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Basic Poker Strategy
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Fundamental Theorem of Poker - By opinion of David Sklansky the essential nature of poker as a game of desicion making in the face of incomplete information.
  • The fundamental theorem of Poker is based on mathematical reasoning. Each decision that is made in poker can be analyzed in terms of the concept of expected value. Every time you play your hand the way you would if you could see your opponent's cards, you gain and every time your opponent plays his cards differently from the way he would play them if he could see your cards, you gain. The correct decision is the decision that has the largest expected value (but not for long-term deception). If you could see all your opponents' cards, you would always be able to calculate the correct decision. The less you deviate from these correct decisions, the better your expected long-term results. This is the mathematical expression of the Fundamental Theorem;

  • Morthon`s theorem - It states that in multi-way pots, a player`s expectation may be maximised by an opponent who making a correct desicion. For example, when one player holds the best hand, but there are other oponents on draws. So, the palyer with the best hand might take more money in the long run when the opponent folds to a bet;

  • Pot odds - The connection between pot odds and odds of winning, ratio of the size of the potto the size of the bet which stay in the pot;

  • Deception - When a poker player induce his opponent to play different. Forms of deception are bluffing and slow-playing;

  • Structure considerations - The blinds, antes and limit structure of the game;

  • Short-hand considerations - When palyers for some reasons must loosen up their play.

  • Equity - A player's equity in a pot is his expected share of the pot, as percentage or expected value. Negative equity is when

  • Position - Position strategy is mean the order in which players are seated around the table and the strategic consequences of this. Players who have to act first need stronger hands to bet or raise than players in later position;

  • Reasons to raise;

    • Reasons to call;