Poker Strategy - Small Stakes Hold'em Online

An often overlooked aspect of small stakes hold'em is the variance in players' abilities at each different table. When playing at smaller stakes tables, players tend just to lump everyone in the same category; usually "Calling Stations" and "fish". While this may serve well as a general rule, you may not be giving credit where credit's due.

A good poker player should always be considering the make-up of the table, while they will always do this at the higher levels, they may lower their concentration at smaller cash games or tournaments. Good players will comment that they can still easily beat the tables with a half-hearted effort. While this may be true, it could be argued that they could beat the table a whole lot quicker by focusing more on their opponents and using the same focus they use at higher stakes.

The main advice given to low stakes players is that you should just play tight; give your opponent's bets credit, showdown the best hand etc. etc. While this basic "one size fits all" strategy can certainly beat the game, by focusing harder you may find the opportunity to pick up a few more extra pots. You are usually warned against making fancy plays in low stakes games as your opponents are judged to be too unskilled to understand the subtlety of what you are trying to do. While the beginners certainly won't know what a post-oak bluff is, others at the table will be good, skilled players... you're there after all! The lower limits are awash with students of the game that are progressing to the higher limits play here. University students that are short on money, but big on strategy play there. Higher limit players who are down on their luck or are working on their game play also play there. It's a fair assessment that you will not be the only skilled player you'll encounter at the tables.

Poker is all about knowing your opponent, by tagging these semi skilled players, you can try a few more moves on them and steal a few pots, while remaining to play the tight patient approach against the fish. Start to have a look at who you can bully, who you should respect, who you can bluff, who you can make call etc. and you'll see your returns improve greatly. High stakes players often say that you can't allow yourself to think in monetary terms at big games, you have think only in terms of chips or it'll cloud your judgment. Well, this could be true at lower stakes poker too, if you just think in chip terms and not about the small amount of money, you'll find that you will concentrate harder on beating the people at your table and will be less lazy in you approach.

Remember, you only get out what you put in.

Good luck at the tables!