One of the biggest complaints I hear about online poker is that you cannot pick up tells on your opponents. While this is obviously true since there is a lot of information you miss by playing online; you also have certain advantages by playing online that live poker does not afford you.  Besides the obvious advantages of instant hand histories, the ability to multi-table, rakeback and bonuses, and the amount of easily accessible games; a savvy player also has the ability to increase his productivity through software add-ons.

Some poker software is free, but most of the quality programs will cost you a few dollars, but they are well worth the investment! An example of a free software program that every player should have downloaded on their computer is PokerStove; PokerStove allows players to create virtually any scenario and run millions of hand samples in seconds.  Ever wonder how often AA will beat 99? PokerStove has the answer. Ever wonder How TT fares against someone who could have 55+, AT+, or KQs? PokerStove can answer that question as well.

PokerStove will do little to improve your game while you’re playing, but it is an invaluable tool to use both before and after you play. For more information on PokerStove, and some of the companies other free downloads, check out their website http://pokerstove.com/

In part 2 of this series I will discuss a couple of the software programs you will have to shell out a few dollars for: PokerTracker and SharkScope.

When I say seat selection I’m not talking about window or aisle, or the most comfortable chair. I’m talking about where to sit down at a poker table based on your opponents styles of play. Seat selection isn’t the most critical thing in the world, but given the choice you should examine the pros and cons of each seat.

Most authorities argue for keeping the bad players to your left, and the good players right. In general, this is a pretty sound theory, especially if the bad player in question is aggressive. Having a loose aggressive player on your right allows you to isolate them by re-raising their raises; forcing anyone else who is thinking about playing to call 3 bets.

However, there are also strategic advantages if you have this same player on your left, especially if the table is full of a bunch of calling stations.  What you can do is limp into pots with really strong hands, and let the aggro raise for you. The calling stations will call with all sorts of hands, and then you can pop it when the action gets back to you!

This is even a better tactic on the flop when you hit a really strong hand; you can trap multiple players for multiple bets.

If you’re playing no-limit there are even more benfits; you’ll be able to win many pots uncontested by re-raising in this manner. Think about this scenario: You have KK and limp in, the aggro raises to 4x the blind, 2-3 other players call, and you pop it to 20-25x the blind. You’ll either get action, with dead money in the pot, when you have a really strong hand, or take down a very nice pot of around 15bb! Win, win situation.

One of the most intense times in a large multi-table tournament is the breaking point between which players cash and which go home with nothing. This is known as ‘the bubble’; the point where mediocre players turn weak-tight to sneak into the cash and good players steal blinds and antes without mercy; where big stacks bully and small stacks cower.

Most intermediate players make the mistake of tightening up at the bubble – this is wrong. Take, for example, the Full Tilt Poker Early Double. This tournament typically gets 950 or so entrants, and 153 get paid. If you’re a medium-to-big stack with 154 players left, don’t use that as an excuse to relax and cruise into the money: steal blinds, pressurise shortstacks; burst that bubble yourself!

In the above example, the 153rd-placed finisher recieves $7.50. Did you really play for four hours and beat 700 people to make $1.50 profit? It shouldn’t matter if you finish 950th, 400th, 154th or 153rd. You’re playing to win.

With a board of 3c-5c-Js-7c I was put to a decision for all of my chips on the bubble of a large MTT. I held 53o, and was well aware that if I called, dozens of hands beat me – flushes, straights, sets and higher two pairs. But I made the call, because I had a decent read and I didn’t care if I bubbled, and was shown Ac-Jd. The river blanked and I doubled through to 2nd in chips. I went on to take down that tournament, and that hand was a turning point. It was the first time I’ve ever seen an entire table type “good call” into the chatbox too.

So if you’re faced with a big decision on the bubble, treat it as you would any other time. You’re not playing to make less-than-double your buy-in. You’re playing to win.