Poker Tips: Johns Hopkins Poker Class

13 Jun 2020 ⏱️ 6 min

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Few months back I took Johns Hopkins Poker Course to learn some core concepts and build some skills to get better at winning games. Poker is incredibly addictive and a smart game. It is a mixed bag of calculations, luck and human psychology. The course focuses on core concepts in Texas Hold`em, with an emphasis on cash games. Sharing some of my notes from this class, I hope this helps you win some of those large pots :)

Introduction

Figure out what other people are.
- Whale - Lots of money
- Shark - Be cautious of these
- Fish - Keep calling
- Donkey - Well idiots
Find an edge. If players are good, just walk away. Find donkeys or whale or both!
Check what’s best possible hand? 2nd best?
Double belly buster ( disguised) . Eg. 6-7 and cards on board are 3, 5 , 9 (both 4 and 8 will give your straight)
Idiot end (lower end of straight)
You can’t have straight without 5 or 10.
You are going to get a pair 1/17 times.
Its rare you get beaten when you have full house unless there is 3 of kind on board. If a pair on board then its very strong.
In chess, best player wins almost always. In poker, best player win more often.
Poker is about skill and getting your edges.
Cash games - 1:1 mapping
Flop is a major hand
- how many players remain
- who raised?
- pot size and remaining stacks
- How is connection between pre-flop and flop. Keep the pre flop action in mind
- If board is dry, you can check as well
- Opponent type

Fundamentals

Expected Value: win_win % - lose_lose%**
- if < 0 then run from table.
- else enjoy
Pot odd - total in pot/ bet
Whenever odds against hitting > pot odd -> don’t call else call
Find the right amount to overturn the ratio in previous point.
if you have more than 14 outs, its definetely a good bet.
Implied odds (Current + Future bets)
Play with deep stacks.
10% - 15% times don’t play poker by rules ( like the principles, calculations - basically trick opponents, bluff them)
It’s okay to fold. Don’t worry about BB! You pay only 2/orbit

Strategies when entering a pot

Person who makes first bet - opens a pot. When opening come up with around 3 BB raise. (But, look for what other are doing on table). In tournaments, reduce raise at end. Mix it, don’t always do 3x. Don’t get predictable.
Limping is not a good strategy
When betting after flop - bid half the pot.
When raising - 3x bet is good.
Big pair
- try to raise and eliminate weak cards.
Medium pairs
- Opening position
  - Open with 3x raise
  - 50% time call or fold.
  - If 4x bet then fold
- Medium
  - 80% time raise
- Late
  - Always call 1 raise
- When multiple player in hand, then see if you can make a set (risk but high earnings possible)
- If Re-raised -> fold
- JJ is a bad hand to have rather unlucky (unless you get jack in flop)
Small pairs
- Don’t play in shallow stacks
- Play 1 raise when with weak players.
- You might miss set/quads but its ok. You played poker right way. (Again judgement based on opponents)
Big Slick - AK
- Short stack - nice hand, Deep stack - drawing hand.
- Dominates other hands. If both miss, dominating one wins.
- Don’t scare other people with 3x-4x raise
- Against a pair, < 50% wins
- Danger - AA, KK
- Avoid big pots always with AK (If you are short stacked, go all-in)
Little Slick - AQ
- Serious action -> fold
- generally a good hand - normally play it.
- AK >> AQ
A2 - AJ
- Weak ace. AK AQ are largely dominating
- Fold pre flop most times. (>90%)
- Suited ace are still good to bet.
- At low stakes table you can play this often.
Trouble hands
- KQ, QJ, KJ, KT, QT
- dominated by AK -> AT
- Avoid raises with such hands
- Early pos - KQ can be played
- If someone 3x bet - just fold
Suited Connectors
- 8-9 , 5-6 same set
- Good in deep stash
- Early pos - fold most times, Middle - raise often, Late - raise
- One raiser, lot of callers.

Starting hand selection

Opening type

Limp
Raise
3,4 bet

Selection criteria

Position
Stack size
Opened/ unopen pot
Strength of cards - premium, solid
Opponents - Aggresive, passive
What is your table image

Pro tip: Nobody cares what you folded

Bet Types

Value Bet
Semi-bluff
Bluff
Probe bet
- When you don’t know where you stand
- Goal is to gain information
Continuation bet
- if you bet pre-flop, no matter what the flop is , put a C-bet. (70% times)
- if multiple oppponents then avoid this.
Donk Bet
- out of position , opponent raised pre flop and raised, you bet.
- If you have a strong hand, do a check
- Weak hand - exit
Blind bet
Check
- small value hand, you have some chances
- pot is small
- Trapping - you got full house, but you check to lure more plays. Do this, when you are super strong
Check - Raise
- First check with intention that someone will raise
- Then you raise
- Do keep in mind the strength of cards you have