Barbara Connors

There’s a hierarchy of thought in poker... ascending Levels of thinking about the game. Not surprisingly, typical suckers are only able to think on the first level. An intelligent game of poker doesn’t even begin to exist until you reach Level 2, but truly skilled players should be able to think at least up through Level 4.

In Texas hold’em, if one player begins the hand with a wired pair and his lone opponent holds two overcards both larger than that pair, this is said to be a coin flip. Before the flop each player has about a 50/50 shot at winning the hand. Something like 9-9 versus A-K would be a very common coin flip scenario. But if the pocket pair is deuces then any two unpaired cards—provided that one of the two cards is not a deuce—in the opponent’s hand would produce the same result.

Contrary to what many people believe, the “show one, show all” rule is not really about the cards per se. It does not mean that if, for whatever reason, you expose one of your hole cards that you will then be obligated to show both of them.

“Don’t tap on the aquarium” is a well-known catchphrase among poker players, originally credited to poker pro Phil Gordon. The basic gist of this saying should be obvious: Don’t scare away the fish. It’s never a good idea to berate, insult, or in any way embarrass bad players at the poker table—even when one of those bad players has just put a horrific beat on you. Perhaps especially then. Sure, it’s bad manners but much more important than that, it’s bad business.
 

1. "Small suited connectors under-the-gun? Yeah, let's see a flop!" One of the worst and most expensive leaks is playing too many starting hands-especially out of position. But too many players get sucked into playing substandard hands out of boredom, frustration, or just plain lack of discipline. Do this once, maybe twice, and it isn't a big deal. Do it repeatedly and it's a great way to siphon off chips.

Some players attempt to artificially prop up their poker results with a strategy known as "hit and run." This style of play involves joining a game and sitting down just long enough to win a big pot or two-and then immediately quitting. This way, the player ensures himself of leaving the game with a win. He can make his exit basking in the warm and fuzzy feeling that accompanies winning, and he can tell his spouse, friends, and siblings that he made money in his game and is therefore a winning poker player.

The bad beat jackpot is poker's version of the lottery-random, tantalizing, and a massive long shot to hit. And like the lottery, bad beat jackpots are usually progressive, meaning the more time goes by without a winner, the more lucrative the grand prize becomes. It's not uncommon for the prize money to reach five figures, or in some cases even six figures, of mouthwatering cash. Jackpot games can be found at many, if not most, brick and mortar casinos as well as some of the online poker sites.

The bad beat jackpot is poker's version of the lottery-random, tantalizing, and a massive long shot to hit. And like the lottery, bad beat jackpots are usually progressive, meaning the more time goes by without a winner, the more lucrative the grand prize becomes. It's not uncommon for the prize money to reach five figures, or in some cases even six figures, of mouthwatering cash. Jackpot games can be found at many, if not most, brick and mortar casinos as well as some of the online poker sites.

To look down and see two high cards in your grasp is usually a promising start to any hold'em hand. This we know. But when bad things happen to good cards and the flop fails to connect with either one of them, your beautiful beginning has turned into a thorny and potentially expensive situation. Your naked high cards aren't good enough for you to continue in the hand with any degree of confidence, and yet it can be oh-so-difficult to let go-especially if you raised before the flop-and oh-so-tempting to stay in, hoping to hit something on a later street.

Pot-committed is a term most often associated with no-limit games, and particularly tournaments. It occurs when the pot is big enough to be offering you such great odds that you should almost always call-even if you believe that you are behind in the hand.