Tips To Misdirect Your Opponent In Online Poker

Online Poker

David Sklansky is a renowned poker player, author, and WSOP bracelet winner. He’s pioneered some of the most respected poker concepts ever created, yet many amateur poker players don’t take the time to understand his logic. Although some of the poker theories he’s published seem obvious, others can give a new dimension to a poker player’s skill set. One of the most widely recognized excerpts from his work on poker strategy is:

“Every time you play your hand the way you would if you could see your opponents’ cards, you gain, and every time your opponents play their cards differently from the way they would play them if they could see your cards, you gain.”

This breaks your poker style into two main entities:

• The ability to analyze all information available to read your opponent’s hand.

• The ability to use misdirection to disable your opponent from reading your hand.

When you take time to think about it, it’s easy to realize that this is the basis of poker. This article is going to cover misdirecting your opponent.

Methods of Misdirection

Misdirection is the art of manipulating your opponent, making them act differently than they would if they knew what cards you held. Essentially, the idea is to make yourself look weak when you have a strong hand (to induce bets from other players, making the pot as big as possible) and to make yourself look strong when you have weak hands (to cause your opponents to fold, allowing you to win the pot). There are many ways players deceive their opponents, but the following are crucial for becoming a successful, rounded poker player.

  • Bluffing

where there’s no realistic way that you can win the pot, but you act with hand strength (making other players believe you have a good hand). This is a very useful, but very risky tactic. Before you bluff, and assessment need to be made on the following aspects:

• What betting occurred pre-flop? If there were multiple raisers pre-flop, and there are any picture cards on the board – Is it worth betting?

• What did the flop change? If someone raised moderately pre-flop, and the flop brings nothing that would help them (e.g. 2-5-8) it’s a perfect opportunity to take the pot down.

• What’s your position? If you’re first to act and there are several players at the table still involved in the hand, it’s probably not worth taking a stab at the pot.

• Where’s the chip leader? If the chip leader is still to act, you’ve got a lot to lose.

• How’s your chip stack? If you are a chip leader is it worth the risk?

• Are your opponents loose or tight, aggressive, or passive? Loose passive players are perfect (but not often found), tight players will either fold with nothing or raise with a hand that beats you – so you can act accordingly.

• Is the risk/reward worth it? The most important question you can ask is ‘If I win/lose this hand – will I look back afterward and think it was a good idea?’

  • Semi-bluffing

Semi bluffing is where you have no made hand, but you do have a chance to win the pot still. The most often case for this is a straight draw or backdoor flush draw. The chance of hitting the card you need is low – so you try to bluff people off the pot, but if they call you can still win the hand outright.

  • Slow-playing

Slow-playing is giving the perception of a low-moderate value hand when you actually hold a premium hand. Slow playing is only possible when you are likely to have the best hand (at the showdown). Some people believe it’s not a good strategy – some people live by it. The truth is (without trying to sit on the fence) it can be good, and it can be bad. Let’s see in what situations it’s beneficial, and when it can have a negative effect:

Slow-playing can be used when:

• There are multiple players in the hand

• There are Loose players in the hand

• You’re either chip leader or soon to be blinded out

• You’ve got a very loose image

• You’ve shown a bluff recently

• You’re first to act

• A free card isn’t likely to make your hand second best

Slow-playing shouldn’t be played when:

• You’re heading up

• There’s already money in the pot

• You’re against tight players

• The board opens possibilities for draws

Those are a few online poker tips that I hope will help improve your poker game and if you are looking for a platform where you can try them out then sbobet casino online is there for you. You can try putting misdirection into practice for free, with a no deposit bonus – you don’t have to spend anything but you can still win big money!