Focusing on doubling in the beginning of the poker game

evilari · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 17

When you start to play poker, when you are playing online what is the first thing you think of? I try and double up, but that isn’t working. Do you play to make a certain profit percentage to bump up your bankroll? What should I be concentrating on?

Ellen · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 19

yeah I think focusing on doubling in the start of the game is not such a good idea. When I am starting games I play tight. Then I try to figure out the styles of the other players at the table. I usually make 3/4x the blind raises with hands from ak to aq to aj to qq to jj etc and then I wish for a flop. But, if I miss the flop I will gladly lay it down in the early stages of the game. You can certainly make back 100 or so chips over going poor with top pair and then calling huge raises with many possible hands who cold beat you. I’d rather get 3,4,5 way pots with suited connectors or even pocket pairs.

I would rather because if I hit, I win big and can be pretty sure when I am ahead or not. Some hands like AK that flop a 7,6 with a flush draw can really squash you if you’re playing with a bunch of players and someone gets a flush or a straight. I really prefer those sorts of hands that that come later where you can easily get all your chips in ahead or at least be heads up post flop and then your odds are really much improved.