10 Poker Rules to live by

**Steve Ruddock** · 02-10-2009

To be a successful poker player you must play your best at all times. Knowing you need to play your best is fairly obvious; actually playing your best is what separates the winners from the losers.

You can ensure you are playing your 'A'' game by following these 10 rules.

Read the entire article here

**Xopods** · 02-10-2009

Disagree somewhat with #3 and #10. Reasoning:

#3: Play tight.

First point: tight is relative, and you mainly want to play tight-er than your opponent(s), rather than tight by some arbitrary standard set by a beginner's poker book. Second point: if the first point was all there was to it, two good players would end up getting into a tightness "arms race" culminating in both playing only AA. If your opponent gets excessively tight, then the best strategy is to be way looser than him, in order to pick up a lot of small pots and make it hard for him to put you on a range of holdings.

#10: Broaden your horizons.

That's one option, but the other is to find your best game and maximize your profitability at that. I'm making a killing now by focussing on strategies to beat donks at $20 Heads Up games. My ROI over 200 games is now at 30%, which is ridiculous, even if 200 games is a relatively small sample and the ROI will undoubtedly come down a bit. There's no way I could manage that if I was trying to learn even, say, Limit ring game Hold'Em and Pot Limit 6-Max SNGs, let alone Omaha, 7 Stud, Razz, etc.

The main argument given in the article is that you'll have trouble finding a really soft game if you limit yourself, but that's only true at B&M casinos. In these days of the Internet, you can always find a game of the type you specialize in.

I realize, though, that this part of the forum is meant to be re: live games, so #10 may be appropriate advice... it should be qualified, though, by saying "unless you do most of your playing online."

**Steve Ruddock** · 02-10-2009

I agree with you on certain points (you could obviously make an argument against any of the "rules"). It's very difficult to write a poker article, and go in depth (giving both sides of the argument) without writing a 200 page book.

I wish more people would use the comment button below my articles, so we could go more in depth on certain points like these.

**Xopods** · 02-10-2009

Originally Posted by Steve-O

I agree with you on certain points (you could obviously make an argument against any of the "rules"). It's very difficult to write a poker article, and go in depth (giving both sides of the argument)
without writing a 200 page book.

Very true. And, of course, "play tighter," is good advice for 90% of losing players. However, many break-even players need to be told "don't be such a pussy."

I wish more people would use the comment button below my articles, so we could go more in depth on certain points like these.

Okay, I'll reproduce those comments there.

**22Fish** · 02-10-2009

If I am correct (some of the guys whove been playing since the dawn of time can correct me lol), a few years back it kind of was a who can play tighter arms race, and people playing lag were seen as rediculus. A lot has changed.

I belive that it is still a bit the case in tourneys, with people folding AA at the bubble and the like. There are a lot of dead chips in the middle where poeple just don't want them I think.

Unfortunately my lack of high stakes knowledge is holding me back.

**Steve Ruddock** · 02-10-2009

It was slightly different years back, ALL the good players played tight.

Now, a certain few have figured out they can win being LAG, although it remains to be seen if these same players could win more playing TAG??? It could be their skills allow them to play loose, and win in spite of it, not because of it.

For tournaments: with larger field sizes in tournaments, it's crucial to run well, so someone playing loose who is running hot will be tough to beat; someone running hot playing tight won't accumulate as many chips.

For cash games: I don't think LAG works well. If anyone has data to prove otherwise I'd like to see it.

**jimb123** · 03-08-2009

these are some great tips.

**Brokerstar** · 03-09-2009

I guess there is a big difference between being a good TAG and a bad (weak/tight) TAG as there is a big difference between being a good LAG and a bad one.

I think it depends on the dynamics of the game. If I can run people over that only show down the nuts (by that I mean they are not adjusting to me well) then I'll runn a 30/27/7 all over them.

If on the other hand they are super loose, never folding anything, ever, then I'll play a 17/15/3 (roughly).

The point is that any style can work out if you can adjust to your opponents and the dynamics of the table.

That in essence is being a good poker player.

Broker

**Brokerstar** · 03-09-2009

I belive that it is still a bit the case in tourneys, with people folding AA at the bubble and the like. There are a lot of dead chips in the middle where poeple just don't want them I think.

If I was on the bubble in the WSOP or any event for that matter and someone has put me all in for my tourny life pre flop, I never fold, EVER. even if someone else is all in on another table and by folding I'm gauranteed to cash.

NEVER, EVER! EVER

Madness!

Post flop in the right situations sure, but if you're suggesting anyone folds AA pre flop if they're put all in because they are on the bubble, I'd say slap that man with a wet fish for being so simple.

Broker

**MJPerry** · 03-09-2009

Originally Posted by Steve-O

For cash games: I don't think LAG works well. If anyone has data to prove otherwise I'd like to see it.

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