Texas Holdem Player Observations

“Why?” That is a question at the poker table that you must constantly ask when making Texas Holdem player observations. “Why?” is a question that a good poker player will ask several times during a hand, especially in Texas Holdem where making the proper decision is paramount to making money.

When a Texas Holdem poker player is analyzing the acts of his opponents at the online poker table or even at local cardrooms he should merge the answers to the questions he asks with the knowledge that he already has. If you ever watch the best players you can constantly see them asking questions as the hand progresses. Some of the best players will even take you through their thought process.

Texas Holdem player observations can be applied to someone like Daniel Negreanu. If you ever watched him play poker you will see his mind working as he ask questions throughout the hand. It is those questions every poker player must answer if they want to understand the game of poker better and get a read on why their opponent made the bet they made.

For example, if a Texas Holdem poker player at the online poker table has demonstrated himself to be a maniac or regular bluffer he would rate a far different analysis than would be the case for a tight and conservative Texas Holdem poker player. You would ask yourself different questions based upon a player’s style.

Let’s look at a specific example from online poker play. If on the flop you have made top pair and have a great “kicker”, (tie breaker card), to go along with it, let’s say the typical ace-king, you have good reason to stick with it even if you get raised because usually your hand will be in the lead. The other player may have an under pair or more likely is on a draw. If another poker player raises on the flop it could be to protect a small pair or it could be a semi-bluff with a drawing hand. It is rare that a player will lead out on the flop if he already has a set. The question of why a person bets is one in which you ask yourself throughout the hand. If the flop came all in one suit or connected he may have a flush or straight draw. In this case you would answer your question of “why” by calling the raise since you still believe your top pair to be in the lead.

If you can ask why after every card is put down your chances of winning the hand will be better. Ask why after the flop, after the turn and after the river. Reconstruct the hand by asking why a person bet the way they did. This is how the best poker players in the world play poker. Asking why is a key step to becoming a better poker player.