THE WORLD'S #1 POKER MANUAL - Card Games

Poker Book, Techniques
The player who continually strives for maximum investment odds cannot control the game. Always
making the play that yields the maximum return reduces the flexibility needed to control the players and
to achieve maximum edge odds. The good player, therefore, chooses from a wide variety of plays
available at slightly less favorable odds. For example, by backing away from the maximum investment
odds, the good player can bet more aggressively and increase his flexibility in play-making so much that
he can produce almost any desired effect. Also, by underbetting a hand and then overbetting a
subsequent similar hand (with only occasional bets made at maximum investment odds), he makes his
betting unpredictable. That flexibility and unpredictability let him control the betting.
Money flows toward the player who controls the betting. The best time to get that control is early in the
hand while the bets are still small. The good player often gains control by unexpected or unusual bets
(such as a raise into obvious strength of an opponent), by larger than usual first-round bets, or by weird
bets (such as a $4 bet instead of the usual $5 bet). He then makes subsequent offensive or defensive
betting manipulations designed to influence the big last-round bets and raises.
Offensive manipulations, designed to maximize a potential win, are done by altering (increasing or
decreasing) the betting pace in order to--
● build pots
● encourage players to stay for the large last-round bets
● set up bluffs
● induce opponents to bluff.
Defensive manipulations, designed to minimize a potential loss, are done by altering (increasing or
decreasing) the betting pace in order to--
● suppress bets or raises
● prevent bluffs
● drive out or keep in players in order to create favorable odds for drawing to a potential hand, such
as a four flush or two pair.
Confusion and fear decrease the ability of players to think objectively and to play their hands properly.
Most players fear the confusing play and unpredictable betting of the good player. By making
spectacular shock plays, he further increases their fear of him. Many opportunities occur in which
investment odds actually favor spectacular maneuvers such as--
● holding a high pair pat in draw poker
● breaking up a full house to draw to three of a kind
● raising and then dropping out on the next bet
● making a colorful bluff such as holding pat and betting four kings in a lowball game
● raising a weak-looking stud hand in the face of strong-appearing opposition
● dropping a strong-looking stud hand in the face of weak-appearing opposition.
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