Online poker players have the ability to take extensive notes on their opposition while sitting at the poker tables. While this ability exists at virtually all online poker rooms, this valuable tool tends to be quite underutilized. By documenting even the most minor observations, you can create for yourself a library of invaluable information that may come in handy when you least expect it.
How to make player notes in online poker
In most online poker rooms, you simply download poker stars and then click on the player’s name or avatar, which pops through to the “notepad.” It is here that you can make notes and observations about your opposition’s play. These notes will remain on your computer, so if you make a note today on a player, and do not sit with them for a year – the note you made today will remain. Additionally, a little reminder such as an “N” or a marker of some sort will be associated with that player, which serves as a reminder or indicator that you have notes on the player.
What to document when writing player notes in online poker
When writing player notes, the first thing I like to do is to make a quick note of the date and game type. For example, I would note today’s date, and if I were playing 5-10 no limit, I would write 5-10NL. If it were a tournament, I would note the tournament buy-in and the level I am making the observations. The level is important to note because players tend to shift gears based on where they are in the tournament. Additionally, in tournaments, I make note of their stack size, relative to the blinds (the M of the player).
When I first sit down and observe at the PokerStar table, regardless of game, I try to make a one or two word overall observation on each player. I might use words such as loose, tight, or optimistic. I may even make notes such as “total moron,” or “tough player.”
Additionally, if a player makes a big fold, or shows a bluff or does anything that stands out, I detail it. For example, if I see a player make a big raise preflop, fire out a continuation bet, and then fold to a raise on the turn, I make a note of that – using details such as the board, his position, etc. If a player calls an all-in or shoves all-in, I will note the hand and the situation. In addition, after every showdown, I open up the hand history and note everyone who has shown down a hand, as well as how they played the hand. This is important for predicting hand ranges, as well as identifying playing styles.
Note taking is a powerful tool in online poker that everyone should be taking advantage of. When used correctly, player notes will give you a huge edge in online poker.
180 person sit and go poker tournaments are a great, yet quick way to play in a poker tournament with a decent sized field to compete for a nice prize pool. While not nearly as big as many of the multi-table tournaments, the 180-person sit and go gives you the feel of a big tournament, while maintaining the speed and convenience of a sit and go tournament.
Early 180 player SNG Tournament Strategy
During the early stages of a 180-player sit and go, you will look to extract max value after the flop. During the opening rounds, the blinds are small and the antes have not yet started. It is most appropriate to limp/call preflop, as the blinds are not yet worth stealing. Look to exploit the willingness of your opposition to overplay their top pair hands. Be ready to turn the aggression on after the flop.
Strategy for the Middle Stages of the 180 player SNG
As the PokerStar blinds increase and antes begin, most players tighten up preflop. This is the prime opportunity for you to move some of your aggression to before the flop. Begin to focus on stealing pots, raising to take them down preflop. This adjustment in aggression will help you run over the weaker table, as you are going opposite the normal trend. A contrarian approach at the poker table is typically an effective strategy, and by being relentless preflop, you should be successful in amassing a sizable chip stack, which can carry you to and through the final table.
Final Table Strategy for the 180-man Sit n Go
The final table of 180-player sit n go tournament typically shows a substantial increase from 9th place money to 1st place. Keeping this in mind, you want to finish deeply into the final table. Be aware of extreme short stacks, being careful not to make any marginal plays until they are on the rail. Once at the final table, many players will open up the offense a bit, and play aggressively. This is a great time to get into the reraise or fold mentality. Again, be aware of the short stacks, and note that your opposition will be almost aware of them as you are. When appropriate, put your opposition to the test. Let them decide if they want to race, knowing that the player in seat 8 will be all-in on the blinds next hand. Players will tend to back down to the challenge knowing they can advance one level of pay.
By playing smartly in 180-man sit-n-go tourneys, you will have the opportunity to go deep and cash in these larger field sit and go tournaments.
There are many online poker sites that offer software that can help you play poker better. The moment you will search the internet for an online poker software you can find plenty of options that you can download to your computer. Some of the online poker software are free, while for some you will have to pay a monthly fee or a certain amount of money the moment you buy them. In this article you will find a couple of things that you must take into consideration before you actually buy an online poker software.
One of the first things that you must take into consideration the moment you decide to buy a poker software is to check if that software is compatible with your computer. You can do that by looking at the system requirements on the poker software website.
Usually most of them have fixed system requirements of both software and hardware. In case you will notice that your system is not compatible with many of them you should think about upgrading your computer.
Another important thing about poker software is the Terms and Conditions. Before you will actually download and buy such a software you must know exactly what will be the entire cost of it.
Some of them are going to charge a very small fee at the beginning and after that you will have to pay a monthly recurring bill, which could significantly increase your online poker expenditure. Most of them can be very profitable for you since they are going to help you win more money with your online poker play.
The moment you will install an online poker software you must make sure that the online poker room where you plan to use it is going to allow you to use it. Some large online poker rooms have stopped allowing its members to use online poker software. This is why we suggest that you first contact the online poker room and ask for a written permission via e-mail. In case that software is not permitted this might end up in receiving a ban from that online poker room.
Overall the mac poker software can really improve your play. These softwares are made so that no matter what your poker skill level is, you will be able to improve your play. Most of them are going to give you a lot of useful information about the game that you are playing. In case you are a new online poker player, by using a poker software you will get the chance to improve your skill and learn how to build an online poker strategy. And in case you are an experienced player, an online poker software can also be valuable since a helping hand to do all the math at the table is always useful.