Poker Strategy

Very often, players sit down for a quick 10 minute of online poker wanting to make a fast buck and run. Although most players like to extend their play for a few hours, some only want a quick fix. Their hit-and-run strategy has become their norm. This may work for a bit, but as regards successful poker playing is concerned, this is not a very good idea.

You must remember that poker is not like craps. In craps you can bet the pass line, take odds, have the shooter hit the point and will have tripled your money. But this is a short lived success and eventually the longer you sit, the more money you will be giving back to the casino. Always tempted for more, very few people cash out after a win. However, if the player were to win a nice pot and move on to a poker room or a sports book armed with a good knowledge of the game that would be a sound decision. Leaving the craps table after a good score makes sense, but leaving the poker table after that big score isn't a winning play. In poker you are playing against other players and though the odds of hitting a hand will stay the same there are other several factors that change in poker, the main one being aware of your opponents and their game well. In the case of a hit-and-run strategy, this won't be possible and you can end up making costly mistakes. It is one thing to leave if another table opens up or if the game has become too aggressive for you. Or, if you are only in it to make a quick buck and if you are ahead then leave. But otherwise do not settle for a quick score, allow yourself the time and maximize your profits.

Poker is a game of patience - waiting for the good cards and playing the hand right when they came. But what happens if the good cards do not come or when your opponent has better cards? If you feel the need to stay until what's in your pocket is gone or because you feel you have to leave ahead you will be a loser. A session will have many ups and downs, especially if you are a split-pot game player, and definitely if you play no-limit holdem cash games. In some you win and others you lose. A disciplined player will leave when he has exhausted his limit or when he no longer feels comfortable in the game.

Remember time is your friend and not your enemy. Some players not only adopt a hit-and-run strategy, but commit themselves into playing for a specific time limit. This can be alright in some instances. But if you find yourself sitting down when you are up against the clock, not allowing yourself to dedicate time to the game, then it is against better judgment. You may over play a marginal hand to build up the pot or may start playing stupidly just to get lucky in the few minutes that you have allotted yourself. If you continue to play with little time to spare, you might end up making mistakes. Try and play when time is not a constraint, focus on the game and no the time.

We often see the poker bug hitting us at inopportune times especially when we are against the clock resulting in us playing the hit and run strategy more often than we would like. At times like this, when you simple do not have the time, play smaller stakes, like playing half the limits that you are used to. By virtue of your swings being smaller the lower stakes will offset the other disadvantages of hit-and-run.

Hit and run strategy is okay to play when you are a disciplined player Just be careful, and use common sense. Hit-and-run is the exception and not the norm. Do not be fooled by some short-term wins. Real money is however, being made when you are in a serious long term relationship where you get to know your opponents, devote time to the game and take advantages of the opportunities that present themselves. Leave when want to and not when you are forced to.