Texas Hold’em Poker: How to Advertise

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There are a couple of different scenarios you’ll find when you sit down to play No-Limit Texas Holdem. Much depends on your opponents. Sometimes, you just won’t have to get complicated. You’ll be sitting at a table with rank, unobservant amateurs, that hardly even know the Texas Hold em rules and plain-old solid, straightforward play will win. That’s it. Other times, though, you’ll have to rely on more sophisticated tactics. You’ll be up against experienced, observant, tough players and you’ll have to go the extra mile to trip them up.

One of the most effective ways to do this: advertising.

What it is
What do you do when you want everyone to know about something? You advertise. Texas Holdem is no exception.

Advertising in Texas Holdem poker is simply making a play designed to give your opponents a false impression, so you can take advantage of it later.

What Do I Need to Know?
For starters, don’t bother with players who aren’t even going to pick up on it. Advertising to players who don’t consider the styles of their opponents and only play the hand in front of them is a waste of time, and in some cases, money. Just play them straight-up and you should be able to get their chips.

Don’t spend too much money on it, either. If you get caught bluffing at a huge pot in a Texas Holdem game, the amount you lose may not be recouped in the action you get later. You’ll be surprised how small a pot you can try to steal that will still give everyone else at the table the impression you’re a bluffer.

When to Advertise in No-Limit
Mostly: when you’re not in control. If everyone is folding when you bet and you’re not getting any action on your good hands, it’s probably time to advertise. Make a couple of bluffs and turn them over to show you’re capable. Make sure people notice. Or, if you like to bluff, show your opponents a few strong hands, even when you’re not called, just to let them know when you bet you’ve got the goods.

Remember, though, if the people you’ve sold your advertising to leave the table, you’ve got to start all over again. So limit your advertising Texas Holdem plays to times when you expect most of your opponents to stick around awhile. Sometimes it’s unavoidable, but the last thing you want is to get caught bluffing by someone and then have them up and leave with your money before you can use your new image against him.

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Good Poker Bluffs

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Generally speaking, poker bluffs in low limit Texas Hold’em really isn’t all that necessary. While the absolute best players will use some deception and poker bluffs to increase profits, most players over use it, rendering it a horrible game decision. There are a few situations in low limit games that provide excellent opportunities to bluff. Next time you are playing Texas Hold’em, rather then simply trying to bully someone out of the pot with a bluff, look for the situations outlined below to make your attempts at deception truly profitable.

The whole table checks
Although sometimes a check happy table indicates a player is slow playing a monster, most times people are checking simply because they don’t have a thing. If you are in late position in times like this, by all means, bet and take down the pot. In a typical low limit Texas Hold’em game you are going to steal the pot often enough to make it profitable. Look for instant checks that indicate players have clicked the “check” box, indicating that they will keep drawing for free, but really have nothing worth betting.

Stealing blinds
Stealing blinds is a good tactic to learn in Texas Hold’em. It will become a good source of profit in larger games and there is no reason not to take advantage of it in a low limit game. The best time to steal blinds from the small blind position is when you are up against a weak opponent or one who is low on chips. Players low on chips are looking for their one last chance to make a stand and with a crappy hand in the big blind they most likely are not going to stand up to your raise. Obviously stealing blinds in this situation is best when it has been folded around. There are some opportunities where a raise from the small blind could steal another bet or two, but you need to be really careful because most of the time someone who calls before a raise is very likely to simply call the raise as well.

The scary board
If there has been little pre flop action and a big scary board such as KKJ or AAQ comes this can be a good opportunity to simply steal the pot. Many times Texas Hold’em player’s wont stand up to bets on a nasty board like this and all you need is position to take down the pot. Try check raising a maniac or an over aggressive player on this kind of board to slow them down or to simply win the pot outright, often times overly aggressive players will try to muscle people around on big boards, you’ll want to use superior betting strategy to outwit the player and take down the pot. You can also adapt the strategy here for when just one scary card comes on say the turn or the river. Although three flushes cause some concern, in a short pot no one will necessarily have the flush. Use a positional advantage when a third flush card falls to steal the pot. A check raise will work here too but often times low limit Texas Hold’em players are enticed to call the check raise simply to see if you actually have the hand.

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Semi-Bluffing With A Flush Draw

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An important and vital weapon in the no-limit Texas holdem games is the semi-bluff. The most popular time to semi-bluff is when a player has a flush draw.

When used correctly, the semi-bluff with a flush draw can be a very effective tool. When overused, it can be costly.

What is a Semi-Bluff with a Flush Draw?
A semi-bluff is a bet you make before you have a made hand. If your opponent folds, this is a great outcome, since he almost certainly had the best hand. If he calls, you still have outs to make the best hand.

In on of your Texas holdem games, if you hold two hearts and the flop has two hearts, an all-in bet would be a semi-bluff. If you are called, you will probably win if either of the next two cards are hearts. If your opponent folds, you win the pot without having to make a hand.

When Should You Semi-Bluff with a Flush Draw?
You should semi-bluff with a flush draw when the pot is sufficiently large that it is worth winning immediately and when there is a reasonable chance that your opponent may fold. A nice play is the semi-bluff check-raise.

For example, you check an opponent bets $25 and you call with Qd Td. The flop comes Kd 8d 6h. You check again, your opponent leads out for $100 and you check-raise for $200 more. If your opponent does not have at least a pair of kings, he pretty much has to fold (unless he holds the ace high flush draw, but this is unlikely).

Even if he has a hand like AK, your check-raise has indicated a powerful hand, perhaps K 8 for two pair or a set of 8s. Therefore, he may fold the winning hand immediately. If he calls, you will still win with a diamond on the turn or river.

When Should You Not Semi-Bluff with a Flush Draw?
If there is no chance your opponent will fold, such as may be the case in free online poker, you should not semi-bluff. Also, if your flush is not likely to become the best hand, for example the board is paired or your flush draw is very small, you should usually resist the temptation to try a semi-bluff.

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