How To Win WITHOUT Great Cards


331 to 1.

Those are the odds AGAINST getting dealt an Ace-King suited
before the flop.

220 to 1.

Those are the odds AGAINST getting pocket Aces before the
flop.

Monster hands like these are GREAT when you catch them...
and you'll definitely have a good shot at raking in a killer
pot.

But the fact is, when you play poker you WON'T catch
monsters very often.

The same is true with wired pairs and suited connectors...

When you hit with one of these hands, your opponents will
usually NEVER see it coming...

And once again, you'll rake in a nice pot.

But how many times do you get hands like these AND hit the
right cards?

Not too often.

ANYONE-- no matter what their skill level-- can win a pot
with a monster.

The SECRET to poker success, my friend, is learning how to
win hands WITHOUT having the "nuts" or great cards.

It's what separates the AVERAGE card players from the poker
LEGENDS.

So how do you play hands that are DECENT, but not GREAT?
Hands like Q-J, J-10, 9-10, Q-10, K-10, K-9, and so on...

If you FOLD every time you see cards like these, you're
playing too tight. Because you're going to see these types
of hands A LOT.

To consistently win at Texas Holdem poker, you've got to
learn how to win with hands that AREN'T great.

But how?

I'll tell you how...

The key is POSITIONING.

That's the magic word.

In Texas Holdem, positioning is EVERYTHING...

You can see a hand in one position and the right play is to
FOLD it...

And then see the SAME EXACT HAND in a different position and
the right play is to make a BET.

For example, let's say you're in an 8-player no limit Holdem
game... where the blinds are $1-2.

You're first to act before the flop (a.k.a. "under the gun")
and look down at your cards:

Q-J offsuit.

What do you do?

Playing the hand shouldn't cross your mind.

Calling with a Q-J offsuit can easily turn into TROUBLE when
first to act.

Because SOMEONE at your 8-man table is probably going to
throw out a pre-flop raise.

Think about it...

How many times does the action go COMPLETELY around the
table before the flop without SOMEONE making a raise?

Not too often.

Even if it's just a small $5 raise... you don't want to pay
$7 with your Q-J offsuit just to see the flop.

After all, even if you HIT top pair, you're STILL going to
be one of the first to act, if not THE first. What then?

Your kicker isn't too strong, and you don't have a read on
the other players.

It's just a bad situation to be in...

Which is why I muck "decent" hands like these when I'm under
the gun or in an early position.

And you should too.

Now let's say you're fourth to act before the flop (sixth
position at the table) and you peek down at a Q-10 offsuit.

You're positioning isn't great, but it's not too bad either.

The action is on you to call the $2 big blind...

What do you do?

Instead of mucking, this is where I'd limp in and call the
blind.

The key is to pay $2... don't raise it. You've got a good
chance at seeing the flop for just $2 and you won't have to
act first after the flop hits.

Even if someone throws out a small pre-flop raise, you can
call and see a cheap flop without getting into too much
trouble.

Now let's say you're on the BUTTON (dealer position) with a
Q-J offsuit. Four of your opponents limp-in and the action
is to you.

What's the play?

This is where I'd make a pre-flop raise. Nothing crazy...
just a small $5 that's not going to get me into trouble.

And I'll do this with any good positioning, not just when
I'm on the button...

Here's why:

First, it gets rid of the "crap" hands at the table...

Anytime you can force the scraps at the table to fold, your
odds of winning the pot increase.

(The reason you don't want them in the hand is in case one
of them gets lucky on the flop.)

Second, I get to see what my opponents do AFTER the flop...
before I have to act.

This is a HUGE advantage. I can get a read on everyone
else's hand... and NO ONE gets a read on mine. Use this
advantage EVERY chance you get.

And third, my bet gives me relative control over the
table... and is likely to result in a free card if I want
one.

Let's say the flop hits: 9-10-2

That gives me an open-ended straight draw with my Q-J.

There's a good chance my opponents will CHECK, because they
anticipate another bet from me.

So I'm in a win-win situation...

I can throw out a semi-bluff bet... or... I can see a free
card by checking.

Getting control over the board also puts me in a position to
buy the pot if I sense weakness at the table.

Which brings me to another point...

Positioning is a fundamental part of Texas Holdem, but you
had better have a good read on your opponents in order to
win the hand.

And you'd better know the right size to make your bets...
and what to do if there's a draw on the board... and how to
bluff if you get into trouble.

How To Gain An Immediate Edge Over Your Opponents


The trick to WINNING POKER is to always be at least ONE STEP
AHEAD of your opponents...

To be one step ahead, it helps to understand the COMMON
EXPERIENCES and thoughts that every poker player goes
through.

It seems there are three distinct LEVELS of poker
intelligence. Knowing which level your opponent falls under
can be a MAJOR ADVANTAGE for you at the table...

I call these the "Three Stages of Sophistication".

As you read these, think about the guys you play cards with.

Think about what level they're at... AND... think about
which stage YOU ARE IN right now. It will help tremendously.

Here they are...


STAGE 1: Analyzing the CARDS.

This is when a player focuses his mental energies strictly
on the cards.

This is someone who waits to play only premium hands, and
perhaps spends a lot of time calculating "pot odds".

Usually, this type of guy plays TIGHT, and is fairly "see
through". He'd be better off playing LIMIT Texas Holdem
rather than NO LIMIT.


STAGE 2: Analyzing the PLAYERS.

This is the person who understands that to win at no limit
Holdem, you've got to PLAY THE PLAYERS, not just the cards.

This is the guy who sits there all night and STUDIES your
every move. He's convinced that there are "secret" tells
behind every player...

And he'll do ANYTHING to figure them out.

You can spot a player like this just by watching him when
the cards come out. If he's watching YOU, rather than
looking at his cards, then he's probably in the second stage
of sophistication.


STAGE 3: Analyzing how players will analyze YOU.

Stage 1 players are easy to beat. You can bluff them out of
big pots, rile them up, and then sit back until you catch a
monster and put them all in...

It's like taking candy from a baby.

Stage 2 players are harder to beat, because they understand
the Cardinal Rule of no-limit Holdem, which is to...

PLAY THE PLAYERS, NOT THE CARDS.

You can't always push them around at the table, which means
you have to devise a different strategy...

Which is why Stage 3 is so powerful.

Because when you're a Stage 3 player, you KNOW that the
Stage 2 player is analyzing you. And you simply stay ONE
STEP AHEAD of him.

A Stage 3 player is someone who gets pocket Aces before the
flop and takes FOREVER to call a pre-flop raise.

Why?

Because by taking his time and making it LOOK like he's
contemplating a decision, the Stage 3 player knows HIS
OPPONENTS WILL THINK THEY CAN BLUFF HIM out of the hand.

Sure enough, after the flop one of the STAGE 2 players will
go all-in... trying to buy the pot... not knowing they just
fell right into the Stage 3 player's trap.

To be a Stage 3 player, you've got to ADOPT YOUR STYLE OF
PLAY ACCORDING TO WHAT THE OTHER PLAYERS THINK ABOUT YOU.

We talked about why it's CRUCIAL that you learn to
ANTICIPATE your bets and your opponents' bets BEFORE they
happen.

Today I'd like to share with your part TWO of how to prevent
big losses, and that is:

DON'T GET GREEDY.

Successful poker players all have one thing in common:

They understand the PSYCHOLOGY of greed, and how powerful it
really is.

Let me share a story with you how *I* fell victim to greed
the other night at my local $1-2 no limit game... and how it
emptied my pockets.

Here's how it went down...

I get dealt pocket 6's and am sixth to act.

Josh is first to act and makes it $5 to play. Don and Brett
are next in line and call Josh's pre-flop raise.

The action is to me, with the pot size at $18.

There's no doubt I'll play this one and hope to spike one of
my sixes.

One other guy behind me calls the bet.

Okay... flop comes out:

Ah, 9d, 6s

Perfect.

I've just spiked my 6's and there's an Ace on the board,
which I'm sure someone is holding.

It looks like I'm going to rake a HUGE pot at this point.

Josh comes out firing, as I expect. I immediately put him on
AK or AQ.

Brett folds and Don calls Josh's $20 bet.

Who knows what Don has... I can never put him on a hand
because he's the manic at the table. He'll play just about
anything. He's probably sitting on 10-J, looking for a
runner-runner straight draw for all I know.

Needless to say, he's not the guy I'm worried about.
Actually, I'm not really worried about ANYONE at this point.
I just flopped trips... and all I'm thinking about is how to
milk these guys for all their money.

I decide to not slow-play the hand. I want to find out where
I'm at... so I re-raise Josh's bet. I'm confident I'll get a
call. I know Josh won't fold if he has the Ace, like I
think.

"Make it $50", I say, as I push in my red chips.

The guy behind me folds and the action is back to Josh. He
thinks for awhile as he shuffles his chips.

"I call", he says.

Don, however, doesn't hesitate one bit. He throws in his
chips with some frustration and splashes the pot.

I've done everything right so far... I'm very
well-positioned to rake in a huge pot.

The turn card comes... 4 of diamonds.

Now the board reads:

Ah, 9d, 6s, 4d

So the 4 doesn't scare me at all.

Josh and Don both check this time because I'm in control.

"Seventy five" I say... in a rather DEMANDING voice that
makes it sound like I'm trying to buy the pot.

Josh mucks his hands... which he later told me was an AJ. So
he made a good lay down.

Don, on the other hand, thinks for a moment before calling
my $75 bet. Now I'm feeling GREAT about this hand...

Josh was the guy I was really worried about, not Don. Don's
probably got pocket 2's, or something crazy like that. Who
knows?

The river card is a 2 of diamonds.

Now I hope Don DOES have ducks! If he does, I'm going to
take the rest of his stack.

The board now reads:

Ah, 9d, 6s, 4d, 2d

Don checks to me.

I see the backdoor flush on the board, but I throw out
another large bet anyway.

AND THAT'S WHERE I SCREWED UP.

I SHOULD have checked right behind Don when I saw the flush
on the board. Instead, I got GREEDY and made a stupid bet
because I figured there was NO WAY he chased the flush all
the way down.

Don raises my large bet by going all in, and he seems
confident.

I lean back in my chair and take a deep breath. Then I
call... with the remainder of my stack.

He turns over a 7-8 of diamonds.

He's got the flush, which beats my trip sixes.

So he had flopped an open-ended straight draw... and ended
up catching the flush instead.

I had played the hand perfectly right until the backdoor
flush hit. THAT is when I let greed take over.

I had made another bet when Don checked to me... but I
SHOULD have just checked back.

If I hadn't let greed take over, I would have saved a lot of
chips, and stayed in the game.

Greed is a powerful emotion that can empty your pockets...
just like it emptied mine.

But of course, you can use greed to your ADVANTAGE...

Because once you have your OWN greed under control, you can
learn to make positioning moves and bets based on the greed
of OTHER players.

You can literally COUNT on the fact that your opponents will
get greedy too...

How To Stop Losing Big Hands


When it comes to winning poker, most players have "tunnel
vision."

What I mean is this:

They focus only on how to WIN more pots and larger pots...
whether it's through bluffing, calculating odds, or reading
poker tells.

But what they DON'T FOCUS ON... (what I'm about to show
you)... is actually MORE important than 90% of all the other
"stuff"... and can both INSTANTLY and DRAMATICALLY increase
your poker winnings over the long term.

And that secret is this:

How to STOP LOSING big pots.

You see, there's a lot of strategies out there for how to
WIN hands... but very rarely does a player focus on
strategies on how to NOT LOSE big hands.

Why?

Because they blame THAT PART of the game on luck and other
forces "out of their control."

The reality is, you can win tons of great hands and gain a
chip lead, but it doesn't mean ANYTHING if you don't know
how to keep it.

Think back to when Greg Raymer won the World Series of
Poker... what was the key to his success at the final table?

The key was he had a huge chip lead AND he knew how to keep
it.

He didn't lose big hands, which is what allowed him to keep
his gigantic stack of chips and bully the other guys around.

The concept is equally (if not MORE) important for players
who AREN'T in the chip lead... because no matter how many
pots you win, you won't win a game or tournament if you LOSE
a lot of big hands.

Notice the "catch" here...

I didn't say, "Stop losing hands."

I said, "Stop losing BIG hands."

Because those two statements mean two TOTALLY different
things.

You CANNOT stop losing ALL hands... it's just not realistic.

But you CAN use strategies to stop losing BIG hands...
AND... those are the more important "turning points" of a
game anyway.

So... what's this "hidden" secret strategy that most players
overlook that will allow you to STOP losing big pots?

I thought you'd never ask...

Preventing major losses is a very complicated and
"multi-layered" concept.

However, one of the MAJOR components and "core" strategies
behind it can be summed up in one simple, 12-letter word:

ANTICIPATION.

That's right... you can literally cut down on the number of
big hands you lose by simply ANTICIPATING better...

And I don't mean anticipating the CARDS.

I mean anticipating THE BETS, based on what cards COULD come
out of the deck.

Here's an example that will make it clear...

Let's say you're on the button and dealt AJ off-suit. The
blinds are $1-2 and Aaron (a very tight player) makes it $15
to play. Everyone at the table folds and the action is to
you.

This is the best hand you've seen in awhile, so you call the
bet without much hesitation.

That is where you made your FIRST MISTAKE.

You KNOW that Aaron is a very tight player that only makes
pre-flop raises with monster hands.

But you called the bet anyway... because you didn't
ANTICIPATE what YOU would do, even if you hit your Ace on
the flop.

OK, so the flop hits, and the cards are: A,9,2.

Aaron comes out firing with a $30 bet right away...

Now what do you do?

You have to put him on AK, AQ, AA, KK, or QQ. These are
pretty much the only hands that Aaron will make a pre-flop
raise with.

Of course, he didn't check to you, so he probably doesn't
have the cowboys or queens.

So now you think about what Aaron is holding... You put him
on hands that beat yours, but instead of folding you decide
to see another card for $30.

This is where you made your SECOND MISTAKE.

You felt pot-committed and only thought about the $30 bet.

What you SHOULD have been doing though is ANTICIPATING what
Aaron was going to bet after the turn card.

Let's face it... you have to figure he's going to fire
again. Are you prepared to call ANOTHER large bet after the
turn with your AJ?

Of course not... and what you've done here is simply dug
yourself into a big hole because you played only to win.

You got dealt a good hand and flopped the top pair and then
stuck it out in hopes of a better card... when what you
SHOULD have done is ANTICIPATED Aaron's behavior and folded
your cards before the flop.

Hands like these happen to even the best poker players, and
you MUST develop the discipline to fold that AJ and fold
that top pair when you've anticipated what's coming next.

Think about what your opponent is going to bet.

Think about what you'll be WILLING to bet.

Then think about what will happen after the next cards...
and then the ones after that... and then the ones after
THAT... and so on.

It's all about anticipation. If you anticipate the different
scenarios BEFORE they happen, you will prevent big losses.

And when you stop losing big hands, you'll get to KEEP the
chips you win.

And that will help you finish in the money... virtually
every time... and lead you to a successful poker career.

Of course, like I mentioned earlier... anticipation is just
ONE of the crucial skills you'll need in order to kick ass
at Texas Holdem poker...

When To "Smooth Call" Your Opponents


Hey, let's talk about the "smooth call".

A smooth call is when you're holding a REALLY GOOD hand and
someone bets into you... but instead of RAISING, you simply
CALL.

The smooth call is VERY POWERFUL, but a lot of players
totally mess it up. Here's how to do it RIGHT...

Let's say you're playing a cash game of no-limit Holdem at a
10-man table. The blinds are $5-10.

You're sixth to act before the flop (good positioning) and
you pick up pocket Aces...

Nice!

A couple players limp-in and the action is to Don, who's an
aggressive player.

He makes it $125 to play.

This is a rather large pre-flop raise at this table. The
normal pre-flop raise has been between $50 and $75 up to
this point.

You immediately put Don on something like pocket Jacks or
tens.

Why?

Because you know that if someone makes an UNUSUALLY large
pre-flop raise, it's probably because they have a hand they
DON'T want to play.

And quite often that hand is 10's or J's.

So anyway, the next guy folds and now the action is to you
with your monster American Airlines.

What should you do?

This is an ideal situation for a smooth call.

Here's why:

You know Don is going to bet again after the flop--
regardless of what hits-- since he made such a large
pre-flop raise.

And you also know that you've got Don beat right now. If you
call his bet, there's no way he's going to put you on Aces.

If you RAISE, Don is going to be scared. Because RAISING
after a big bet means you must have a monster. And that
basically gives away your hand.

OK, so you make a smooth call and put $125 in the middle.

Everyone else mucks their cards, so it's just you and Don to
see the flop.

The flop comes out a "rainbow" (which means there are three
different suits on the board):

8-7-4

This is the perfect flop for you. You figure Don has a
pocket pair HIGHER than the cards on the board, which means
he'll be confident betting his hand.

The only thing to be WORRIED about is if Don has pocket 8's,
since that would mean he just made trips. If he DID have
trips, he'd probably check after the flop and fake weakness.

So anyway, the action is to Don and... as expected... he
comes out firing a $250 bet.

What now?

Well, you could come back over the top of him and take this
pot right now. Or you can do ANOTHER smooth call and go for
the kill.

You think for a few moments... hesitate... then smooth call.

The turn card comes and it's a four, which is PERFECT for
you.

Don doesn't hesitate and puts his last $500 into the pot
now... thinking he has the best hand.

You call, and throw over your monster Aces.

Don shakes his head in disgust and throws over his pocket
Queens.

And you win a massive pot.

Now, that's basically the "ideal" way the smooth call works.
Let's discuss the RIGHT CONDITIONS when you'll want to make
a smooth call... and how you can add this powerful move to
your "poker toolbox"...


*** CONDITIONS FOR A SMOOTH CALL ***

The smooth call is the combination of two main components:

ANTICIPATION + SLOW-PLAYING

The INTENTION of the smooth call is to FOOL your opponents
while letting them dig their own grave.

Here's what I mean...

The smooth call operates on the fact that you ANTICIPATE
that your opponents will continue betting... AND... that you
have the best hand at the table.

When your opponents think THEY have the best hand, they'll
be confident with their betting. They'll become
pot-committed... and will get frustrated that you won't back
down.

That's when they'll make a mistake and go all-in, or simply
bet too much, and you'll come out on top.

There are four main "conditions" for performing a smooth
call... Here they are:

1. You don't need to figure out where you're at, because you
KNOW you have the best hand.

2. You ANTICIPATE future bets from your opponent.

3. You have good positioning.

4. You're not worried about too many players getting in the
hand.

The first condition basically means you should only smooth
call when you have really good hands. We'll talk about the
EXACT hands to smooth call with more in a minute.

We've already gone over the second condition... you need to
ANTICIPATE future bets from your opponent. Most of the time,
players who raise before the flop will bet AGAIN after the
flop.

The third condition is POSITIONING. You can't perform a
smooth call if you're first to act. Then what you're doing
is just check-calling your opponents... which ISN'T the same
thing.

And the final condition for a smooth call is that you're not
at risk of having lots of players in the hand.

This last condition is important because it will help you
prevent bad beats.

Basically, when you have a monster hand before the flop, you
want to narrow the field down to one or two callers...

If you have three or more players seeing the flop, your
monster will get run down by someone who gets lucky.

In the example I shared earlier, Don had made a large
pre-flop raise of $125. That meant there was no danger of
too many players calling...

If the pre-flop raise had been only $40 or so, it would NOT
have been a good situation to smooth call... because the
raise would have gotten multiple callers. And then you're at
risk of a bad beat.

OK, so those are the conditions that need to be present in
order to make a smooth call.

Remember, the REASON a smooth call is powerful is because it
"represents" something like a draw, low pocket pair, or hand
like A-K, A-Q, or K-Q.

If you smooth call before the flop, your opponent will
probably put you on something like suited connectors, two
face cards, or a low pocket pair.

After the flop comes out and your opponent THINKS he has you
beat, he'll keep INCREASING his bet sizes to try to scare
you out. This is a fundamental poker principle...

For each successive round of betting, the bets and raises
will INCREASE. The bets after the flop will be larger than
the bets before the flop. The bets after the turn will be
larger than the bets after the flop. And so on.

In our example, if you came back over the top of Don BEFORE
the flop, he would have folded. That means you would have
won his $125.

At MOST he may have called a $125 raise from you... but then
would have check-folded after the flop. In that case, you
would have won his $250.

But by smooth calling, you got BOTH his $125 bet (pre-flop)
and $250 bet (post-flop)... and then by smooth calling again
you got his remaining $500.

The key is to trick your opponent into thinking he has the
better hand... and let HIM take the offensive. If you can do
that, you're money.


*** HANDS TO SMOOTH CALL WITH ***

You want to smooth call before the flop with hands like Aces
or Kings. You DON'T want to smooth call with something like
A-K or A-Q.

Big Slick is a great hand... don't get me wrong... but it's
not "complete". By itself, Big Slick is just an Ace high. If
the flop doesn't help you and your opponent comes out
firing, you're in trouble.

If you're going to smooth call after the flop or turn,
you'll want to do it with hands like trips, two pair, or an
over pair (like in our example).

Trips and two pair are usually "hidden" from your opponent,
which is why they make great smooth call hands. (Remember,
it's all about making your opponent think he's got the best
of you.)

OK, TWO MORE THINGS to keep in mind...

First off, there are DANGERS to smooth calls. The main
danger is if your opponent catches a better hand than you.

You should be ready for this if there's something on the
board like a straight draw, flush draw, or two face cards.

Let's say you smooth call before the flop with pocket Kings
and the flop comes out 3-Q-6, all diamonds.

If your opponent comes out firing aggressively, be careful.
He wouldn't come out betting UNLESS he felt like he's still
got you beat.

I mean, think about it: Those three diamonds are going to
SCARE him... unless they HELPED him.

It's the same way with flops like 10-J-Q, K-K-5, K-Q-10,
J-A-3, and so on. If there are two face cards out there,
your opponent might have just made trips or two pair. If
there's a straight draw on the board and he's not scared,
YOU should be scared.

The second thing to think about is how you can INTEGRATE the
smooth call into the rest of your game...

The smooth call is a "maneuver" or "play". It will bring you
tons of extra pots and winnings when added to the STRONG
FOUNDATION of your poker skills.

To build your foundation, I recommend that you PLAY poker as
much as possible and LEARN about the game as much as
possible.

Why Most Players Lose At Online Poker


There are THREE CRUCIAL REASONS why most players LOSE money
at online poker.

I've listed them below... keep reading to see if they sound
familiar for YOUR situation.

Reason #1: Not Picking The Right Game Type

OK, so here's my big "aha" for online poker.

It was this "aha" that INSTANTLY transformed my winnings
from "decent" to "tremendous"...

Are you ready?

Here we go:

One of the biggest SECRETS to winning online is to play the
RIGHT GAME TYPE for YOUR UNIQUE STYLE.

Not only that... but you need to ADAPT your strategy for
EACH GAME TYPE you enter.

Let me explain...

When I say "game type", I'm referring to the many variations
of ring games and tournaments. That includes shorthanded
games, "turbo" versions, heads-up matches, and more.

The KEY is that your strategy should NOT be the same for
each game.

For example, the "tight-aggressive squared" method works
great for 10-player Sit and Go's... but you certainly
wouldn't want to use it in a four person ring game!

Or as another example: You wouldn't approach a multi-table
tournament the same way you'd approach a heads-up match...

Every tactic and technique around starting hands,
positioning, and betting is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

Period.

In some game types, BLUFFING is very effective. In other
types you'll hardly EVER want to bluff. The same goes with
slow-playing, check-raising, and so on.

So the question becomes...

How do you know the RIGHT strategy for any given game type?

I'll share my answer with you in a moment, but first let's
take a look at the SECOND REASON why most players lose
online...


Reason #2: Choosing The Wrong Stakes

This is fairly straightforward. Most players UNDERSTAND that
they shouldn't play a game that's too "high stakes" for
them...

But what most players FAIL TO DO is adjust their "poker
approach" ACCORDING to the stakes.

To put this in perspective, let's use baseball as an
example.

Your strategy in a game with a bunch of 14-year olds would
certainly be a lot different than if you were playing
against the WHITE SOX, am I right?

Obviously you'd have to adjust your HITTING, since you'd be
facing a more skilled pitcher. And you'd have to adjust your
DEFENSE... since the hitters would be better.

And so on.

But these are just ADJUSTMENTS.

Now let me ask you: Would you have to change your
FUNDAMENTAL STRATEGY to go from 14-year olds to the "pros"?

The answer is YES.

Because CORE PARTS of the game would be affected.

Not as many "runs" would be scored... the field would be
much bigger... there would be nine innings instead of
seven... and so on.

OK, so now let's relate this back to poker:

In low-stakes games, you can get away with certain things
that you CANNOT get away with in high-stakes games...

You may be able to time all your bluffs when you're on the
button in a low-stakes game, because not everyone is aware
of your positioning.

You might be able to consistently buy pots when the flop
comes rags, because no one has the guts to make a stand
against you.

These are ADJUSTMENTS.

Your FUNDAMENTAL STRATEGY will be different too.

At some stakes, you'll be able to "play around" more with
special traps, feeler bets, and bluffs.

At other stakes, there will be NO ROOM for these tactics
since every pot will be CRUCIAL. (The blinds structure is
also a big determinant in this.)

OK, so the point is things ARE NOT the same for each level
of stakes.

There are clear and distinct differences between low-stakes,
middle-stakes, and high-stakes... and therefore CLEAR
STRATEGIC DIFFERENCES FOR WINNING.


Reason #3: Not Playing At The Right Online Casinos

The third crucial mistake is thinking that every online
casino is the same.

Let me say this as clearly as possible:

ALL CASINOS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL.

And here's why:

A big reason is because the PLAYERS are different from
casino to casino... since the WAY each poker room attracts
its players is different.

The ADVERTISING is different.

Some online casinos give huge bonuses... others do mass
advertising targeted at "beginners"... others try to be
"exclusive" for high-quality players.

And so on...

Get it?

Do you see how this could have a DRAMATIC IMPACT on how the
GAMES will be different?

At one casino you may be playing against a bunch of fresh
"newbies". But the same game type and same stakes at a
DIFFERENT casino might be full of EXPERIENCED players.

This means you might consistently LOSE at $10 Sit and Go's
at one card room... but WIN all the time at another.

Crazy, huh?

I've seen it happen all the time.

You may be LOSING at online poker right now... and the
problem may not be your SKILLS.

It may be that you're simply playing in the WRONG PLACES!

How To Avoid Going On TILT

When a poker player goes on "tilt", it means that he is
playing in a way that is DIFFERENT than normal... in a way
that is based on EMOTION and the events of the game.

For example... if you got pocket Aces and lost a big hand to
someone with pocket 2's, you might go on TILT because of
that bad beat...

Or let's say you had a pair and your opponent went all-in...
and once you folded, your opponent showed you that he was
BLUFFING with a nine-high.

You might go on TILT after that... because you were TRICKED
and you blew the chance at doubling your chips.

The point is, TILT is an EMOTIONAL state. And the most
important thing you should know about tilt is this:

Tilt is DANGEROUS.

It's dangerous because it will cause you to lose money...
LOTS OF MONEY.

Why?

Well, put simply, tilt makes you do things that you wouldn't
"normally" do.

It makes you place over-aggressive bets... it makes you stay
in pots longer than you should... and it ZAPS your
self-control and discipline.

The good news is, I can show you how to "avoid" tilt. But
first, let's look at EXACTLY how tilt occurs when you play...

The PRIMARY REASON that tilt occurs is because of a MAJOR
LOSS. There are other causes, but this is the main one, so
we'll focus on it here.

By "major loss" I mean a BIG POT that you COULD have won...
or even perhaps SHOULD have won... but DIDN'T.

For some reason, poker players can always remember the BAD
BEATS and BIG LOSSES they've suffered, but never remember
the big victories.

Tilt works the same way.

You can be winning hand after hand after hand all day... but
then suddenly go on TILT following one lost pot.

When tilt occurs, it first impacts your EMOTIONAL mind...
because like I said, tilt is just an emotional condition.

Then it will impact your LOGICAL mind.

As much as we'd like to believe we can SEPARATE our emotions
from our thinking, we just can't. The truth is, emotions are
FAR MORE POWERFUL than logic or reasoning...

So when tilt occurs, you'll start playing in a way that JUST
DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

You'll try to bluff more, you'll raise more, and you'll be
more aggressive.

Why does tilt work THIS way?

Why does it make you play more AGGRESSIVELY, rather than
TIGHTEN UP?

The answer lies in what our brains are trying to
"accomplish" with tilt.

You see, in poker... and in all of gambling... the rule is
this:

GAINS COME SLOWLY. LOSSES COME QUICKLY.

It can take three hours to win a hundred dollars but only
THREE SECONDS to lose it all... and more.

Now I'm NOT talking about something like winning the lottery
here.

I'm talking about being able to CONSISTENTLY win money by
playing SMART and KEEPING THE ODDS IN YOUR FAVOR...

That's what Texas Holdem strategy is all about:

Keeping the odds in your favor.

Because the more you play with the odds in your FAVOR, the
more money you win.

Well, when a major LOSS occurs, you lose all that time you
spent building up your GAINS... so your brain goes on TILT.

And what your brain is TRYING TO DO is to win back all that
money you lost... fast.

In fact, your brain trying to win the money back as QUICKLY
AS YOU LOST IT.

Make sense?

It's kind of like the stock market...

When a stock goes from $100 per share to $50 per share, it's
a decrease of 50%.

But for the stock to get BACK to $100 per share, it has to
INCREASE BY 100%.

That's a big difference. And if you know ANYTHING about the
market, you know that 100% increases are hard to come by...

The reality is it will probably take YEARS for the stock to
gradually climb back to $100 per share.

But the investor doesn't want to think about it that way.
The investor wants his money back RIGHT NOW...

And therefore the investor will go on TILT and make poor
buying decisions with his money... hoping to find that
"miracle" stock.

Poker is the same way. Except instead of hoping for a
miracle STOCK, a player on tilt is hoping for a miracle
MONSTER HAND like trip Aces or a royal flush.

The problem is... the ODDS don't work like that.

You can't SUDDENLY win a ton of money... just because you
lost it in the previous hand.

That money is no longer yours...

In addition, a major lost pot SKEWS YOUR ENTIRE PERCEPTION:

A pre-flop raise of 1,000 chips no longer looks "big" after
you've just lost 10,000. So you decide to call the raise
with your K-4 offsuit... because TILT has got you by the
balls.

The point is this:

You must AVOID TILT. Period.

But how?

A lot of pros will tell you that the way to avoid tilt is
to, "Think logically, take a deep breath, and remember that
it's all part of the game."

Phooey.

You and I both know that that stuff doesn't work.

Because like we said before, TILT IS EMOTIONAL. And that
means it CANNOT be solved with LOGIC.

The key to avoiding tilt is to CATCH IT right before it
happens...

So the VERY MOMENT you lose a big hand... or take a bad
beat... THAT IS WHEN YOU MUST "INTERVENE" with your mind.

THAT is when you must take control.

And you can't just tell yourself, "Hey, this is just a part
of the game..."

No.

You must SEPARATE YOURSELF from the game... for however long
it takes to "regroup".

For instance... if I lose a big hand at a casino I'll
usually have my chips covered up and I'll go grab a quick
bite to eat. I'll get some fresh air... call my
girlfriend... go back to my hotel room... whatever.

THEN I will come back to the table and continue playing.

When I'm not in a casino and don't have the luxury of being
able to take a break from the game, I'll just "sit out" for
the next few pots and pay my blinds.

I'll fold my hands and just watch... I'll breathe deeply and
focus on MY GAME. Period.

This "separation" is the secret to avoiding tilt.

Because first of all, it keeps your emotional brain from
consuming your LOGICAL brain. Don't ask me why... I'm not a
scientist. I just know that it WORKS.

And secondly, separation allows you to KEEP THINGS IN PROPER
PERSPECTIVE.

You'll be in control. You'll know that a pre-flop raise of
1,000 chips IS A LOT... and you'll fold your measly K-4
because you're thinking CLEARLY.

You'll go back to YOUR GAME. You'll remember your strategies
and techniques... and you'll gradually start winning with
the ODDS BACK IN YOUR FAVOR.

Honestly... of all the tricks, techniques, and Texas Holdem
secrets I teach, avoiding tilt can quite possibly have the
BIGGEST effect on your bankroll...

Because whether you spend ten hours or ten THOUSAND hours
"grinding it out" at the poker tables, your money can VANISH
if you go on tilt.

Which brings me to ANOTHER interesting secret I've
discovered...

The EXPERIENCE OF TILT is actually just an EXTREME form of
experience that happens ALL THE TIME when you play poker.

What I mean is EVERY TIME YOU LOSE A HAND you're going on
tilt. Except, this tilt would be a small version of "the
real thing."

Stick with me here...

If TILT is just an EMOTION, then you're ACTUALLY going on
tilt all the time... except it's only noticeable during the
really big pots.

The truth is you're going on "Tiny Tilts" all game... every
game... that are swaying you back and forth and back and
forth from the REAL STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS YOU SHOULD BE
TAKING.

That's why the PROS are able to avoid tilt so effectively...

Because they've played SO MUCH POKER that they know the
RIGHT play to make... in virtually every situation. Emotion
just doesn't factor in.

And ultimately, that's the BEST way to avoid tilt...

...is to adopt a complete SYSTEM of playing STRATEGIES and
techniques that YOU STICK TO throughout the game.

Take emotion out of it. Just play the proven, step-by-step
methods that will help you CONSISTENTLY win the most money
at the table.