Strategies and Tactics in Poker, Does It Matter
Not understanding strategy and tactics can be a major flaw in your poker game. Knowing them can even help you in understanding articles and poker books that teach you how the games are played.
Playing poker as a string of tactically optimal plays does not generally lead to an optimal strategy. However, an optimal playing strategy will lead to optimal playing tactics.
Strategy is about the big picture. An optimal strategy is one that maximizes your expected playing result over the long term. Think of strategies as things that have to be in place before you even set down at the playing table. Here are the basics: Bankroll, Playing Limit Selection, Game Table Selection, and Seat Selection.
Here are 2 examples:
1 - Have you heard, Scared money can’t win at poker? That’s bankroll. Buy in for twice the normal amount. Your comfort level will be better and this will help you play better. Other players will see you are serious and will attack you less because they will not think you’re scared.
If you selection a $4/$8 limit game and only have $100 for the buy-in; normally $400, it’s is almost impossible to play correct tactically. With this bankroll, play in a $1/$2 game.
2 - If you select a game with a lot of very tight players no amount of tactical superiority will win as much money as you would win by play at a table full of loose players. Ask the floor manager at the casino for a table change. Move to a new table online easily.
Tactics are about the individual decisions you make at the table. An optimal tactic is one that maximizes the expected result of the particular situation. Here are the basic tactics: Calling, Checking, Betting, raising, check raising, Slowplaying, semi-bluff, and bluffing.
Here are 2 examples:
1 - You bought into a $4/$8 limit holdem game for $800. You are the first player to act in a hand and you have Pocket Aces! The correct tactical play is to Raise. An easy and comfort play to make because of your buy-in strategy.
2 - You bought into a $3/$6 limit holdem game for $600. You are the last player to act[ on the button ]. Your pocket cards are Jack and Ten of Spades. The flop is K of spades, Q of spades and three of clubs. 5 players check before you then you bet. This is a semi-bluff but tactically correct. You have an open-ended Royal Flush, straight flush and straight draw. You are a 60% favorite to win this hand.
So, does strategies and tactics matter? Yes!
Reread poker articles and books will the knowledge that correct strategy must be in place and use correctly before you get to the table.