Play fewer hands but play them aggressively. This is the foundation of winning poker strategy.
Your position at the table determines which hands you should play and how aggressively.
Calculate the ratio of the current pot size to the cost of a call to make profitable decisions.
Your position at the table is one of the most important factors in poker. Here's how to play from different positions:
Play only premium hands (AA, KK, QQ, AK)
Expand range slightly, add strong hands
Play wider range, steal blinds, control pot
AA, KK, QQ, AK - Always raise with these hands regardless of position.
JJ, TT, AQ, AJ - Raise in most positions, be cautious in early position.
Suited connectors, small pairs - Play in late position with good pot odds.
Bet on the flop when you were the pre-flop aggressor, regardless of whether you hit the flop.
Bet when you have a strong hand to extract maximum value from weaker hands.
Bluff selectively with draws or when the board favors your range.
Have at least 20 buy-ins for your stake level to handle variance.
Move up when you have 25+ buy-ins, move down when you have less than 15.
Never play with money you can't afford to lose. Set stop-loss limits.
Stay emotionally controlled. Take breaks when frustrated or angry.
Pay attention to opponents' patterns and betting tells.
Trust your decisions and don't second-guess yourself constantly.