We usually watch people concentrating more on their pre-flop. This
is done because it helps in avoiding problems and to make better decisions. The
pre-flop planners are the ones who usually win the game at large than the ones
who don’t plan. Post-flop player, on the other hand, gets a lot of hands to
play and wait for their strategy to work till the end.
Fundamentals of a
post-flop expert
These players have to make sure they have their
positions set during the game to strategize in a certain manner. The later you
start acting upon your tricks, the larger the issues you’d have to deal with.
1. It’s not
all about aggression – It is a myth that the post-flop players who constantly
win are most aggressive. That’s not true. To win a game, you need to have proper
imagination and skills to read one’s mind. If you start right, chances are that
you’ll plan the game right and play to win calmly, rather than showing
unnecessary aggression.
2. Folding post-flop is
okay – if you see a lot of flops in your game, you’d end up losing everything
at once. You need to know when the time to call it a game is. Also, some
players consider folding as a feminine move and don’t prefer taking that step
until they lose the game. Don’t stretch it. Fold when you feel you’re losing
it.
3. Avoid coin flips –
Coin flips have the tendency to showcase how well you are at the game. Throwing
in too many coins shows that you’re confident with your cards. It’s better to
play the pot game to avoid getting attention and look like a novice.
4. Pay attention to the
stack sizes – When you’re in the middle of a game, be observant enough to
understand the game of your opponent. He must’ve played his trick or probably
planning to dump all his cards. Keep a check on their moves and plan your next
step accordingly.
5. The Float – This bit
takes place when a player has missed the pre-flop. In such a scenario, the
raiser keeps adding money and tries to hit their opponents with the same set of
cards that they used for the initial bet. But now, this tactic has become so
common that it’s the initial raiser himself who keeps raising, letting the
other players go with the flow.
6. The Post-flop play –
there are 2 things you need to keep a check on to avoid losing.
a. Avoid
problems/unwanted hands – if you want your game to be the best one, avoid
investing the pot with weak hands. These hands just look good in your hands and
not when you place them on the table. Wait for the right time and call it off
if you have those disgusting cards in hand.
b. The dilemma of
continuing Poker – this situation occurs when a player is not ready to give up
on his hand and keeps giving in the money until you lose all of it. This
happens because we overthink and rely on the cards we have in hand without
thinking if they can actually be any use.
7. Psychology is around
you – the fear of losing and the confusion throughout the game about the rules
and situations is constant. Every once in a while you’ll have to trick the
opponent right so that it doesn’t leave the impression of you being a bad
dealer.
8. How emotions affect
your play – there are times when you start believing in a player and behave as
if they’re your buddies and they won’t ditch you at any point. The truth is, no
one is your friend in the game of Poker. You’ll be highly mistaken if you feel
they’d let the deal go when it’s their time to win. Hence, start out right and
try to reduce the post-flop trauma for yourself.
Majorly the entire cash games is a psychological game. If you
understand and start leading the play like a pro, you’d take the pot full of
cash home.