Any relatively experienced regular realises that there is no one-size-fits-all winning strategy in poker. Different approaches and differing styles collide in competition. Sometimes it makes sense to focus on staying calm and waiting for the best combinations, but sometimes it’s more profitable to react to your opponents’ actions. What sets top high rollers apart is their ability to switch between modes in each particular hand, finding ways to maximise EV. This allows them to control the entire table, dominating more straightforward opponents.
How do pros develop initiative-taking skills? Well, the lucky players who have been blessed with this skill by nature, it’s pretty clear. For example, no one would deny the incredible poker intelligence of the legendary Stu Unger, who learnt the rules of new disciplines on the fly and almost instantly became the best in them. But the truth is, the ability to keep things under control can be developed as you work on your game. Let’s take a look at what poker players should know at https://casinolab.com/nz/, which is owned by CasinoLab.
Shark Mindset
Famous poker journalist Paul Seaton once asked a player who had shown rapid progress over a short period what changes happened to him when he moved up to the elite. The regular replied that before he was always thinking about how to survive in the tournament. Now, however, all his thoughts were focused on the current hand.
There are several points in the first type of reasoning that negatively affect the strategy and styles of play. In particular, poker players of this class do not realise the lion’s share of their equity, which breaks the mathematical foundations. In an effort to save their chips, they miss many opportunities to strengthen their stack, which can then help them get as far in the event as possible. Undoubtedly, the ICM factor is very important, and closer to heads-up play it’s often really necessary to switch into survival mode. But chasing the smallest payout can ruin your prospects for big prize money.
Besides, you need to realise that if one player gives up the initiative, someone else will take over. The instinct of self-preservation will be perceived by strong opponents as a sign of weakness. They will almost certainly push a cautious opponent out of his comfort zone, increasing the pot early on and pushing the entire stack in the later stages. This tactic can be used at CasinoLab.
The image of a dangerous opponent
In modern poker, you need your own solid strategy more than ever. However, the game still involves many psychological nuances. It’s crucial for a professional to create an image in CasinoLab as a challenging opponent that other regulars, if possible, won’t want to compete with in borderline situations.
Phil Ivey and Phil Helmuth are both poker legends, having combined for 28 World Series of Poker gold bracelets. The level of both of them is unquestionable in the community. However, their styles of play are completely different. Helmut is very strong in theory, but has a rather cautious approach in the fight for a place in the ITM zone. And this has allowed Ivey to dominate his famous opponent throughout the history of personal confrontations. He was given the advantage of a very aggressive style with fearless bluffs, invariably knocking his opponents out of their comfort zone.
You could say that Ivey doesn’t participate in the hands, but completely controls them. It’s no secret that the easiest way to adjust to aggressive opponents is to expand bluffing ranges. But the problem for all poker players unlucky enough to be at the same table with the American is his ability to instantly adapt to changes in his opponents’ behaviour. In peak form, he was constantly balancing between using his own image and exploit strategy adjustments. In the early 2010s, it was commonly claimed that Ivey could beat an opponent before he even took his seat at the table. This emphasised the importance of having an image of an unpredictable, dangerous opponent. This is the main thing poker players at CasinoLab should know about.
