The Art of Poker

Generic PokerStar Strategy – How lose or tight should you play?

One of the most common questions that beginners in pokers ask is how loose or tight should you play? Specifically, this question relates to the percentage of pre flop hands that should be played. This is a generic poker strategy that should be learned by every single player. Poker is a game where no strategy would work 100% of the time and will have to be adjust according to the situation and the tendencies and actions of the opponents. There are no answers that suit all players. Experienced players would always be better playing post flop and so they can play more hands. However, for beginners it is best to stick to a tight game. Since you would have less experience post flop you may make a lot of mistakes that can cost you money.

Generic poker strategy for full ring cash games

In cash games with around ten www.PokerStar.net players on the table, it is best to play less than 20% of your hands. If you are a tight player then you may even be playing only 10% of your hands preflop. This can be a winning strategy for low stake games. However, when you do play a hand you must raise preflop and must never open the game in a limp fashion. Always ask yourself why when you call preflop.

Generic poker strategy for six handed games

Since a few of the opponents would be stripped out in six handed games you must play a little loose. You can play roughly the same as any nine handed game and raise fewer hands when you are under the gun and more when you are on the button or cutoff. The reason is that you would be the last to act postflop. In any type of poker, the position is a very important consideration for all your actions.

Generic poker strategy for MTT tournaments

In tournaments, you should start out by playing a very tight game since the blinds would be worth while compared to the stack. You can play maximum 15% of the starting hands during this stage of the game. As the blinds continue to go up and they are worth stealing, you can play more PokerStar hands from the late position. There are also several types of hands that can change through the tournament. Small pairs, small suited aces, suited connectors are all hands where the value will depend on the stage of the tournament.

Generic poker strategy for sit n go games

Like the MTT tournaments, even for sit n go games you can start with a tight game and then later on become a little loose. Consider stealing the PokerStar.net blinds at every opportunity you get during the mid level of the game and always make your decisions based on your position on the table.