How To PokerOwen Wang

What is Poker?A way to de-clothe your attractive friends

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Probably for most people...A (sometimes) enjoyable card game where you (sometimes) win money

RulesEach player given 2 cards (hand) -> Bet -> Flip over 3 shared cards (flop) -> Bet -> Flip over 1 more shared card (turn) -> Bet -> Flip over last shared card (river) -> Bet-> Best 5 card combination wins

BettingCHECK = continue without putting more money (only possible when no money down)CALL = match highest amount of money put inRAISE = put in more money than highestFOLD = give up; lose any money already put in

Common Misconceptions

“I’m not good at bluffing, I shouldn’t play poker”

“Poker’s all about knowing probabilities and counting cards”

What is poker really about?

Poker is a game of working with incomplete information. It’s about gathering intel and making decisions from what you know.

How to information

To figure out what people have in their hands:Take advantage of positionDetermine opponents’ betting patternsMake intentional bets

PositionLater = better:See more people’s moves before making decision

More moves = more information!

Betting Pattern Key WordsVoluntary Put Money In Pot (VPIP) -> tightness of player

Infer what they have based on tightness.Counter loose by playing tight. Counter tight by playing loose.

Aggressive Poker = Winning Poker

Pre-Flop Raise (PFR) / Continuation Bet (CBet) -> aggressiveness of playerBe aggressive, but not hyper-aggressive.(same advice could apply to life)

How to decision

1.Have best hand? RAISE!2.Need 1 more card to make best hand? CALL “when it’s worth it”

3.Otherwise, FOLD.

“When It’s Worth it”!?!?Read that book ->Or look up “pot odds”, “implied odds”, and “expected value”… and then read that book anyways.

Making Intentional Bets

Based on what’s on the table, which hands would [RAISE/CALL/FOLD] if I bet X?When betting, maximize potential gains. Minimize potential losses.

“If I raise, everyone will fold and I won’t make any more money”Not an issue if there’s intent behind your raise. Raising is HOW you make money!

Another Common Misconception

Keep In Mind

People folding is not a bad thing.If you play until the end, the only way to win is by having the best possible hand.In the middle of the game you can win by that OR by getting all your opponents to fold.

FIN(Strip your opponents of their wealth and garments responsibly!)

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