How to Be A Poker Pro?

Those who have a penchant for poker often think of giving up their mundane jobs and become a poker professional. But most cannot do so. This is because a poker’s job is not as easy as it may appear. Of course there are many who have other jobs and use poker as a way to make extra money. However, before you think of making poker your ultimate profession, ask yourself 4 questions. If the answer to all the questions is in affirmative, go ahead. You can consider yourself a poker pro and you are on the right direction of your career.

Question 1) Do I have a solid bankroll?

It is always important to estimate the amount of money you are willing to shell out for the game so that you get a substantial return and at the same time, does not leave you broke. This means, before you enter the field, you have to ensure that you have a solid bankroll. However, many poker professionals tend to ignore the bankroll factor and end up losing everything. A solid bankroll is required for the big bets, the big binds and the strategic buy-ins. Therefore ask yourself whether you have sufficient money to feel secured and you do not feel the threat of going completely bankrupt.

Question 2) Can I return to my old job or get other jobs?

There is no fixed salary and no guarantee of a steady career when you consider poker as a career option. So if your boss assures you that you can make a comeback even if you quit, you can plunge headlong into the poker professional. Also if there are plenty of job opportunities in your city, you need not worry too much and give full time poker a try. Most people start taking up small poker games alongside their regular jobs and those who succeed big time think of making it a fulltime option. So ask yourself the above question before you get into this business.

Question 3) How have my past records been?

This is a relevant question you need to ask yourself before you become a fulltime poker professional. Past results matter a lot, so go through your track record in poker and check the number of wins and losses. See how many times you have won over a short stretch and whether the win is consistent over a period of time. It does not matter much if you have hit a jackpot once in your poker session.

Question 4) Can I cope with the pressure?

Losing is always depressing. And this is especially true for fulltime pokers whose everyday living depends on the number of games won. There will be many times, when you would not be left with a single penny no matter how much of strategy you use. Ask yourself, can I cope with the pressure. Many times, this profession may take a toll on your physical and mental health and this can be highly detrimental in some cases. If you can lead a happy and normal life and choose to join this profession fulltime, you are most welcome.

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What is H.O.R.S.E poker?

H.O.R.S.E poker is named for the five poker variants that make up the game- Hold ’em, Omaha Hi/Lo, Razz, Stud and Eights or better. H.O.R.S.E tournaments rotate between the five games. All tournaments have the same basic rules, but there is some wiggle room with regards to prize structure and blind levels. For H.O.R.S.E poker, special rules exist to accommodate the different game types. After these rules are put into place, H.O.R.S.E tournaments run in much the same manner as any other.

How to Play?

All five games in the H.O.R.S.E tournaments are played with fixed limits, rather than with a pot limit or none at all. Players play each variant for one round, and the rotation continues in the same manner throughout the tournament. Hold ’em and Omaha have a flop, where players receive hole cards (kept hidden from opponents’ view). Razz, stud and eights or better are all stud variants. In stud and hold ’em games, players try to make their best hand out of five cards, while in eights or better and Omaha, players make a highest and lowest hand. In razz poker, the objective is to have the worst hand. In most poker tournaments, every player contributes a fee called a buy-in. Every player starts with a stack of chips, not necessarily the same as the buy-in amount. In a H.O.R.S.E tournament, players can buy in with as little as ten dollars and receive $1,500 in chips. They play through the five-game rotation in with the same stack of chips, just like they would in a regular tournament. The chip stacks are usually large in relation to the beginning blind (the obligatory bets made by the two players to the left of the dealer at the beginning of each hand). As the tournament progresses, blinds rise at set intervals.

H.O.R.S.E poker Strategy

There are several prize structures in poker tournament play, and each runs by the same basic concept but some are set in favor of the top players while others distribute the money more evenly. Depending on the number of players, the prize pool may pay out to the top thirty percent or maybe just the top ten percent. In larger tournaments, payouts can be done by group. In H.O.R.S.E tournaments, players often make strategic decisions based on the blind and ante structures to be succesful in these poker tournaments. For instance, if there are are a few players that have short stacks and there is one elimination left, they may look at how many hands are left or the button position. Then, they might use that information to decide whether they can fold effectively or try to double up before the blind.

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Fixed poker rules dictate which hand beats what. In this page, you will find the standard hand listings. You will also learn about the best low hands for use in some poker games where the lowest hand wins.

Poker Card Rankings

In most games, cards have their usual values. In order from highest to lowest, they are: Ace, king, queen, jack, 10… 2. Suits are not considered except in some variants. Poker Hand Rankings

From high to low:

Royal Flush: suited ace, king, queen, jack and 10. Straight Flush: any suited consecutive five cards, ex: jack, 10, 9, 8, 7. Four of a Kind: four identical cards, ex: all 2 cards (the fifth card can be any card and is not part of the hand). Full House: three identical cards and two identical cards. Flush: any suited, but non-consecutive five cards, ex: all diamonds. Straight: any consecutive, but non-suited five cards, ex: 5, 4, 3, 2. ace. Three of a Kind: three identical cards. Two Pair: two pairs of identical cards. One Pair: two identical cards.

Tiebreaks and the Kicker

If two players have the same ranked hand, the hand with the higher card wins. Example: John has a pair with two A’s. Arthur has a pair with two 7’s. John wins since aces rank higher than 7’s. Example: Antonia has a full house with three J’s and two 5’s. Jules has a full house as well with three 4’s and two 5’s. Antonia wins since jacks beat fours. (In a full house, the three cards in it is the deciding factor.) If two players have the same cards in the same hand, the hand with the highest “kicker” wins. Example: Miguel and Candy are playing Texas Holdem. The board flashes two K’s so they both have a pair at the showdown. Sean’s hole cards are J-8. Candy has Q-10. Candy wins since queens are higher than jacks. If no one makes a hand, the player with the highest card wins. If they have the same high card, judgment turns to their second highest cards. Example: Alvin, Simon and Theodore play 5 Card Draw. At the showdown, Alvin has 3-7-A-5-2. Simon has 7-9-10-J-A. Theodore has Q-K-5-6-3. Alvin and Simon both have aces. Alvin’s next highest card is a 7. Simon has a jack. Simon wins.

Poker Low Hand Rankings

When you get bored playing for the highest hand, try lowball or high/low poker. Lowball is a draw poker game where it is the lowest poker hand that wins. High/low or hi/low is a “split pot” game like Omaha Hi/Lo where the prize money is split between the highest hand and the lowest hand. The lowest hand may be 5-4-3-2-A or A-2-3-4-5. But that is if straights and flushes are disregarded. This is known as a “wheel” and is the best hand in Ace to 5 Lowball and Omaha Hi/Lo. In Kansas City Lowball, the best hand is 7-5-4-3-2 or 2-3-4-5-7 of at least two suits. Straights and flushes are in effect, so the best hand cannot be A-2-3-4-5. Below are the best low hands for all high/low poker games and most low variants: A-2-3-4-5 A-2-3-4-6 A-2-3-5-6 A-2-4-5-6 A-3-4-5-6 2-3-4-5-6 A-2-3-4-7 A-2-3-5-7 A-2-4-5-7 A-3-4-5-7 When judging between two hands, turn them backwards starting from the highest number.

Qualifying Low Hands

In some games not every hand can be a low hand. In Omaha 8 or Better, for example, a hand qualifies as a low hand only if none of its cards is 9 or higher. Otherwise, there is no winning low hand and the high hand gets the whole pot.

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Here’s some Top Professional Poker Tips

We know why the term poker face was coined in the English dictionary. It signifies lack of expressions and this is exactly what poker professionals are expected to maintain. This is not as easy as it may sound. In fact, the winning or losing of a poker game often depends on the poker face. Experts believe that keeping a strong poker face is even more challenging in a game like poker, where emotions often play a big role and it is not easy to hold either your excitement or angst. Let us explore some of the essential ways to put up a poker face and emerge as the winner.

Maintain a blank expression

To be successful in poker professional, you should learn to check your emotions. Put up a blank and cold expression, so that others are not able to understand and gauge your psyche. In most cases, when the opponents get to know about you from your face, they will not spare you. Often times, a blank facial expression plays the trickster in fooling others as they do not get to understand your subsequent moves in the game. Many professionals practice this type of face in front of the mirror before the match to attain perfection.

Learn to relax

Learning to relax is the key mantra in all kind of sports and activities and more so in case of poker games. Once you are relaxed, it will naturally show on your face. Not even a single moment, one should think that you are tensed even if you are a little jittery inside. Therefore, always try to be calm and cool.

Check your body language

For many who try to keep the best poker face, they often fail when they open their mouth. Their nervousness gets reflected in their voice and one can make out from their tone and voice. This is highly advantageous for your opponents. At the end of the day, they all get to know you are nervous. And this is enough for them to eat you up in the game. The other very important things are controlling your breath, keeping a straight eye, don’t scratch your head or fidget with your watch or dress to make a fool of yourself. All these actually need some practice, and we strongly recommend watching advice on poker tells.

Keep all your emotions at bay

Do not exhibit raw emotions or get hyperactive even when you are winning. It looks especially awkward when you are playing the game with a group of friends and associates. Even in a professional game, it is better to keep your emotions at bay when you are winning. Now about the losing part which we all hate to think. Even if you are losing, do not throw tantrums or become psychotic. Just concentrate on the next game and try to win that one. Professional players who keep up a poker face usually do not react to small wins and losses. Maintaining a poker face is considered to be an art. Finally, do not be too conscious about keeping a poker face. If you become too conscious you may make a fool of yourself. A poker professional always keeps an expressionless yet a normal face.

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Poker players are always looking for a way to improve their game. A better gaming strategy means more fun at the poker table and more winnings to walk away with. Normally a poker player looks for improvements in their strategy, but there is another way you can improve your game that will lead to instant results. You can improve your odds by improving the way you play.

Five Ways to Improve Your Game

1. Limit your drinking at the poker table.

It can be tempting to drink at the poker table. After all, those drinks are free, but it will serve a player well to remember that drinking too much leads to a lack of coordination, poor focus, and slower movements. It is fine to have a drink or two, but make sure it is not affecting your game.

2. Do not play poker in a bad mood.

Your mood affects how well you play the game. If you are in a bad mood, it is best to avoid the poker table all together. If you start playing a game that puts you in a bad mood, take a break for a while.

3. Pay attention to the players around you.

In addition to watching your cards, you should also be watching the other players at the table. Noticing what is going on around you will help you win more hands.

4. Do not play a higher limit then you are comfortable with.

Pick a table that has a limit you are comfortable with. While a higher stakes table may seem more enticing, those high limits can cause you to panic and mess up a perfectly good hand.

5. Only bluff when necessary.

Many new poker players feel that they should bluff as often as they can. However, bluffing only helps you some of the time, the rest of the time it can actually hurt you. Learn when to bluff and how, then only use the skill when it is completely necessary. Improving your poker game will lead to more winnings at the casino overall. It will also lead to a better time at the table. By following five simple rules, you can instantly improve your game the next time you visit the casino and those improvements might help you walk away with cash in your pocket. Just remember to keep your head down and play smart. Do not get emotional or loose sight of what is going on around you.

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