies.  Most of all, you will think about the long run when making decisions about your cards.  The game is very complicated, and in order to have a winning strategy, the strategy must be complex as well.

The number of different components to your personal strategy are virtually unlimited, but the more you plan ahead, the more prepared you will be.  Your tactics are the product of your overall ideas and decisions about the game, so know enough about the game to make those decisions educated ones.  Then sit down and put some real thought into how that plays into individual situations.

When Strategy Abandons You

When you find yourself in difficult situations where you don’t know what to do, there is a reason you don’t have an answer.  You have not yet contemplated the possibility you face.  It isn’t covered by your strategy.  This happens to everyone, and it continues to happen, but this is how you build the wisdom and experience of a seasoned player.  These opportunities offer you the chance to recognize more variables in the game and fine-tune your play.

In the moment, take a breath, think about the situation, and apply what you already know the best you can.  Later, you will have more time to think about what happened and reorganize your tactics.  Just remember, just because you win the hand does not mean you don’t need to analyze the sticking point later.

Be Sophisticated

Becoming a serious poker competitor means forgetting about the single hand occurrences and always remember that those individual games you play are all part of a bigger picture.  Understand the numbers, understand how they look from a distance, and formulate a strategy that equals winning.  It is the true difference between a sophisticated player and a fresh fish in a room full of sharks.

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