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| How
to Play Texas Holdem Like an Old Pro |
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The game of poker has gone through
a major evolution over the last six or seven years since online poker became so popular.
The online game has most certainly created a new style of player that is much different
than the traditional old professional that most of the poker media reflects. Most poker
strategy available to players was created by the old pros, and the top players had used
these tactics for decades until the recent change in the game. Today's top online player
plays a game that's more aggressive and counts on fold equity more than the style employed
by the old pros. Debate on whether this new style of player is an evolved game, or just
hyper-aggression that's been around forever, is one of the hottest topics in poker forums
today.
The online style of play may be the best way to play online, but few online players are
dominating the big live events. The traditional strategies of playing poker still seem to
be the most effective in live action settings, despite the success of some new age style
players. Playing Texas holdem like an old pro can be learned by just about any player
who's willing to put forth the effort to study and learn. Play is based on sound
mathematical decisions and deciphering tells through experienced situational recognition.
Online poker players don't have as much of their decision making based on physical tells,
so forcing the action in chosen situations can give them an edge that's lost in the online
game.
Playing like an old pro means that you're more interested in playing while in favorable
positions with at least medium-strength hands. You bet your hand for value and only look
to slow-play monster hands. When it comes to draws, old pros look to get proper odds on
their draws so that staying in the hand is the right decision. Bluffing at pots is usually
reserved for situations where it seems that no one else is interested in the hand, or a
physical tell that your opponent is weak enters the picture of the hand somehow.
Playing poker like an old pro is usually the best way to play the game. You'll be getting
your chips in the middle with the best of it in most situations and you won't be taking
too many chances, counting on fold equity to build your chip stack. What style is the best
is dependant on the table that you're playing at, but in the long run of a career it will
be more profitable to get your chips in with proper odds than it will be to run maniac in
most of the sessions you play.
The major downfall that playing holdem like an old pro presents is that you'll be
predictable to many opponents. New age poker players understand the old style of the game
and operate with that knowledge, using it against the old style players. This is effective
when an old style player tries to play online, but in the live game the new style player
had better have a good poker face when they're forcing the action because the old pro will
pick them off every time if they don't. |
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