Profitable Poker

James Binns’

Profitable Poker

Contents

Welcome To Profitable Poker

Easy Start Guide

How To Play Tutorial

Poker Terms Made Simple

Playing Online

All About Tournaments

Binns’ Super Strategies

My Best Poker Sites

Conclusions …. And More About My Big Win !

Welcome To Profitable Poker

Probably just like you, I’d never even thought about playing poker seriously until just a year or so ago. I’d always thought of it as a game played by small-time gangsters in smoke-filled rooms …. betting thousands of dodgy dollars at a time. I’d never thought it was something that I could play from home, actually become pretty good at …. and just as importantly make real money from too.

How wrong I was!

A year or so ago a childhood fascination with poker (prompted by a rather

unconventional babysitter) led me to get interested in poker again. I quickly found that now it had moved onto the Internet it had become a respectable, well organised, easy-to-play game enjoyed by millions of ordinary people worldwide.

Within a few weeks I had become a regular player. And I found I really enjoyed it too …. probably because I wasn’t held back by any experiences of old-style poker. I learned as I earned, developed my own simple techniques and quickly became a reasonably good player.

Can you imagine my surprise and delight when, after a few weeks, I beat hundreds of other players to win top prize in an online poker tournament? Not only that, but without ever leaving home or risking more than a few pounds, I pocketed the top prize of approximately £10,000! Yes, ten thousand pounds!

I’ll tell you exactly how I did it later. But first, I am going to explain to you how to play poker too …. even if you currently know nothing about the game. I am going to reveal my own playing methods …. powerful winning methods that are relatively

straightforward. And I am going to show you how to do the same or even better playing Texas Hold’em poker online for yourself.

So What’s So Good About Online Poker ?

I know you might still be a little bit sceptical. So before I go any further I want to tell you why I think it’s well worth your time sitting down now and reading this manual right through to the very last page …..

• The basic rules and procedures are really very easy to pick up. Half an hour or so is all you need to grasp the basics.

• It’s perfect for beginners. You don’t need to have ever played poker online before to get started.

• It’s perfect for non-card game fans – and non-gamblers alike. You don’t need to like card games like bridge or blackjack, or like gambling on horses or dogs to play poker online.

• It is safe and secure. When you play online you can control your play and your stakes to avoid running up any big losses.

• It doesn’t matter whether you’re old or young, male or female, a top executive or a housewife/husband. It’s all totally private and discreet too.

• You can play whenever you like …. daytime, night time, in the office …. even in bed.

• Poker offers fantastic leverage. You can play with very low, nothing-to-lose stakes. But you can still win serious money. (I’ve proved it myself remember.) • You can even make a good part or even full time profit from playing regularly if

you want to.

• And lastly – don’t forget – it’s a lot of fun! What other ways are there to have fun, enjoy yourself and turn a profit too?

So read on now and within a few short hours I’ll have you playing poker for profit just like me.

How I Got Started

Actually, I learnt the basics of poker when I was eight! My cousin Daniel, who used to babysit my brothers and sisters, taught us how to play 7 Card Stud poker for pennies. I wouldn’t recommend you to do the same of course, although it does show how simple the game is.

A little later, when I was searching the Internet, I discovered online poker. At first I thought it was only for fun or pin-money. I was amazed to discover that not only could you play real poker with real people online but that you could win money …. serious money. Quickly, I set up my own online poker account, learned the rules and started playing with some loose change. Within two and a half hours of discovering online poker I was playing it too!

Unfortunately my first few weeks didn’t go very well. I ended up losing more than I could really afford, due to making lots of silly mistakes that many newcomers make. But I didn’t give up. Deep down I knew that, by gaining more experience and developing my skills, there was money to be made in online poker.

From £1 …. To £10,000 !

After a few months I had cleared my losses, had a complete rethink about my approach to poker and developed my own special strategy. This time, I started off by depositing just £100 into my online account and playing in low-risk £1+20p games. (The + part is the percentage the website takes for organising the tournament). I also moved away from cash games and into tournaments or ‘tourneys’ as they’re known.

I won the very first six player tournament or ‘sixpack’ I entered! It cost me £5.50 to enter and first place was £22.50, making me a nice £17 profit! Best of all, it gave me a great sense of satisfaction, knowing that I could win a tournament against real players who had been playing for years. I continued to play these low limit single table tourneys for a couple of months, moving up to £10+£1 sixpacks and also multi-table tournaments. I quickly became a much better player, and had some good if modest cash wins. But I still wanted a big win. So I kept at it. Practising and playing regularly. Learning from my experiences and developing my skills.

Then it happened, on the first Sunday in May last year. After a very tense series of games I won a tournament – with two pairs aces and sixes ten high.

And not only that …. I pocketed the top prize …. $18,500 to be exact !

As I said, later on I will tell you all about my big win. But in the rest of this manual I am going to explain to you how to do the same or better. I am going to show you how to play Texas Hold’em poker online. How to play it sensibly and professionally. And most important of all how to play it to win. Even if, like me, you’ve never played poker seriously in your life before.

So let’s get started : Read on now, and find out how easy, enjoyable and rewarding I think Texas Hold’em poker can be ….

Easy Start Guide

So What Is Poker ?

Poker is a very basic card game which combines skill and luck. There are many variations including Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, 7 Card Stud, 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo and – my personal favourite of course – Texas Hold’em.

Each type of poker varies slightly but they all follow the same simple idea …. Players contribute toward a central pot which contains money or chips representing money. Players are dealt cards (a hand), some or all of which are hidden. Bets are made on the values or strength of the cards in your hand in several rounds of betting. After the betting rounds are over the player with the strongest hand – or the last player left standing after the others have given up (or folded) – wins!

Like many card games, the aim of poker is to win all the money. As well as the element of luck poker tests your knowledge, skills and strategic abilities. Whether played in homes, casinos or on online gaming sites these basic rules and principles are the same. No matter which type of poker you’re playing it’s first vital that you understand the deck and that you know the rank of hands. So, first, try to memorise the following ….

The Deck

Texas Hold’em poker uses an ordinary 52 deck of cards comprises four suits – aces, clubs, diamonds and hearts – each divided into 13 ranks – A-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-J-Q-K. In poker the ace is the highest card and the 2 (or ‘deuce’) is the lowest. However, the ace can be used as a low card to form a straight 5-4-3-2-A.

The Rank Of Hands

The rank of hands is the same in every type of poker. A poker hand consists of five cards. The player with the highest ranking hand is the winner. Simple!

Pair One pair is two cards of the same rank.

Two Pair A two pair is two cards of one rank and another two cards of another rank.

Three Of A Kind/ Three cards of the same rank. Set

Four Of A Kind Four cards of equal rank.

Full House/ A full house, or full boat, contains a set (three) of cards of one rank Boat and a pair of another rank.

Flush/ Five cards of sequential rank. (Every possible straight will contain Straight Flush/ either a 5 or a 10.)

Straight

Royal Flush A royal flush is an ace high straight flush (A-K-Q-J-10) of the same suit. It is the best possible hand in poker.

How Texas Hold’em Poker Works

Texas Hold’em (or just Hold’em) is the easiest type of poker to learn. To get started you simply need to remember the following :

The Table

Texas Hold’em is played round a (real or virtual) table.

On the table there is a round white disk in front of one of the players. This disk is known as the dealer button. The dealer position is important because it dictates who must post the blinds (more about this shortly) and act first on each betting round. The dealer button rotates to the next player on the left with each hand.

The Dealing

Players are dealt two cards, known as hole cards or pocket cards, that only they can see and use. Then, as the game progresses five cards known as community cards are dealt that

The Rounds

The game is divided into four rounds of betting, and the betting moves clockwise round the table. It starts from the position next to the dealer button.

The Blinds

Before each game of Hold’em poker starts the two players to the left of the dealer post

blinds, which is short for blind bets. They are called this because they are made before

the players have seen any cards. The blinds ensure that there is some money in the pot to play for at the outset.

The player to the left of the dealer button must post the small blind (sometimes known as SB) which is somewhere between one half and two thirds the minimum bet. The player to the left of the small blind is the big blind (or BB) and must post an amount equal to the minimum bet.

The Pre-Flop

The game starts properly with a stage known as the pre-flop.

Each player is dealt two cards from the deck, face down and the first betting round takes place. The first player to act is the player sitting to the left of the big blind. This player, who is known as ‘under the gun’ studies their hand and then proceeds as follows. They can :

Call : Match the amount bet in the big blind, Raise : Increase the amount bet, or

Fold : Surrender their cards and their stake in the game.

Some poker games are known as limit games – and others as no limit games. In limit games each bet or raise is equal to the minimum bet specified at the start of the game. For example, in a $1-$2 Limit Texas Hold’em game one player could bet $1 and another player could raise to $2.

In this first betting round, if the pot is not raised, the big blind can raise or has the option to check or stay in the game without adding anything to the pot, since they have already posted the minimum bet.

There are then three more stages to the game :

The Flop

This betting round is known as the flop. Three community cards will be dealt face up in the middle of the table. (Remember, every player can use them to make their best poker hand.)

Another round of betting follows. Again, players may bet, check, call, raise, or fold in turn. Once again, the bets are equal to the minimum bet for the game – which would be $1 in the example above.

The Turn

A fourth community card, known as the turn card, is dealt face up on the table.

The third round of betting follows. The bets on this round are equal to the maximum bet. For example, in a $1-$2 Limit Texas Hold’em game, one player could bet $2 and another player could raise to $4.

The River

The fifth and final community card, known as the river card, is dealt – followed by the final round of betting.

Again the bets on this round are equal to the maximum bet. The winner is the player who can make the best five card poker hand using their two hole cards and five community cards. (Remember players can use one, both, or none of their hole cards to make the best hand.)

The Showdown

If there is more than one player left in the game there is a showdown where the players reveal their cards and the highest hand wins – according to the rank of hands.

If two players share an identical hand the pot is split. If two players use the five community cards in the middle of the table they would split the pot regardless of what

Playing the game really is as simple as that. Of course, the more you play the more you will be able to master all the details and use strategy. But you can start practising or betting now – I will show you exactly how very shortly.

Bet, Check, Call, Raise Or Fold ?

In total there are five main actions that a can player can make when playing poker : Bet, check, call, raise or fold.

Each round continues until all players have called or folded to the original bet or raise. In Texas Hold’em there is generally a limit to either three or four raises per round among all the players. When the maximum number of raises is reached the poker betting is said to be capped.

Here is what each action actually means :

Bet : The bettor is the first person to commit money to the pot on any given betting round.

Check : Checking is not betting anything. If no one has bet you have the option of checking when it is your turn. If all players check on the same poker betting round you still have a chance to win. If someone bets after you check you must either call, raise, or fold.

Call : Calling is matching whatever someone has bet or raised. For example, if someone bet $1 you can then call $1. If someone raises to $2 you will have to pay $1 to call their raise.

Raise : To raise, you must match whatever has been bet so far on the given betting round and then raise an additional amount.

In limit Texas Hold’em, the amount of the raise would be whatever the poker betting amount is that round. Re-raising is simply the act of raising an opponent who has already raised.

Fold : Folding is giving up on the hand as you do not want to match a bet or raise. You ‘throw away’ your cards and have no chance of winning the current hand.

You’ll notice that, so far, I haven’t mentioned money (or stakes) very much. I did this to kept things simple. But of course money is one of the best reasons for playing! At this point, don’t worry that you might need to bet your monthly wages to play Texas Hold’em

Betting Rules

The betting rules vary slightly depending on the type of game. Here’s how :

Limit Poker

In a game of limit poker the amount you are allowed to bet is, as the name suggests, limited. This limit is in the name of the poker game ($1/2, $20/40, etc.). So, for example, if you’re playing in a ‘$1/2 limit’ game, the minimum sizes of the bets would be :

• Pre-flop : $1 • On the flop : $1 • On the turn : $2 • On the river : $2

Note that you can’t make a smaller bet than the big blind – and all raises must be done in increments of the betting amounts.

For example, in a $1/2 limit game, limited to four times the first bet that was made, the raises will be as follows :

• Pre-flop : $1, $2, $3 up to $4 • On the flop : $1, $2, $3 up to $4 • On the turn : $2, $4, $6 up to $8 • On the river : $2, $4, $6 up to $8 No Limit Poker

In these games there is no limit to the maximum bet that you can make in any betting round but there is a minimum bet that is equivalent to the big blind. The minimum raise amount must be at least as much as the previous bet or raise in the same round.

For example, if the first player to act bets $10 then the second player must raise a minimum of $10 (total bet of $20). There is no maximum raise – you can raise as much as you like. But, if you wish to call a bet but don’t have the chips to cover it, you’ll be ‘all-in’. Then you can only win the portion of the pot covered by your chips.

Pot limit is similar to no limit poker with a few key differences. Players can bet any amount from the size of the blind to the size of the pot. The pot includes the sum of all bets and raises made during that round.

For example: The pot contains $100. On a subsequent round, one player bets $20, and two following players each call this $20 bet. The fourth player could call the $20 bet and then raise by a maximum of $180. This raise matches the $100 in the pot, the first $20 bet, the two additional $20 calls and the player’s own $20 call, which together add up to a $180 raise.

Buy-Ins And Table Stakes

The in is the amount you need to join in a game. Most games have a minimum buy-in and many have a maximum.

In limit games the minimum is equal to 10 times the big blind. There is no maximum. For example, in a $5/10 limit game the big blind value is $5 so the minimum buy-in is

equivalent to 10x5, or $50.

In pot and no limit games the maximum amount corresponds to the name of the game. For example, in a $100 no limit game the maximum buy-in would be $100. The minimum amount is 20% of the maximum. For example, in a $100 no limit game the minimum buy-in would be $20.

Most gaming sites have various rules on table stakes. For example : No chips may be added to a player’s stack during a hand. Players can only add to their stack between hands. While some tournaments offer rebuys and add-ons, these may only be done after a hand is over and before the next hand starts. Players may, however, add chips or rebuy and add-on during the play of a hand if they are not involved in that hand.

Players cannot remove any chips from the table during play until they leave the game. This rule applies regardless of how many chips a player has brought to the table. The table stakes rules are designed to protect the game. Otherwise, if a player is allowed to put a few chips away every time they are ahead, the number of chips available for play will be reduced and the game will suffer.

How To Play Tutorial

In the last section, I ran through the basic poker rules and procedures. Now I’m going to show you how an actual game runs with an easy-to-follow tutorial.

The process I’m following here applies to the Party Poker gaming website. Different sites will work in slightly different ways but the principles are the same. Party Poker is one of my favourite sites – I’ll explain why a little later on.

At this stage don’t worry if you don’t fully understand some of the terms, or would like more explanation. Later you’ll find a handy Poker Terms Made Simple section which explains everything in detail, and which you can refer to whenever you need it.

Here goes with the tutorial ….

Go to your chosen online poker site – more about finding and registering with these later – and you’ll arrive at the home page. Here you’ll find news and information about the site. Many sites offer various kinds of gaming and various games of poker. So click on ‘Poker’, ‘Play Now’ or similar and then ‘Texas Hold’em’, if there’s a choice.

Now you’ll enter the lobby. Here you’ll see a complete list of all the poker games and

tournaments available. This could range from just a handful to dozens depending on the

site in question.

In the list you’ll find the name of the individual game (some quite silly names are often used) plus the stakes, how many players the game accommodates in total and how many are already seated, ie. waiting to play. You might also find details of how long you’ll have to wait to play, how many hands an hour are being played and the average pot for that name.

To start, double click on your chosen game. For example, say you want to play $2/$4 Limit Texas Hold’em you’ll click on ‘$2/$4 Limit Texas’. Simple!

Now your screen will refresh and you’ll see a mock up of a poker gaming table. Try not to be put off by the décor or the other players’ appearances. It’s totally irrelevant! Against each player you will see an information box that shows their name and the

Next you need to buy in : For each game there is a minimum amount that you can buy in for. For a $2/$4 game, for example, this would be $20. Say you decide to buy in for $100. You type in $100 and click. (Note that you only have a short time to proceed here, so it’s as well to decide how much you’re going to buy in for first.)

Now the attention turns to the two players seated to the left of the dealer button. These two players will place the blind bets to get the game started. In this case Player 7 or the small blind is $1 and Player 8 or the big blind is $2.

One important point : A player who joins a game already in progress may decide to wait for the big blind position or post the equivalent to the big blind as soon as the next hand starts. Press the appropriate button to indicate this.

The cards are now dealt. Each player gets two hole cards that only they can see.

As a result of this hand each player decides what to do next, ie. whether and what to bet. (I went through the options that are available to you earlier.)

In this game, Player 9 folds or ‘throws away’ their hand. Player 10 calls $2.

You’re next! Since you have a good hand you decide to go ahead and raise the bet. You raise the $2 bet by another $2 to $4. Since you had already posted the $2 you put in an additional $4.

Note : During the first two rounds of betting in limit games bets must increase by the lower limit – $2 in this case. So you click ‘Raise $2’.

Now all the players decide what to do ….

In this game, Players 2 to 6 fold – maybe because you raised! Player 7 (the small blind) calls $3 more to stay in the hand.

Player 8 (the big blind) calls by adding $2 …. as does player 10.

By this stage, most of the other players have folded, leaving only three players in the hand.

Now the game moves on. The first three community cards are dealt. Remember that all the players can use these cards to make up their hand.

Here’s the flop : The second round of betting begins. You notice that you have a pair of kings – which is a very good hand.

Player 7 checks, which means he stays in the game. But he does not bet. As does Player 8.

Player 10 bets $2. You can’t see it, but he obviously feels good about his hand!

Player 7 and Player 8 both fold. Player 10 calls your raise.

Now the next community card is dealt. This is known as the turn card. In this case it’s an 8.

Next, the third round of betting begins. This one has an upper limit – in the case of this game $4.

Player 10 bets $4. Since you have a strong hand you can raise again. So you click ‘Raise 8’.

Player 10 decides to call your raise.

Now its time to go to the river. This means that the final community card is dealt. In this case it’s a King.

This time player 10 checks. So you can go ahead and bet $4 - click ‘Bet $4’.

Player 10 calls. You show your hand – three of a kind – Kings. Player 10 shows his cards – Q, 9.

Congratulations ….. you’ve won this game!

Is it all starting to come together now? I hope so. But don’t worry if it isn’t and you need a little more time to pick things up. Just go back to the beginning of the ‘Easy Start Guide’ and read it a couple more times.

And if you’ve picked up the basics quickly and want to know more it’s all coming shortly. Very soon I’m going to let you in on some of my own personal winning strategies!

Poker Terms Made Simple

One of the things that makes playing poker seem difficult is the language that is used. But once you know what the terms mean it becomes much simpler. In this section, I’ll explain exactly what they all mean.

Over time, try and memorise as many of these as you can. But don’t worry if it takes you a while to learn them – you can still begin playing anyway.

A

Add-On The last opportunity to buy additional chips in a tournament when re-buys are finished.

Aces Full A full house with three aces and any pair.

Ace High A five card hand that contains one ace, with no straight or flush or a hand with no pair in it.

Aces Up A hand that contains two pairs, one of which is a pair of aces. Act An intentional tell intended to give false information about a hand. Action Checking/betting/raising. A game in which players are playing a

lot of pots is considered an ‘action’ game. Active Player Any player who is still in the hand.

Aggressive Adjective to describe a player who raises and re-raises and rarely calls.

Ajax The name of an ace and Jack in the pocket, suited or otherwise. All In When you have committed all your chips into the pot.

American

Angle An action that isn’t against the rules, but still incorporates unfair tactics.

Angle Shooting Using unfair tactics.

Ante Money placed in the pot before the hand is started.

B

Bad Beat When you are a strong favourite to win the hand but end up losing.

Backdoor Making a hand other than the one intended. Example: Having J-10 of clubs with a flop of A of clubs, 5 of clubs, 6 of spades. The turn and river are K & Q of hearts. You made a straight instead of the intended (and more likely) flush.

Backraise A re-raise from a player who originally called. Bankroll The amount of money you have.

Belly Buster A draw and/or catch to an inside straight. Bet To place chips into the pot.

Bet Odds The odds you get as a result of evaluating the number of callers to a raise.

Bet the Pot Betting the amount of your pot. Bicycle A straight : A-2-3-4-5.

Big Blind A compulsory bet which is always double the size of the Small Blind forced upon the player second left from the dealer before he/she has received their cards, also known as pocket cards. Big Slick A hand that contains an A-K.

Blank A useless card.

Blinds The bet(s) that must be made by the two players sitting directly to the dealer’s left which will start the action on the first round of betting. The blinds are posted before any cards are dealt. (A ‘blind bet’ is one that is made without looking at your cards.) Blind Raise When a player raises without looking at his hand.

Bluff To make other players think that you have a better hand than you do by betting or raising.

Boardcards The cards that are dealt face-up in a poker game for all players to see. In Hold’em five cards are dealt face-up in the centre of the table.

Boat A full house.

Bottom Pair When a player uses the lowest card on the flop to make a pair with one of his own cards.

Broadway An ace high straight (A-K-Q-J-10). Bring It In To start the betting on the first round. Broomcorn’s Uncle A player who antes himself broke. Bullets A pair of aces.

Bump To raise.

Button Also known as the dealer button, it is a small round disk that is moved from player to player in a clockwise direction following each hand, to theoretically indicate the dealer of each hand. Buy In The minimum amount of money required to sit down at the table

and play.

C

Call When you match a players bet that has gone before you. Call Cold To call both a bet and raise(s).

Calling Station A passive and loose player who doesn’t raise much but calls too often.

Cap To take the last of the maximum amount of raises allowed per round of betting.

Cardroom The room or space in a casino where poker is played. Case Chips A player’s last chips.

Cash Out To leave a game and exchange your chips for money.

Check If a player checks it means there is no bet or raise placed. You can only check before the flop if you are in the big blind.

Check Raise When a player first checks and then raises in a betting round. Chop To return the blinds to the players who posted them and move on

to the next hand if no other players call. It also means to ‘split the pot’.

D

Dead Man’s Hand Two pair – Aces and Eights. (According to poker legend the hand Wild Bill Hickock was holding when Jack McCall shot him in the back!)

Dealer The dealer handles the cards, gives out the pots, and monitors the game.

Dealer Button A button shaped object with the letter ‘D’ or the word ‘dealer’ etched onto it that is placed next to the person who is dealing and moves one seat to the left after each hand. Mainly known as ‘The Button’.

Dealer’s Position Being the last to act in a betting round. On the button. Dominated Hands Hands that are OK but tend to lose against similar non-

straight/flush hands. Example : A2 is dominated because against other hands with an ace, it loses or draws without improvement. Dominating Hands Hand that are not only good but which have lots of

Door Card This is the first exposed card, or ‘up’ card, in a player’s hand in Stud games.

Down Card Hole cards, or cards that are dealt face down.

Doyle Brunson A Hold’em hand consisting of a 10-2. (Brunson won the World Championship of Poker two years in a row with these cards.) Drawing Playing a hand to improve.

Drawing Dead A drawing hand that will lose even if it improves.

Drawing Hand A hand that needs improvement to win. Usually to a straight or flush.

Drop Fold.

Ducks A pair of Twos. Deuces A pair of Twos.

E

Early Position Position on a round of betting, where the player must act before most of the other players at the table. (It’s considered the two positions located to the left of the Blinds.)

F

Fifth Street Also known as the river card. In flop games, this represents the fifth community card on the table and the final round of betting. Fish A poor player

Flat Call Calling a bet without raising.

Flop (The) The first three community cards that are turned over together when the first round of betting is over.

Flop Games Poker games like Hold’em (and Omaha) that are played using community cards that are dealt face up in the centre of the table. Flush Any five cards of the same suit.

Flush Draw When a player has four cards in his hand, all of the same suit and is hoping to draw a fifth to make a flush.

Fold When a player throws his hand away and is no longer involved in the hand.

Forced Bet A compulsory bet that starts the action on the first round of a poker hand.

Four of a Kind Four cards of the same number or face value (‘quads’).

Fourth Street In flop games, it is the fourth community card dealt, also known as the ‘turn’, and represents the third round of betting.

Free Card The card you get as result of semi-bluffing from late or last position so that all the players check to you.

Freeze Out A tournament where you can not re-buy or add-on if you loose your chips.

Full House Any three cards of the same number or face value, plus any other two cards of the same number or face value.

G

Grinding Playing in a style with minimal risk and modest gains over a long period of time.

Gut Shot To draw to and/or hit an inside straight.

H

Hand A player’s best five cards.

Heads Up A situation where only two players are involved with the game. Hearts One of the four suits in cards..

High Card To decide the first dealer in the flop tournaments each user is dealt a single card and the player with the highest card (based on the card and the suit order – of spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs) becomes the theoretical dealer.

Hi/Lo Split pot games.

Hole Cards The two cards each player is dealt face down which belong only to them.

House The casino or cardroom that is hosting the poker game.

I

Implied Odds The odds you calculate, considering the assumed result of betting for the remainder of the hand.

Inside Straight Four cards that require another between the top and the bottom card to complete a straight. Players who obtain this card make an Inside Straight.

J

Jackpot/ A prize fund given to a player who meets a set of predetermined Jackpot Poker requirements. For example, some casinos will give a jackpot to

someone who gets four-of-a-kind or higher and loses.

Jacks Or Better A form of poker in which a player needs to have at least a pair of jacks to open the betting.

K

Keep Them Honest To call at the end of a hand to prevent someone from bluffing. Key Card A card that gives you a big draw or makes your hand.

Key Hand In a session or tournament, the one hand that ends up being a turning point for the player, either for better or worse.

Kicker The highest unpaired side card in a player’s hand.

Kick It Raise.

Kill Pot A method to stimulate action. It is a forced bet by someone who has just won a pot(s).

Knock Check.

L

Ladies Two Queens.

Late Position Position on a round of betting where the player must act after most of the other players have acted (usually considered to be the two positions next to the right of the button).

Lay Down Your

Hand Folding.

Lead The first player to bet into a pot.

Limit Poker A game, as in Texas Hold’em, that has fixed minimum and maximum betting intervals, along with a prescribed number of raises.

Limper The first player who calls a bet.

Limp In To enter the pot by calling rather than raising. The most common understanding of limping in, is when the first person to speak only calls the Big Blind.

Live Blind An instance where the player puts in a dark bet and is allowed to raise, even if no other player raises. It’s also known as an ‘option’. Live Hand A hand that could still win the pot.

Live One An inexperienced player who plays a lot of hands.

Long Shot Making a hand despite having few outs and/or poor odds. Look When a player calls the final bet before the showdown. Loose A loose player plays a lot hands.

Low Limit A game where the amounts wagered are small.

M

Main Pot The centre pot. Any other bets are placed in a side pot(s) and are contested among the remaining players. This occurs when a

Make To make the deck is to shuffle the deck.

Maniac A very aggressive player who plays a lot of hands.

Maverick The name of a Queen and Jack in the pocket. Suited or otherwise. Meet To meet is to call.

Middle Pair In flop games, when a player makes a pair with one of his/her down cards and the middle card on the flop.

Middle Position Somewhere between the early and late positions on a round of betting (the fifth, sixth and seventh seats to the left of the button). Muck (The) Where a player’s cards go once he/she has folded.

Minimum Buy In The least amount of money with which you can start a game. Monster A very big hand. In a tournament, a player who begins to

accumulate chips after having a small stack is considered to be a monster.

N

No Limit A game where players can bet as much as they like (as long as they have it in front of them) on any round of betting.

Nuts The best possible hand at any point of the game. A hand that cannot be beaten.

O

Odds The probability of making a hand against the probability of not making a hand.

On The Button Being the last player to act in a betting round. Dealer’s position. Open To make the first bet.

Open Ended Straight Four consecutive cards where one additional (consecutive) card is needed at either end to make a straight.

Open Card A card that is dealt face up. Open Pair A pair that has been dealt face-up.

Option An option is a live blind made before the cards are dealt. If no one raises, the option player may raise the pot.

Out Button A disc placed in front of a player who wishes to sit out a hand(s), but stay in the game.

Outs The number of cards left in the pack that can win you the hand if they are turned over as one of the community cards.

Overpair A pocket pair higher than any of the cards on the board.

P

Paints Face or picture cards (Jack, Queen and King). Pair Two cards of the same face or number value.

Pass To fold.

Pay Off To call on the final round of betting when you may or may not think you have the best hand.

Picture Cards Face cards (Jack, Queen and King). Also known as Paints. Play Back To raise or re-raise another player’s bet.

Playing the Board In flop games, when your best five card hand is all five of the community cards.

Pocket Rockets A pair of aces in the pocket or hole.

Position Where a player is seated in relation to the dealer, therefore establishing that player’s place in the betting order.

Post If you miss the blind, then you must ‘post’ – add as many chips as were in the blind itself.

Pot The money or chips in the centre of a table that players try to win. Pot Limit This is a game where the maximum bet can equal the pot.

Pot Odds The ratio of the amount of money in the pot to the amount it will cost you to call the current bet.

Prop A person hired by the cardroom to work as a player. Put Down To fold a hand.

Q

Quads Four of a kind.

Qualifier In Hi/Lo games, it is a requirement the low hand must meet to win the pot.

R

Rainbow Flop When the three cards on the flop are all different suits.

Raise When a player puts in at least twice the amount of a bet that has been placed in that round of betting.

Rake Chips taken from the pot by the cardroom for compensation for hosting the game.

Rank The value of each card and hand.

Rap When a player knocks on the table indicating that he/she has checked.

Ratholing The illegal action of taking money off the table and putting it somewhere else.

Rebuy The amount of money a player pays to add a fixed number of chips to his/her stack in a tournament.

Re-Raise When a player raises someone who has already raised. Ring Game A ‘live’ game that is not a tournament.

River (The) The fifth and final community card that is turned over when the third round of betting is over, also known as Fifth Street.

Rock A passive, tight player.

Round of Betting This is when players have the opportunity to bet, check or raise. Each round of betting ends when the last bet or raise has been called.

Royal Flush This is an ace high straight (A-K-Q-J-10) of the same suit. It is the best possible hand in poker.

Run The act of playing with more money than is typical or reasonable. Runner, Runner A hand made using both the last two cards dealt

Rush A winning streak.

S

Sandbagging Holding back and calling despite the fact that you have a very good hand, usually to disguise strength, provoke bluffs, and to check- raise.

Satellite A mini-tournament to gain an entry into a larger tournament. Scoop To win the entire pot.

Seating List A waiting list. A player can put his or her name on this list if there are no seats at the table at which they wish to play.

Second Pair In flop games, when you pair the second highest card on the board.

Set Having a pocket pair that matches one of the cards on the board. 7 Card Stud Another well-known poker game in which players get three down

cards and four up cards. You play the best five of those seven cards.

Shills Shills are players paid to start and maintain poker games. Short Buying Buying chips after your initial purchase. Usually the minimum

for a short buy-in is less than the initial buy-in. Short-handed A ‘short-handed’ game has few players.

Showdown When there are two or more players left in the pot after all betting rounds are over and bets have been called the players reveal their cards and the best hand wins.

Side Pot A separate pot which is contested by remaining active players when one or more players are all-in.

Slow Play To play a strong hand weakly so more players will stay in the pot Small Blind A compulsory bet forced upon the player to the immediate left of

the dealer before he/she has received their cards.

Soft Seat A seat or game that is favourable because of the lack of skill at the table.

Solid A fairly tight player (and reasonably good). Speed Limit A pair of fives.

Split Tie.

Stack A pile of chips.

Stay When a player remains in the game by calling rather than raising. Steal Raise A raise by someone in late position in an attempt to reduce the

number of players and/or steal the pot.

Steel Wheel A five high straight (A-2-3-4-5) of the same suit.

Straddle A straddle is a Blind bet which is usually double the size of the Big Blind (and one that a player may raise when the action gets to them).

Straight Five consecutive cards of any suit. Straight Flush Five consecutive cards of the same suit.

Structure The limits put on the blinds/ante, bets, and raises in any particular game.

Stud Games Types of poker where players get both down cards and up cards. Stuck A player who is losing in a game.

Suit A characteristic of a playing card. The card being either of clubs, diamonds, hearts, or spades.

Suited Connectors Sequential hole cards of the same suit

T

Tell An action that gives others clues about the cards you are holding. Texas Hold’em The most popular form of poker!

Thirty Miles Three tens.

Three of a Kind Three cards of the same number or face value (‘trips’).

Tight Either a player who doesn’t play many pots, or a game that doesn’t have much action.

Tilt Paying poorly and recklessly due to frustration from having lost. TOC Tournament of Champions.

Top Pair In flop games, when the player pairs one of his down cards with the highest card on board.

Treys A pair of threes. Trips Three of a kind.

Turn (The) The fourth community card that is turned over when the second round of betting is over, Also known as Fourth Street.

Two Pair A hand consisting of two different pairs.

U

Underpair A pocket pair of lower value than the lowest card on the board. Under the Gun The playing position to the immediate let of the Big Blind. Up Card A card that is dealt face-up.

W

Walking Sticks A pair of sevens.

Wild Card A card that can be played as any value. Worst Hand A losing hand.

WSOP World Series of Poker – a major poker tournament.

Playing Online

In this part of the manual I’m going to look at finding, choosing and using Internet gaming sites – the websites where you can play Texas Hold’em poker, as well as lots of other games if you wish.

What You Need To Know About Internet Gaming

The first Internet gaming sites opened up in 1995 …. when most people hadn’t even heard of the Internet and very few could connect to it. Gaming is now one of the biggest moneyspinners on the web. It’s estimated that some Internet casinos and gaming sites make over £1 million per week!

Firstly, a quick warning : Internet gaming sites operate from many different countries. Lots of them are completely unregulated by law. So you have to choose carefully and ensure you play only with reputable gaming sites who run their games properly and will always pay out. The risk of playing with a dishonest site is that the games might be rigged, winnings take months to be paid out or are never paid at all.

Look for sites that are licensed in well-known countries and which have set-down fair-dealing policies. Look in the small print of the site for information on this. Are the amounts the site takes out of the game (their rake) fair and competitive? Look at how different sites compare here. Look at the shuffle : Does the site use reputable number generator software to ensure cards are dealt in as random a way as possible?

Finding And Choosing Gaming Sites

There are plenty of Internet poker sites to choose from, and more are being added all the time. You’ll see lots advertised, and you can also find some with a simple web search. Sites vary in the way they work (although the basic rules of Texas Hold’em are exactly the same). Different players have different favourite sites. So a good idea is to try a few and then focus on the one you feel more comfortable with.

There is, of course, nothing to stop you playing on several poker sites at the same time – as long as you keep track of your success rates and incomings/outgoings for each. Some sites have a customer-led deposit limit and self-exclusion tools, so you can control what

Later in the manual you’ll find a run-down of my favourite online poker sites.

Setting Up And Getting Started

With most online gaming sites you need to download the gaming software, open an

account and deposit some stake money in it before you can play.

Downloading The Gaming Software

Most sites have minimum system requirements, but an average PC should easily exceed them. These are typically Windows 98/NT/ME/2000 or XP; a Pentium system with at least 64MB of RAM; a sound card for audio; a screen resolution of at least 800x600 pixels with minimum of 256 colours and Internet Explorer

To download just follow the instructions on the site. Here’s a typical installation : 1. Go to your chosen site.

2. Click download, then ….

4. Once installation is complete, the software should open automatically and ask you to log in.

You can then start to play right away!

Opening An Account And Depositing Money

Most Internet poker sites play in US dollars, but some offer other currencies like UK pounds and euros too. I think it is easier to play in pounds if you can, so the game feels more ‘real’. Most sites allow you to open an account in one currency but play in another – but make sure the exchange rate is reasonable.

Most sites offer various deposit options including credit cards and debit cards, personal cheques, bank drafts, money orders, wire transfer, Western Union or online payment services such as PayPal and others. Once money is deposited you simply play from your account, with losses deducted and winnings added. You can then withdraw your winnings from your account in the same way they were credited.

Practising And Playing For Free

Generally, online poker plays in exactly the same as ‘real life’. But before you play for real, all good casinos and gaming sites should allow you to play practice versions for free, to develop your skills. With practice versions you don’t stake actual money – but of course you don’t win or lose it either!

When you register with a particular poker site look for the ‘trial version’ or ‘play money’ version. Check very carefully as they often look almost identical to the real money poker rooms!

Trial and practice versions work exactly the same way as for real versions. However, you need to be aware that with some sites the odds of winning may be changed so that they are slightly better for trial versions. So don’t get too excited if you win a lot with the play money games. When you start real you might find it slightly harder to win and that you need to work on your strategy more.

All About Tournaments

Now here’s where things get a little more interesting. In this section I will explain about the different types of poker tournaments you can get involved in.

Why are tournaments so interesting? Well tournaments – or ‘tourneys’ as they’re known – rather than single table cash games can be a very good way to maximise your profits from poker. With tournaments, especially multi-table ones, you generally receive a much better return on your money and a much bigger first place prize. They’re also very, very exciting! Whether you’re playing for a few thousand or a few hundred thousand, there’s nothing quite like the feeling when you outplay everyone else on the table and walk away with the cash!

I got involved in tournaments after about a month of first starting to play online. I started off by depositing £100 into my online account and played single table tournaments. These ranged from a £1+20p all the way up to £500+£30 (remember the + part is the percentage the site takes for organising the tournament). I played the £5+50p single table tournaments where you can choose between a ten player tournament and a six player tournament, also known as a ‘sixpack’.

I also tend to prefer sites that host guaranteed tourneys. This means they guarantee a minimum prize pot even if there are not enough entrants to make that amount. For instance, one site I use does a daily £10,000 guaranteed tourney which has a £25+£2 buy in. So for the prize pool to reach £10,000 there would need to be 400 entrants. But if there are less than 400 the prize pool will still be £10,000 because it is guaranteed. In simple terms a poker tournament is a poker game in which each player starts with an equal amount of chips. All of the players in the tournament continue to play until one player has amassed all of the chips. Each tournament has a buy-in as well as a fee. The buy-in is put into the prize pool. The fee is kept by the casino or gaming room. The size of the prize pool depends on the number of people playing in the tournament and will be paid out in its entirety to the winners.

There are two main types of tournaments, scheduled and ‘sit and go’ :

Scheduled Tournaments

These tournaments have a fixed starting time announced in advance. If you want to play in these you must sign up before registration closes. The time will be announced in the site’s lobby.

Sit And Go Tournaments

These tournaments are available at all times. They start as soon as the necessary number of players are seated at the table.

Sit and go tournaments are offered in a variety of games with buy-ins typically starting as low as $5. Players will be blinded/anted off if they are not present. All seats are assigned at random.

Now a little more about multi-table tournaments and shootouts :

Multi-Table Tournaments

Multi-table tournaments are probably the most popular tournaments in the world today. They challenge your poker skills and give you the chance to win big prizes with small wagers.

Each multi-table tournament usually has a buy-in as well as an entry fee which can be up to $50. The buy-in is added to the prize pool, while the entry fee is kept by the gaming room. The prize pool is the product of the buy-in and the number of players in a tournament.

These tournaments feature many players with several tables starting off simultaneously. As players are eliminated from the tournament, tables are combined, reducing the number until there is only one table left.

Shootout Tournaments

Shootout tournaments are offered by many gaming rooms and are an exciting variation to the standard multi-table tournament format. Generally they have more payouts, shorter tournaments and are more fun …. but also more tense! A shootout tournament can be one, two, three or four rounds depending on the number of players that enter.

Each different gaming room has their own rules about how tournaments progress, the blind structure and the payout structure so do check these out before you play.

In round 4 the round is played out in a standard multi-table tournament format. Payouts in round 4 follow a standard multi-table payoff schedule based on the number of players that enter the round and the remaining prize pool

Here’s an example of how a Shootout tournament works: Number of Entrants : 110

Round 1 :

This round will begin with 11 tables, 10 players per table. The round will finish when there are three players left at each table. There will be 11 first place finishers, 11 second place finishers and 11 third place finishers – all of whom will be paid and will advance to Round 2.

Round 2 :

This round begins with four tables, which will consist of three tables with eight players per table and one table with nine players. The round will finish when there are three players left at each table. There will be four first place finishers, four second place finishers and four third place finishers – all of which will get paid and advance to Round 3.

Round 3 :

This round begins with two tables, six players per table. The round will finish when there are three players left at each table. There will be two first place finishers, two second place finishers and two third place finishers – all of which will get paid and advance to Round 4.

Round 4 :

This round begins with one table seating six players. The round and tournament will finish when only one player with chips remains. Round 4 payouts are based on a standard multi-table format (if less than 10 players begin Round 4 then the payouts will be 50% to first, 30% to second place and 20% to third place). In this example the first, second and third place finishers from Round 4 will be paid.

To start a tournament each player is dealt a card. The player with the highest card starts the game as the dealer. Each player’s goal is to amass as many chips as possible. Players who lose all of their chips are out of the tournament. As the tournament continues, more and more players are eliminated until only one remains …. the grand winner!

Games proceed in a tournament exactly the same as in a regular game. However, you need to adopt a slightly different strategy to win in a multi-table tourney. You need to play a lot tighter, be a lot more patient and you need to keep your concentration for longer periods of time. It took me a while to discover and adapt to this different method of play but with time and a bit of money I became a more competent multi-table player.

Binns’ Super Strategies

The best way to make money from Internet poker is the same as making money from any other kind of gambling : Have a strategy and stick to it.

Amateur poker players make some fatal strategic flaws. They gamble for fun, think they know better than the house, make rash decisions, rely on luck – and take big risks hoping for a ‘big win’. This is why they lose most of the time. Professional players are different : They play to win, recognise gambling is edged in favour of the house and work with that, use logic not luck and take only small, calculated risks.

This applies to both ‘real’ and online poker of course. But one of the reasons Internet poker is so attractive is that it is easier for the small, inexperienced gambler with limited resources to stick to a strategy. When playing from the comfort of home it is much easier to choose the most favourable games, plan your game and make sensible decisions. And above all, to avoid taking the big risks – common in real-life casinos – and which usually mean you lose.

In this section, I’m going to tell you about some of more of my own personal favourite strategies. These are strategies that I use every day, have proven to work, and which I know you’ll find invaluable and profitable too. (Please keep them to yourself, and don’t reveal them to anyone else!)

Keep Your Thoughts To Yourself

This is the simplest strategy you can deploy – but one which is very, very effective! Most gaming sites allow you to chat with other players but, in my experience getting involved in player chat, is definitely not advised. If a player takes exception to how you play or to you winning chips off them, some players may start moaning or even insulting you. If you get involved in slanging matches the game can become a personal vendetta. When it becomes personal you’re no longer playing with your head – and that is not the way to win.

Luckily you can turn off the player chat so it doesn’t have to become an issue. I strongly suggest turning it off!

Know Your Enemy

Every poker website that I’ve played on has a facility where you can make notes on players. It is a good idea to take advantage of this facility as it can prove very beneficial. For instance, if a player is loose and erratic you should make notes of how they play – so when you play them in the future you can adjust your play for that specific player and earn off them. Or, on the other hand, if they are a good tight player makes notes you will know not to get involved with them unless you have a monster …. a very big hand.

Play Only When The Rake Is Sensible

The rake, remember, is what the gaming site charges for running the game. In my opinion the correct rake to be charged for a sit and go tourney is considered to be 10% of the buy in fee. In the case of a £5 sit and go this would be £0.50.

However, some sites charge you £1 for a £5 sit and go and I think this is extortionate. I know it doesn’t seem like a lot but consider this : You are just starting out at online poker and have made a deposit of £100. So you decide to play quite a lot of £5 sit and go tourneys with a rake fee of £1 over the course of say one month. After you have played a hundred of these tourneys with the extra £0.50 that seemed insignificant it would add up to £50! That’s enough nine more sit & go tourneys! The £0.50 add up over a period of time – so make sure that you choose a site that has the correct rake of 10% for a £5 sit and go.

Managing Your Bankroll

I believe that the best strategy for beginner is always to play low stake sit and go tournaments. I’d say that a £5+.50 sit and go is ideal. And in my opinion your bankroll should be large enough to fund at least fifteen sit and go tourneys. So, if you were playing the £5+.50 tourneys then that would be at least £82.50 – and £100 would be perfect.

The reason I believe you need a big enough bankroll to fund at least fifteen sit and go tourneys is because it doesn’t matter how good a player is. They will go on a loosing streak. Everyone does it is inevitable in poker. So if you want to start out the right way to earn money at poker, make sure you have a big enough bankroll to absorb the losses.

Handling Flush Draws

If you have two suited cards pre flop, say ace-six of hearts, and the flop comes K (hearts), 9 (hearts), 2 (spades) you are 35% to hit your flush with two cards to come. In these cases, many, many players call an ‘all in’ without hesitation. But, do you really want to commit all your chips when you have a 65% chance of loosing? I don’t think so! A lot of players don’t realise the true percentages of hitting a flush draw are that much against. However you shouldn’t fold a flush draw whenever you get one. I know I said it’s wrong to commit all your chips, but it’s not wrong to chase the flush to an extent. It’s fine to call small bets and medium size bets and, sometimes, if your getting the right pot odds even big bets.

If you have a pair to go along with your flush draw it changes things however. Say, for instance, you have ace-six of hearts and the flop comes 6(spades), 2(hearts), ten(hearts) you’re still 35% certain to hit your flush. But you can also make two pair or trips to increase the value of your hand if needs be, depending on what your opponent has.

Handling Straight Draws

If you hit an inside straight draw on the flop I would not go chasing it. The odds of you making your straight are 16.5% with two cards to come and 9% with one card to come. If the other players check then, obviously, try and hit your straight by getting a free card. But calling big bets or medium bets is a bad move as the odds are not at all in your favour. If you hit an open ended straight draw on the flop you are 31.5% to make your straight with two cards to come and 17.5% with one card to come.

Like a flush draw (but even more so) you shouldn’t commit all your chips on an open ended draw as, again, the percentages are against you. You can call small bets and medium sized bets and, again, if you’re getting the right pot odds even big bets. However, I believe its wrong in some cases to call any bets if you are chasing an open ended draw. For example, if your hole cards are 10 of clubs, J of spades and the flop comes : Q-9-2, all of hearts, I think it would be foolish to chase the straight. This is because the King of hearts and the 8 of hearts are no good to you, as there would be four hearts on the board and any player in the hand could easily have a heart. But even if you hit a King or an 8 (that isn’t a heart) on the turn, a heart could come on the river then your straight would be worthless.

Handling Open Ended Or Gutshot Straight And Flush Draws

This is a situation when, for example, your hole cards are Queen of spades, ten of spades and the flop comes : Jack of spades, 9 of spades and 2 of hearts. The likelihood of you hitting your straight or your flush are 54% – and in most cases you would be the favourite to win the hand. I would almost always re-raise if someone bets and even call an all-in in most situations. As this time the odds are in your favour, and in poker it’s never wrong to put your money in the pot when you’re the favourite to win the hand.

How To Play Big Hands Pre-Flop

In Texas Hold’em the hole cards that are normally regarded as the really big hands are pocket aces, pocket Kings, ace King and maybe pocket Queens. A lot of players are tempted to slow play pocket aces and Kings by not raising before the flop. This is because players wait all game for aces or Kings and when they get them they understandably want to get paid out. But I don’t advise this play.

I raise 99% of the time with aces or Kings, usually three or four times the size of the big blind. The main reason being that you are a big favourite to win a pot with A-A or K-K against one person, maybe two, but not 3, 4, 5 or 6 players. If you don’t raise pre flop you’re letting players see the flop cheaply. They will have all sorts of hands and your pocket aces or Kings could get easily cracked. So, for example, why let a measly Six-Five see the flop cheaply and let them hit a straight or two pair – then loose all your chips just because you wanted to get paid out.

If you have pocket Kings and you raise and the flop produces an ace I would be very cautious! I’m not saying you should fold every time an ace comes up. Because your opponents could easily call your raise with Queen-King or a smaller pocket pair than Kings. Just be careful! Maybe put in a smallish bet if you’re first to act and see how the player/players react. If they just call they could still have an ace, so continue to play cautiously if they re-raise or come out betting big. I know it’s hard as pocket Kings are a rare commodity, but I’d have to say ‘chuck them in the muck’! I would play pocket Queens pretty much the same way if an ace or a King comes up on the flop.

I raise with ace-King 99% of the time. I would usually bet triple or quadruple the size of the big blind. I would almost always bet if I hit an ace or a King on the flop, especially if there is a straight or a flush draw on the flop – as one pair is not strong enough to slow play.

Some players get too attached to ace-King and, if they miss and hit nothing on the flop, they find it hard to lay down and quite often call medium and even big bets. I don’t understand this mentality. I know ace-King is a very nice hand pre flop, but if you don’t hit anything on the flop all you have is ace King high. So it’s not a good idea to call big bets. Because even if you do hit an ace or King it might not be enough, and could only end up in getting you into serious trouble!

Slow Playing Hands

A lot of players slow play when they hit trips and this is OK – sometimes. But on certain flops and in certain situations you should bet at the pot. Say, for example, you have pocket Nines and the flop is 10- 9-J I would definitely not slow play here, because a Queen, King, 8, or a 7 would ruin your hand. So I would make a large bet on the flop and make any player fishing for a straight pay big for it.

I know that if a player did hit their straight the board could pair up and it would give you a full house – but prevention is always better than cure! The odds are against you

especially with one card to come, so make sure you flush out the fishes before you become the one fishing!

I would also come out betting if there was a flush draw on the flop. Maybe not such a large bet, but still big enough to make players fishing pay for it. If there were three hearts on the flop I’d bet very big and be very aggressive as it’s possible but quite unlikely that someone has flopped a flush. And if someone is betting or calling your bets they’re most likely on a draw. So make them bet big and make them pay or fold.

If they have been fortunate enough to flop a flush you could still make a full house if the board pairs. But, again, although you have a reasonably good chance of making a house with two cards to come the odds are against. It is, however, relatively safe to slow play on certain flops. Say, for example, you have pocket eights and the flop is 2, King, 8 (a rainbow). It would be quite safe to slow play as there is no straight or flush draw.

Using Outs Percentages

I thoroughly recommend you make every possible use of the chart below! It will show

you the percentage chance of you hitting your hand based on how many ‘outs’ (the number of cards left in the pack that can win you the hand if they are turned over as one of the community cards) there are.

Outs On the flop for the turn

On the turn for the river

On the flop for the turn and river combined 1 Out 2.13% 2.17% 4.26% 2 Outs 4.26% 4.35% 8.42% 3 Outs 6.38% 6.52% 12.49% 4 Outs 8.51% 8.70% 16.47% 5 Outs 10.64% 10.87% 20.35% 6 Outs 12.77% 13.04% 24.14% 7 Outs 14.89% 15.22% 27.84% 8 Outs 17.02% 17.39% 31.45% 9 Outs 19.15% 19.57% 34.97% 10 Outs 21.28% 21.74% 38.39% 11 Outs 23.40% 23.91% 41.72% 12 Outs 25.53% 26.09% 44.96% 13 Outs 27.66% 28.26% 48.10% 14 Outs 29.79% 30.43% 51.16% 15 Outs 31.91% 32.61% 54.12% 16 Outs 34.04% 34.78% 56.98% 17 Outs 36.17% 36.96% 59.76% 18 Outs 38.30% 39.13% 62.44% 19 Outs 40.43% 41.30% 65.03% 20 Outs 42.55% 43.48% 67.53% 21 Outs 44.68% 45.65% 69.94% 22 Outs 46.81% 47.83% 72.25%

How To Use The Chart :

This chart shows the percentages of making a hand on the turn, on the river and both combined. Here are some examples :

Example of four out scenario : Say you have 7, 8 off suit in the pocket and the flop is

7, 8, 9. You suspect your opponent has a straight. Then you need to hit one of the two sevens or one of the two eights left in the pack to win the hand with a full house.

Therefore you have four outs. If you refer to the chart you will see that you have a 16.5% chance of hitting one of the four outs with two cards to come. The same would apply if you needed to hit a gut-shot straight, as that would also give you four outs