Live 1/2 Nl Poker Strategy
In this live play video our No-Limit expert talks about key factors that make a successful poker player. Enjoy and watch the action!, 58 Min. Ideally, in poker you want to bet an amount that maximizes how much you can win and minimizes how much you can lose. When you structure your no-limit bet so that the pot is offering even money on a call, but the odds against your opponent completing his hand are 2-to-1, you’ll win in the long run. And that’s what poker is all about. In this live play video our No-Limit expert talks about key factors that make a successful poker player. Enjoy and watch the action!, 58 min.
This time around we're going to get a bit more specific and provide you with some tips on how to beat the smallest buy-in no-limit hold'em game that you will find in most live casinos in Las Vegas and the rest of the world, $1/$2 game.
How Much Should I Buy In for?
The first important tip we can give is to buy in for the maximum every time, unless the game is uncapped and doesn't have a maximum. It is completely reasonable that you might feel a bit timid with the idea of plopping down $200 or $300, but this will give you the best chance in the game. At first, your instincts might tell you that buying in for the minimum amount will help you to get your feet wet while losing as little as possible, but if you've gained enough confidence in yourself to finally take the leap into a live game, remember to also exude hat same confidence when sitting down. Even if you are going in a casino playing for the first time, your mind should always be focused on winning and doing everything you can to boost your chances of doing so. Buying in for the maximum is the first step in doing this.
Live 1/2 Nl Poker Strategy Rules
*Note that some rare $1/$2 games will have an uncapped buy-in. In those cases, we would suggest buying in for 100-200 big blinds, or simply looking to find another game with a bit more structure.
There are a few reasons why you want to buy in for the maximum. In general, most $1/$2 game play in two very distinct ways; either very tight or loose-passive. In the former, it's often hard to win a big pot without coolering someone else at the table, and in that case you want to be able to win the maximum. In more loose-passive games, having the larger stack when you buy in for the maximum will allow you to have a bit more maneuverability. For example, say you buy in for $100 in a $1/$2 no-limit hold'em game. You call a raise of $8 preflop, then fold on the flop. A few hands later, you call another preflop raise for $8, but this time, you call a bet of $10 on the flop, then fold on the turn. Just like that, you have lost over 25% of your stack. If you buy in for the max, you will be able to wade through these small hits to your stack.
Also, having a larger stack means the passing of the blinds won't take so much of a toll on you. One round in a standard $1/$2 no-limit hold'em game costs for $3. If you buy in for $100, that $3 is 3% of your stack, whereas if you buy in for $200, that $3 is 1.5% of your stack.
Preflop Aggression
Often, cash games and tournaments differ when it comes to preflop aggression; many lower-limit cash games play passively while tournaments have heightened aggression due to the increasing blind levels. In tournaments, taking down blinds and antes can be crucial for one's tournament life, especially as the stakes continue to grow. In a $1/$2 cash game, the blinds always remain the same and there are no antes.
It is often best for lower-limit cash games to play a tight-aggressive game. Playing more premium hands and playing them strongly is a great way to start off on the right foot and have success. Splashing around in too many pots with more marginal holdings is not something a beginning player should do. We all see Phil Ivey and Phil Hellmuth on television playing some pretty creative hands, but we must remember that we are not Ivey and we are not Hellmuth.
Avoiding the Unusual
As a last bit of advice, let's take a look at common raise sizes for these games. If you're going to be playing the tight-aggressive form of poker that we recommend, it will be good to familiarize yourself with an amount you should be raising to when you pick up pocket aces. Oftentimes in a standard $1/$2 no-limit hold'em game, preflop raises are to an amount of $10-$15. Once in awhile, you'll have someone who makes an even larger raise size to $20-$25, but that is unusual. If a player makes an oversized raise, it is usually the sign of a scared player who has a monster hand and wants to protect it. Don’t get tricky with these players. Just sit back and wait until you have a premium hand and happily invite them to put a lot of money into the pot.
Cashing Out
Live 1/2 Nl Poker Strategy Video Poker
After your done playing, hopefully you'll have the welcomed problem of having to find a few racks for your chips in order to carry them to the cage. In most $1/$2 no-limit hold'em games, a winning session of around $50-$200 is normal and should be considered successful, especially if this was your first attempt at playing in a live casino. Don't be intimidated by others saying that this isn't successful, or the ones who look like they are winning several hundreds of dollars — those days will come. It's much more important to focus on your play and making the best decisions possible at the table than the end result.
We hope these tips helped you a bit. If you have an adequate bankroll and follow some of these tips, you will see your profits benefit in the long run! If you have any questions or comments, feel free to post them below in the comments section. Enjoy your first trip to a live casino and we hope you win big!
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