5 Poker Strategies That No Longer Work
2018-03-05
Poker is constantly evolving. If you’ve learned to play in the middle of 2000s when poker was completely different, there is a danger that you are still following the outdated strategies.
The 2003 poker boom was the beginning of a revival era in poker. Tens of thousands of players got acquainted with this game and became enthusiastic about learning its subtleties. Prescriptions in books and articles of that time claimed the statements like "tightly means correctly" and "if you can not raise - just do not enter the game". These postulates served the players faithfully for many years, but most of them lost relevance due to the game development. However, many players still follow the poker strategies that no longer work.
Below you’ll see five strategies that were once thought to be rock-solid truth in poker. Some of them are still relevant, but the rest are hopelessly outdated. If you still align with poker strategies that no longer work, it's time to change your game.
- Tightly means correctly
Not so long ago, a tight game in tournaments was considered the only correct poker strategy. All players used to wait for strong hands, until someone guessed that you can make a ton of chips, stealing blinds and antes. Soon others understood it and the "aggressive race" began.
Just learn: you allow opponents to exploit you by playing too tightly. Do not get it wrong: in some cases, this strategy is quite appropriate. However, you should not use it all the time - do not make it your regular game style.
- Start betting round by raising with 3-4 BBs
If you were studying poker in the middle of 2000s, then you are most likely advised to open the game by raising with 3-4 BBs. Nowadays, many players start the game with a minimum raise. This strategy appeared to be surprisingly effective, as many players were reluctant to defend, allowing the raiser to pick up the blinds and ante with minimal investment, pressure and risk.
Recently, players have started to protect the Blinds with a wider range of hands, so mini-raises lost popularity. However, it’s a long way to 3-4 BBs.
Of course, you can raise with any amount that you like, but you should understand what other players are doing and why. Find out which raise amount works best for your tables, and stick to it instead of following poker strategies that no longer work.
- Never min-raise. Respect the raiser
There was a time when pre-flop mini-raises were much to seek in no-limit hold'em and were considered a manifestation of weakness. However, players realized that the pot can be won with minimal investment, and min-raising gained popularity. As a result, preflop raises lost their power. Previously, players raised their bets only with very strong cards, but now they can do it with any two.
- Reraise means Aces or Kings
There was a time when 3-bet or 4-bet necessarily meant pocket kings or aces, and 5, 6 and 7-bets were as rare as a Royal Flush. Today it does not work. Nowadays it is more like a war of thinking levels (what he thought about what I thought about what he thought). In fact, you do not need to have aces or kings to participate in a large pot.
- If you cannot raise, do not play at all. No limps on pre-flop
Players are constantly told that they should raise when starting the game. It is still true in most cases, but not always. So this statement can turn into poker strategy that no longer works. Your decision should be influenced by many circumstances: position, active players, your image at the table, etc. Quite often you can enter the game with limps having speculative hands like Jack of Clubs and 10 of Clubs or 6 of Diamonds and 5 of Diamonds and maybe you will see the flop cheaply.
Even if someone raises after you, you will not have to give too many chips to continue the game (if you make such a decision). In addition, limping in early position often looks strong, and opponents may show more respect than you really deserve. You do not need to use limps too often, but you should not neglect this poker strategy either.
