Many times people raise hands for the wrong reason. Even though raising is correct, they are making a mistake by raising because they are raising for the wrong reason. Their problems will arise when they raise for the same reason, but in the wrong circumstance.

Pre-flop you must decide if your hand plays better with fewer opponents or with more opponents. A hand like AQoffsuit plays better with fewer opponents, where a hand like 9Tsuited plays better with more.

Many players will raise AQoffsuit with 1 opponent or with 5 opponents, and will limp with 9Tsuited in the same situations. Unfortunately, this is a bad strategy. The reason is based on what i call the ‘big hand potential’ of your hand: A big hand is 2 pair or better, a hand that can stand a lot of people drawing against. To explain this let me give you a few stats:

AQoffsuit – This hand will flop two pair or better about 6% of the time, and will pair one of its cards about 27% of the time. As you can see you are most likely going to end up with a pair (most likely top pair), which is a vulnerable hand against numerous opponents. Any straight draw you have will be a gut-shot.

9Tsuited – this hand will flop 2 pair or better about 8% of the time, and will flop a pair 27% (the likellihood of top pair goes down considerably, about 8% for 9Ts). However you will flop a 4-flush or open-ended straight draw an additional 20% of the time; completing your draw about 1/3 of those times.

As you can see 9Tsuited can stand more heat post-flop than AQoffsuit can. So, even though AQoffsuit is the “better” hand, if there are multiple opponents it becomes the weaker hand. The strength of your hand changes based on the number of opponents you are facing, some hands will increase in value, while others will diminish.

I think he thinks, that I think he thinks I have a set. Sounds confusing, right? Well, this is levels of thinking; when you not only think about what you have, but also what your opponent might have, and what he thinks you might have, and so on.

The key to effectively using this line of thought is to always be thinking one level ahead of your opponent. To do this you must first understand what level your opponent is thinking at.

Does he only play his cards? If so, then he is a level 1 player.

Does he try to put his opponents on a hand? If so, then he is a level 2 player.

Does he think about what his opponent thinks he has? If so, then he is a level 3 player.

Obviously, this can go on and on. However if your opponents are thinking past level 3 there is likely a better game for you to be sitting in.

So, if your opponent is thinking at level 2 (not only playing his hand, but trying to deduce your holding) you need to be thinking level 3; what does this guy think I have, and how can I use that to decieve him. If your opponent is thinking level 1, then thinking level 3 does you no good; you must dumb down your thinking to level 2 where simply putting him on a hand is enough.

In poker you want to be one step ahead of your opponent, being two or more ahead is too much, and you’ll end up outsmarting yourself.

I’ve devised a little test for to take to determine why, and how, you play by answering 5 questions; good luck! Let me know how accurately your answers reflect on you as a player.
1) The #1 reason I play poker is

A- To make money
B- To have fun, I enjoy playing
C- To socialize, I treat poker like a night out
D- For the competition, I like to test myself

2) The #2 reason I play poker is

A- To make money
B- To have fun, I enjoy playing
C- To socialize, I treat poker like a night out
D- For the competition, I like to test myself

3) I want people to assume I am

A-A good player
B- A bad player
C- I don’t care what other people think
D- It depends on who my opponents are

4) I think I am a

A- The best player, I’ll take on anyone as long as it is within my means
B- A very good player, I don’t think I can improve much, but still work on my game
C- A good player, I play well, but still have some areas I need to work on
D- An OK player, I understand the general concepts of the game, but still need a lot of practice and study
E- A new player, Boy do i have a lot to learn
F- A bad player, if I get the cards I get the cards if not, oh well

5) Without poker I would

A- Probably curl up and die
B- would have a huge void in my life
C- Would probably play another card/strategy game
D- Would fill the time with movies/sports/music/etc
E- wouldn’t be bothered in the least if there was no poker

points

question 1
A=5, B=2, C=0, D=3

question 2
A=1, B=2, C=0, D=3

question 3
A=3, B=2, C=0, D=4

question 4
A=3, B=5, C=4, D=2, E=1, F=0

question 5
A= 2, B=4, C=5, D=2, E=0

20+ points, You are a serious player devoting 40+ hours a week to playing poker and poker related activities. You study the game and are a consistent winner.

15-19, You are a fairly educated player with a few flaws that need to be ironed out. you read books and articles on poker, and play a lot more when you are winning than when you are losing. You are a winning player but could be doing better.

11-14, You have read a book or two, but are having trouble applying what you have read. You want to improve your game, but not at the expense of your enjoyment of it. If you’re not playing poker you really don’t think about to much.

5-10, You are a very new player and just picked up the game on a whim. You’re thinking about buying a book on poker but don’t know if it’s worth it. You are not 100% convinced poker is a game of skill.

less than 5, You play poker only for kicks with your friends, and think of it as nothing more than a form of gambling/entertainment.