Poker Fundamentals

I see too many people trying to trap.  IT'S STUPID.

Watch some videos of Phil Helmuth.  See how many times trapping blows up in your face?  Damnation, you want to bet when you have the best hand.

 That's the number one fundamental of poker.  WHEN YOU ARE CONFIDENT YOU HAVE THE BEST HAND, BET!!!

 I can't overstate this.  Stop trapping your money away.  If you bet with all your hands that are worth playing (pocket pairs, suited connectors, Broadway hands, Ax hands), your opponent won't know the strength of your hand when you bet.  They'll take you seriously, because THEY KNOW you don't start off with dogshit.  Seriously?  If you open with a solid bet on all these hands, they will assume you have quality shit in your hand, and won't fuck around with you, which in my opinion, is what you want.  You shouldn't want people to fuck around with you - you should want people to be scared of calling you, which will win you many pots that you'd otherwise lose.

 Another thing. If no one showed aggression pre-flop, and you always make sizable bets pre-flop for whatever you play, and you always start with good cards, a continuation bet is usually in order.  It's flop dependent?  Of course if the flop comes AKQ suited, you don't have the suit or any Broadway, probably play passively and fold to any bet?  But as long as the flop isn't particularly dangerous, bet the flop and take it down.  Obviously, if a tight player raises you, or even calls you, maybe slow down on the turn?  But honestly, that's very situational.  But if you bet pre-flop, you do what I say and only open with good hands, and the flop isn't particularly scary, a continuation bet - particularly if only one or two people called your pre-flop raise - will often net you the pot.

 Honestly, the goal of poker is not to try to get into big pots and win them.  The goal of poker is threefold: 1) win when you have aces, kings, queens, jacks, and Broadway hands with a pre-flop raise, 2) win when you hit the flop big with suited connectors or Broadway connectors, and 3) occasionally bluff someone off the pot for money.  Honestly, the first two are a given.  #3 is where the profit comes from.  And try to get everyone to fold - don't worry about trying to win showdowns.  Every uncontested pot is money in the bank.  Stop trying to use body language to buy a call - when you do that, you are giving away tells for when you don't have it.  ALWAYS BE TRYING TO CONVINCE YOUR OPPONENT TO FOLD.

 I hope this helps.  Thanks for reading.