Smart Cookies

I have a problem that many home poker game aficionados face-I’m stuck playing the same strong players week after week. Good players are observant poker online players, and it only takes one or two games for them to figure out your playing style. Playing these guys week after week would spell trouble for me, but I do my best to keep everybody else on their toes. One of the first things that an opponent tries to pick up on and exploit is your starting hands. The starting hands that you choose to play say a lot about your game, and if someone can figure out early on what kind of online poker cards you play, he will be able to read you pretty accurately. When you play with the same people frequently, occasionally play with a starting hand that you normally wouldn’t. If you’re a conservative player and only feel comfortable playing pocket faces, try playing a J-10 unsuited from the middle or early position. Remember, this only works if people see your cards-you don’t have to play all the way to the end, but make sure that people see your cards if you fold them. You don’t have to do it often, either; once in a while is enough to give your opponents pause.