Poker Strategy
Solid Play In poker, experienced players know how to change their playing style over the course of a game. They alternate between phased attacks and solid play in order to destablise their adversaries. But before using expert tactics, it is important to master the first style of play: tight play. • Definition A solid player begins by rigourously selecting which hands to play. On a limit hold'em table with 10 players, play no hands except for AA, KK, QQ, TT, AK, AQ. On a table with 6 players you can also play AJ and 99. That's it, there's no 'finesse': when playing with this strategy; if you're holding you bet, if you're out of position fold. With the exception of the hands listed above, you shouldn't pay to see the flop. A solid player doesn't defend their blinds. Even if you don't pull any cards on the flop you should continue attacking (your odds are good) but should one of your opponents raise you, you should fold. A solid player doesn't try to reveal their opponents bluffs, don't play defensively! Patience, you'll get a better flop next time... • Advantages - The basic technique is very simple, you can play practically without thinking. - It's a playing style that works well against players that tend to call frequently (the calling stations) - You cannot quickly lose money when playing solid. • Disadvantages - Good players will often bluff you - You don't maximise the effectiveness of your biggest hands • Conclusion Knowing how to play solid is a bit like knowing how to walk. Once you've gotten the hang of this method you can always go back to it. To better understand and master the subject, you will need about a hundred hours of real play if your just starting. The hundred hours are truly indispensable, these are your first steps towards the true winning style: tight and aggressive.