Is successful poker, be it free poker games or money primarily a psychology or math game?

Players are still debating on how to classify poker, although they will unanimously agree that poker contains both mathematical and psychological elements.

Some players believe that it is essential to know pot odds before deciding if you should call or not. Others will tell you that the tells other players give you are the key factor. Many believe that knowing preflop odds is a prerequisite. Some will tell you to bluff a tight player and trap a loose player.

In this article I will try to reconcile both the math and psychology parts of poker logically though no doubt the debate will continue. In many ways math and psychology are deeply connected. Knowing the pot odds is a mathematical way of playing. But if your opponent keeps betting weakly every Flop when you have a draw, then you can exploit this to your advantage. You call.

If you know that your opponent doesn’t give mathematical attention to pot odds, then it is a part of his psychological character.

Generally mathematically biased player win chips when the other players make bad math based moves. And the analysis behind this is a psychological analysis - the way how others play.

Usually, a math player is believed to play the cards; a psychological player plays the other players.

These distinctions are not so hard-fast, and many players can effectively do both. A math player in a board of 10-7-3-4-8 will bet or call a bet with A-7, if only he psychologically knows that (1) the board cards are small so that it would not help the other players, and (2) the opponent should raise if he has a hand better than top Pair. Both analyses are mathematical [note the 'small' in (1) and the 'better' in (2)] and psychological ['other players' in (1) and 'opponent should raise' in (2)].

Math and psychology, it turns out, go together. Yet you will get scenarios where one or the other gets the upper hand (very much as in say forex trading where at times technical trading will trump fundamental trading and vice versa). When you are on a draw, you use pot odds to call. Or maybe you move all in with a small pair when short-stacked. Or on a very tight table, you bluff without remembering at your hand. Or you wait for a trap at a loose table.

In exceptional situations, they go together. Against a good player, you mix-up your play. This means playing in a way so random (math) that the other players get bothered over their inability to get a read from you (psychology). And when someone moves all-in against you when you have a marginal hand, you determine your stack size relative to him and use some pot odds (math) and figure out the chances he may be bluffing or trying to steal with a more marginal hand, and this requires a track history (psychology).

Mixing math and psychology in poker is not something you can learn overnight. Don’t lose money learning, go practice hard at free poker games sites first, then, and only when you feel very confident in your understanding of the game, should you move into lower stake money poker games.

And what better place to practice your poker mind and math trickery than at free poker games site http://www.NoPayPOKER.com where you get to play free poker with 0 degree kelvin absolute zero risk of loss but can still win real money and get your bankroll paid for entry into cash sites when you’re ready to step up to cash games.

Is poker, be it free poker games or big stakes cash a math game, or a game based primarily on psychology?

As with the luck vs skill debate it’s an area that players argue over though all decent level players will agree that both math and psychology play a role in successful poker.

Some people advise knowing the pot odds in order to determine whether a call is proper or not. Others will tell you that the tells other players give you are the key factor. Many believe that knowing preflop odds is a prerequisite. Some will tell you to bluff a tight player and trap a loose player.

I have tried to reconcile the mathematical and the psychological element in poker when playing. In some ways, they are intertwined. Knowing the pot odds is a mathematical way of playing. Yet if an opponent insists on making weak bets every Flop when you have a draw, this is something you can exploit. You call.

If you know that your opponent doesn’t give mathematical attention to pot odds, then it is a part of his psychological character.

Generally mathematically biased player win chips when the other players make bad math based moves. And such a situation in itself is a psychological analysis - playing styles are revealed and these can be taken advantage of.

Usually, a math player is believed to play the cards; a psychological player plays the other players.

These distinctions are not so hard-fast, and many players can effectively do both. A math player in a board of 10-7-3-4-8 will bet or call a bet with A-7, if only he psychologically knows that (1) the board cards are small so that it would not help the other players, and (2) the opponent should raise if he has a hand better than top Pair. Both analyses are mathematical [note the 'small' in (1) and the 'better' in (2)] and psychological ['other players' in (1) and 'opponent should raise' in (2)].

Poker math and psychology, then it seems are joined at the hip. Yet you will get scenarios where one or the other gets the upper hand (very much as in say forex trading where at times technical trading will trump fundamental trading and vice versa). When you are on a draw, you use pot odds to call. Or maybe you move all in with a small pair when short-stacked. Or on a very tight table, you bluff without remembering at your hand. Or you wait for a trap at a loose table.

In exceptional situations, they go together. Against a good player, you mix-up your play. This means playing in a way so random (math) that the other players get bothered over their inability to get a read from you (psychology). And when someone moves all-in against you when you have a marginal hand, you determine your stack size relative to him and use some pot odds (math) and figure out the chances he may be bluffing or trying to steal with a more marginal hand, and this requires a track history (psychology).

Mixing math and psychology in poker is not something you can learn overnight. For best result practice hard on free poker games sites at first and when, only when, you are confident, move up to low stakes cash games.

And what better place to practice your poker math and mind mix tactics at free online poker site http://www.NoPayPOKER.com where you can play free poker games 24-7 with no fear of losing money like you do at on money sites while still winning real cash.

Suppose you are playing any type of poker,free online poker or cash, and you find yourself with a board of 8,6,Q,3,2 when you reach the River

What hands do you expect your opponent to have? It might be 7-6, Q,x or something.

However, notice the board: It contains no opportunities for Straights to form. So you can figure out that if your opponent called (just called) your last two bets which are bluffs, then you can put him on a Straight draw (possibly 9-7 or 10-9).

What you want is for him to think you’ve got a Queen, but you think you’ve got the strongest hand (lets assume that you do have the strongest hand too). Let us add that you won’t call a bet, because you have nothing, and you won’t raise a bettor. Should you check or bet?

Let us see the differences between the outcomes of these two actions. You act first and check. If you do that are you sure he will show his busted Straight draw? You can’t be.

If he has a hand as good as J-8 or 9-6 expect a showdown. But if your opponent missed his draws, then he will try to save himself the embarrassment of being a draw-chaser by bluffing, and you will fold.

He won’t check Nine-high or Ten-high, of course. Expect a small bet which you won’t call.

If he moves first checks, and then you check, you do so in the belief that your Ace-high is the better hand. The problem though is that to show the Ace-high confirms you as a bluffer which can cause problems later as others will note this and look to run you down with hands like small pocket pairs. So you gain chips now, but at the cost of cramping your aggressive (maybe loose-aggressive) style.

Now suppose you are first to act, and you bet. Because your opponent has a busted draw, do not expect that he will call. You still win the pot. Furthermore, because the hand ended before you show down your hole cards, then your opponent will be left guessing as to what your hand really was.

This is the position you want to put your opponent in - he has a lot of guesswork to do, and his brain will be muddled as to what you are holding and as to what you may be holding if you repeat your bluffing later.

Even someone with 9-8 may fold. Why? Because you played strongly in the Flop and the Turn - and still in the river. Your opponent might put you on the Queen or on an overpair or eve J-J; in either case, he thinks his second top Pair is beat.

If your opponent checks, and you bet, it is almost the same as if you are first to act, and you bet.

Bluffing with the best hand is nearly a contradiction in terms: you bluff only if you make better hands fold. But, in this case, it may be better to make anybody else fold - best hand or worst hand - so as to preserve your unreadability which will pay off later.

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You might be playing free poker games or a cash poker game, your hand is A, 10 and the board at the river is 8,6,Q,3,2. Have you got a feel for the hands your opponent have? Could it be Q,x, or 7,6 or is it something else.

However, notice the board: It contains no opportunities for Straights to form. So you can figure out that if your opponent called (just called) your last two bets which are bluffs, then you can put him on a Straight draw (possibly 9-7 or 10-9).

Now you want your opponent to believe that you have a Queen, but you feel that you have the best hand (and let us assume that you really do have the best hand). And lets say that you’re not going to call a bet as you have not got anything, and you won’t raise a bettor. Should you check or bet?

Let us see the differences between the outcomes of these two actions. You act first and check. If you do that are you sure he will show his busted Straight draw? You can’t be.

If he has a hand as good as J-8 or 9-6 expect a showdown. But if your opponent missed his draws, then he will try to save himself the embarrassment of being a draw-chaser by bluffing, and you will fold.

He won’t check Nine-high or Ten-high, of course. Expect a small bet which you won’t call.

If he moves first checks, and then you check, you do so in the belief that your Ace-high is the better hand. The problem though is that to show the Ace-high confirms you as a bluffer which can cause problems later as others will note this and look to run you down with hands like small pocket pairs. So you gain chips now, but at the cost of cramping your aggressive (maybe loose-aggressive) style.

Now suppose you are first to act, and you bet. Because your opponent has a busted draw, do not expect that he will call. You still win the pot. Furthermore, because the hand ended before you show down your hole cards, then your opponent will be left guessing as to what your hand really was.

This is the position you want to put your opponent in - he has a lot of guesswork to do, and his brain will be muddled as to what you are holding and as to what you may be holding if you repeat your bluffing later.

Even someone with 9-8 may fold. Why? Because you played strongly in the Flop and the Turn - and still in the river. Your opponent might put you on the Queen or on an overpair or eve J-J; in either case, he thinks his second top Pair is beat.

If your opponent checks, and you bet, it is almost the same as if you are first to act, and you bet.

Bluffing with the best hand is nearly a contradiction in terms: you bluff only if you make better hands fold. But, in this case, it may be better to make anybody else fold - best hand or worst hand - so as to preserve your unreadability which will pay off later.

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If you want to win more poker hands, be it at free poker online or cash tables it’s essential to put the opposition off balance, unnerve them and make them fear what you might have planned next. Above all you should make them pay big for any hand wins they get or for any play style information you might have to show with the overall aim being to set up your big pot win later.

This is not simply about bluffing. Bluffing I define as a hand level tactic, what we are looking at here is more strategic.

Your goal is to force them to think that the risk of their potential gain in playing in a way that might beat you is too risky to justify. Instead they play too cautiously and fold, or aggressively and make mistakes and bust themselves, or if they do take the risk and beat you on a hand then at least they pay you with information on how they play and at the same time learn that you are unpredictable. Lets look at some examples of this in action.

If you have A-A and the Flop comes 9-8-3, if you bet and you get a call, you expect your opponent to have paired one of his hole cards. Your opponent may also have a Straight draw with J-10 or 7-6. In the first case, you can afford to reach showdown because your opponent is also willing to reach showdown, but is unwilling to raise or call raises, so you play semi-aggressively; check-call or value-bet. In the second case, your hand may be unplayable if your opponent hits a Five or a Queen later. In this situation you have to play your Aces more aggressively than in the first case.

How is this?
If the opposition has nothing why would you play stronger? Precisely that, since they don’t have anything. In case one, the opposition has “something”, but it isn’t good enough to beat yours. You can afford a few value-bets because your opponent may fold if you bet too strongly. In the second case, you play more strongly because you want your opponent to stay in the state where he doesn’t have something. Should he or she get the 5 or Q (or Flush card), your nice Aces become unplayable should they play back strong later.

Make your opponents pay for their draws. Usually they are unwilling to pay; if you check, they check too. If you bet, they call. So: if you think your opponent is drawing, don’t check, and bet massively. Make the pot odds turn against their favor.

If they decide to call your bet, it’s time to be careful. If they suddenly take the lead during the later rounds by betting or by raising you, you have to think twice whether they are really on a draw or not during the Flop. But if they check, take the lead again. Perhaps they are still on a draw, and if they have hit it or not, they’ll remind you with their sudden and swift but all-too-readable actions, and you can fold your Aces without much remorse.

In the river, if no Straight or Flush-possible cards fall, you should bet again. Avoid showing your hand as much as possible. Your opponent can’t call here - and will fold. If you show your hand then your opponent will get a hint as to what your playing style is. So make your opponent pay for this information as well.

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It’s a rarer occurrence in poker, it might occur when you play poker online for free games or equally in big money games, when you’ve got, for example, J-9 and the flop shows J-J-9.

You check, and your opponent bets, you call. Turn comes a 6, you check again, and your opponent bets. You call again.

River comes a 2. You check for the last time, your opponent bets a big amount which could be even an all-in, then you call. At last you show your monster J-9 versus their say, 9-7.

Typically with good made hands (such as AK in a flop of A,10,3) we will bet aggressive in the hope that the opposition will think it’s a bluff and play back. Or we hope they will put us on a draw and call us, or that they have a showdown-quality hand which is not strong enough for our hand and then call us. Or they’re not confident enough to call with their draw (say, KQ) and so fold.

But with very strong made hands, especially on the Flop, like the J-9 example above, we can slow play. By this I mean you play passive in the hope that the opposing player bets strong and in doing so ends up giving us most of their chip stack.

Note that with a J-9 in the J-J-9 Flop, our checks may mean, that we may not have anything, or we may have just a draw (say, Q-10) so that they will bet on the hope that they will drive out our draw. They can’t. Our hand is like an erect statue already that is nearly impossible to demolish. The 9-7 our opponent has is decent enough to take to showdown.

Now in the above example, what we’d really like the opponent to have is Q,10. Our check may mean that we may have nothing so that they may check along with us or semi-bluff with the open-end Straight draw. We just call.

Why wouldn’t we do the same with, say, A-J? Because with A-J, we have only Trips, and we do not want to give our opponent free cards to complete a Straight that can kill off our Trips. So we bet big, or raise big, and hope that the opponent folds, or at least put your opponent in the awkward situation of calling without sufficient pot odds.

But with J-9, we can just play it slowly. Since if the opponent gets his Straight, then he’s going to bet large and you can raise him. Then it will escalate to moving all in and calls and in short order all their chips come to your side of the table!

If your opponent didn’t hit his Straight, however, your slow play might mean to him that you’re the one on a draw, and you are playing passively because you are waiting for the right cards to fall. Nope! The right cards have already fallen! He will bluff, and you can take away all you can. Or he may just be in the proper mood to bluff with any hand (say, K-9 or eve A-K) and you can take his chips.

So, with very big hands that are nearly impossible to beat, we should play it slowly because you want your opponents hand to improve into a nearly-matched hand. If they hit their Straight, for example. If you raise him he may be scared away from completing his Straight, and you will get less chips than you would by slow-playing.

Or with 9-7, he may hit an additional Nine, thus giving him a smaller Full House. Another reason is that if your opponent is in such a mood to bluff that he is willing to bluff all the way, even with nothing, then you can strip off his chips, so give him that chance to bluff.

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This free poker online article examines a scenario that is not uncommon on bubbling satellite poker tournament tables. If you play a lot you’ll find it quite often, indeed, I had it 2 times just last week.

In my example, they were $12 shootout satellites with the target being the main $220 poker tournament. Top 2 makes the ticket and I was in 3rd. There were 2 bigger stacks and one shorter stack, and I was the shorter stack.

I had about 1500; my 2 adversaries had about 7000. Blinds were 75-150, so very little room to play for me. But my opponents were both playing super tight. This really is one of the tells you have to immediately pick up on when you get near the tickets.

What that means is these guys are most likely really low on their bankrolls, maybe $200 max so they’re being very careful. An ideal situation to take advantage of.

Returning to the specific situation, my 2 opponents were super tight. They could have easily taken me out, but instead I stole my way up to about 3000 in about 10 minutes. When re-raised, I fold, and let them have it. With the way they are playing, there will be many more opportunities.

The kept on avoiding me until they both caught a big hand (AA vs KQ where AA flopped a set and KQ the straight. The result was that they knocked each other out. Great news for me, I got my final ticket.

Now I would like to try to give you some 3 tips on how to improve your chances when you’re attacking shorts or are a short.

1 - Always try to be aggressive. Bigger stack = better. Always raise the shorties Big Blind. As they are short they won’t be able to afford to play this type of game. So they have the chance push or fold. They will most often fold though, since you are so aggressive and are hoping you will go battle with the bigger stacks.

2 - Don’t battle with the bigger stacks, unless you have premium hands!

You want the money from the shorter stacks, not the bigger who can either knock you out or cripple you!

Even if you have KK and there’s an ace on the flop, FOLD! You want to kill shorties, it doesn’t matter if you ship some chips to a larger stack.

3 - Whenever you raise the shorties, and you get re-raised (all-in), don’t hesitate to call!

These shorties often fill up with frustration and can often push with any ace or medium king.

Do not be afraid to call with 10-8, where you are often only 60-40 behind. If the short stack has less then 30% of your stack, I would call with almost everything (given the blinds represent a reasonable portion of your stack)

I hope that this article makes it a little clearer to you that being aggressive is the best way in cashing in satellites on both the cash sites as well as free online poker. Remember the minute you start tightening up and let the shorter stacks roam freely, you’re bringing issues that could be easily avoided!

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Here are a few free poker online tips I would like to share with you. We’ll look at different player styles and how to counter them and the importance of table position and how to play each position.

Types of Players

The Call Station.
The Call Station is happy to see the flop but will not raise or best, only call until the river comes, hence the name. You can extract money on this player as long as you play your normal game but be careful not too bluff at this player because it won’t work. Another name for the calling station is Loose-Passive.

Rocks.
These players do not want to get involved with more hands and thus only plays with strong or premium hands.

This player can easily be bluffed. This players favorite action is folding or calling if he has a premium hand. If your bluff is called then respect him because he isn’t lying about it. The risk is also known as Tight-Passive.

The Maniacs.
These players are the ones who bet and raise all the time and love to bluff a lot. They’ll frequently move all-in preflop with no fear. This is a common free poker online player. Only call a maniac if you have a premium hand. Bluffs won’t work because they will counter bluff you back. Maniacs are also called as Loose-Aggressive.

Solid Players.
The better players you will find, can be regarded as pro players in the context of the free poker online site or game you are in. They know the game very well and have a load of tricks up their sleeves. They know when to fold and when to go all in if sense a bluff. They don’t think poker is about luck, they understand how probability and poker work and make their own luck. Also known as Tight-Aggressive.

Position
Position is really the key to getting the most of poker. If you don’t know how to play by position then you’re playing poker blindly. An QK might look good to call however its really not too good if you are the first to act and the other players are awaiting your action.

Early Position.
This position refers to the first player to act ahead of the flop. This position follows the blinds.

There 2 early positions in a table of 10 players. In this position you are at a great disadvantage to other players due to lack of information on the table. It’s always best to be tight in this position and raise with only good hands such as AA, KK, QQ, AK and fold anything else. Why? Since you lack information on the other players and calling a lot of hands would risk you putting all your chips into the pot. Always raise.

Middle Position.
There are 3 middle positions in a 10 player table. In middle position you will have a little knowledge on the other players.

It’s always best to play at least semi loose but still be aware as there are still other players waiting in line. Hands that can be played in this position are 88 to AA and suited connector cards like 89 diamonds. Make sure you know when you are beat at the flop and fold your hand. Re-raise only if you think you have the best hand.

Late Position.
Usually this position is the most advantageous. Why? Since you have maximum information on the other players. It is possible to play many cards in this position if the pot hasn’t been raised.

Call with unsuited or suited connectors, suited cards, small pairs like 22, 33, 44 and practically any card as long as you know what the other players are like. This is where bluffs are likely to be successful.

For a great free poker lesson on playable cards and position see the D M Vadnais series, “Building Your Bankroll” also on NoPayPOKER, it’s brilliant.

Unsure how to apply these skills? Don’t lose money learning, practice and learn first on micro or free poker online sites such as…NoPayPOKER!

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