A Winning System

You know you're on a winning system when certain things happen to you at a poker table. You begin to make big hands in key spots, and your stack of chips grows magically with each passing hand.

After the break, you find that you are one of the chip leaders. Now, you begin to play strategically to add to your pile, while not risking it. The winning system requires luck in this stage, and when you make a growing number of hands, you realize your luck has turned.

The rest of the tournament becomes fun. Since you have a majority of the chips, you play with the other players, siphoning chip after chip from them; and if you follow the system to the finish, you will slay the dragon and win the tournament.

Winning systems do not come along as often as they should. But when they do come, be prepared for them and seize control of a good situation. Raise with good hands and be prepared to bluff when the situation presents itself.

Go after the small stacks. The owners of those stacks will play a fearful game and should yield under pressure. You should be merciless in attacking the small stacks, otherwise, they might bounce back and hurt you.

When you are wired together properly, you will find yourself in a winning system. Do not slow-play your hands. Attack, attack, attack, and rake in the chips.

Keep thinking 'Pot odds,' and bet and raise to keep them on your side. Always be aware of the odds and play your advantages well.

If there are regular raisers in the pot, check a nut hand so you can come over the top of the raiser. Do this a couple of times and your opponents will be less liable to bet into you.

If the cards are not flowing to you, change seats. Ask the dealer for a seat change button and do so at your next convenience.

Play the button well. Call with moderate, even poor hands, waiting for that miracle slop.

If you are the small blind, play it the same as you would the button. Remember that any three cards can fall out at this point, and you need to be poised to strike.

If the table changes and wild raisers take over, ask for a table change and take the first one that is available.

You are not at a poker table to be macho. You are there to prevail and to win. Always remember this.

If you have a nut hand on the river and another player is nearly all-in, check and let him bet so you can raise.

This is how you build a winning system. Any questions?

Author: Geno Lawrenzi Jr.

(Geno Lawrenzi Jr. is an international journalist, magazine author and ghostwriter and poker player who lives in Phoenx, AZ. He has published 2,000 articles in 50 magazines and 125 newspapers. If you want to share a gambling story or book idea with him, send an email to glawrenzi@gmail.com ).