Advanced Poker Strategies: Tips to Enhance Gameplay

Those who’ve played poker for a while often want to start looking at new strategies they can add to their game. We’ve selected several strategies and techniques that could fit this bill, ranging from bluffing with purpose to upping one’s mental game.

2. Exploitative vs. GTO (Game Theory Optimal) play

Understanding the balance between exploitative play and GTO play is another advanced poker strategy. GTO play is based on mathematical balance, helping to limit but never fully erase the potential for costly mistakes. On the other hand, exploitative play takes advantage of opponents' weaknesses by deviating from the balanced approach.

Tip: Use GTO as the foundation but always stay alert for weaknesses in the opponents' play. Skilled players can often shift between these approaches depending on the table dynamics.

3. Positional awareness

Position is one of the most important elements in poker, and its value can really increase the longer one plays the game, and the further skills are honed. Playing hands in late position gives more information about the opponents' actions, allowing for better decision-making. In early position, a player may have to play tighter due to the lack of extra information compared to later positions.

Tip: Adopting this approach has been found by some players to be effective against aggressive opponents.

4. Reviewing how to bluff

Bluffing doesn’t always mean making bullish moves. Instead, it can be about telling a consistent story that appears to fit the action on the board. Advanced players often understand the need to carefully balance bluffs with value bets, meaning opponents can sometimes, not always, find it harder to spot when they might be bluffing.

Tip: When bluffing, a player should ensure their actions make sense based on the board and the player’s perceived range. Avoid random or reckless bluffs, as seasoned opponents may more easily understand the player’s true intentions.

6. Attempting to better understand how opponents might be thinking

When up against experienced opponents, it can sometimes prove beneficial to try and get a deeper understanding of how they think about the game. This concept, known as "levels of thinking," involves attempting to understand not only what hand an opponent might have but how they perceive the less experienced player and the decisions they expect such player to make.

Tip: Evaluate the level of thinking on which an opponent is operating. Are they focused on their own hand, or are they thinking about what hand the other player may have? This type of evaluation of an opponent can allow a player to adjust their strategy accordingly.

7. Mental game and focus

While technical skill plays a role, being mentally strong can sometimes be just as important in poker. Long hours, bad beats, and tough decisions, for example, have the potential to wear down even the most experienced players. Some advanced players understand the importance of emotional control and staying focused, even when things aren’t going their way.

Tip: There are several techniques that can be beneficial to players looking to enhance their mental resilience, such as taking short breaks, practicing mindfulness, or reviewing hands after play.

8. Understanding table image

Table image is the perception opponents have of the play style of other players. For example, if a player has been playing tight for several hands, that player may have the potential to suddenly bluff because tablemates might expect that the player has a strong hand. Conversely, if a player has been playing loose, that player could deploy a strong hand in the hope that no one believes it.

Tip: A player should be aware of their table image and adjust their style periodically.

Advanced poker strategies: Adding new components to a player’s game

By incorporating these advanced techniques into gameplay, a player can introduce new strategies into how they play poker.

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