SPECIAL POKER PLAYS AND MOVES

Although you may be restricted to the actions of only being able to bet, raise, call, check and fold when the action gets to you in a poker game, you can occasionally use combinations of these actions to create very effective plays at the table. So here is a quick short-list of some of the most effective special moves and plays to help you get the edge over your opponents in your next game.

1] The Check-Raise

How To Do It: The check-raise is where you make a check in an early position, with the intention of raising when your opponent bets. So if you check and then your next opponent makes a bet of $4, you could check-raise by making a $15 raise after them.

Why It's Effective: This particular move is very deceptive, as one moment you are showing weakness by checking and the next you are showing a lot of strength by re-raising, all in the space of one betting round. The check raise will often force a lot of players to fold unless they have a strong hand, and so it is best used as a bluff if you think your opponent is weak, or if you want to shut down the action on the hand and take the pot. It is important to be sure that your opponent will fold however, as you will often be investing a large amount of money in the pot by making this play.

2] The Continuation Bet

How To Do It: If you have a good hand before the flop and make a raise, you can make a continuation bet by betting out on the flop, regardless of whether or not your hand improved.

Why It's Effective: This play is effective because it puts pressure on your opponents early in the hand, and gives you a great opportunity to take down the pot on the flop even if you haven't improved. At this stage you are likely to still have a decent hand (or at least a hand with potential), and if you opponent has not improved to top pair or better, a continuation bet will more than likely push them off the hand. This is a very popular play, and works best when you are heads up in a pot and acting after your opponent.

3] The Float Play

How To Do It: If you feel that your opponent is continuation betting or betting with a weak hand on the flop, you can make the call with a weak hand also and win the pot on the next betting round when your opponent shows weakness.

Why It's Effective: The float play is quite like a counter of the continuation bet, as it offers you the opportunity to pounce on the weakness of your opponent on the turn, as they are likely to bet strong as a continuation bet on the flop, but slow down on the turn with a marginal hand if they get called. This play works best when you are heads up and acting after your opponent, as it is very useful to spot your opponent's weakness before making your stand on the turn.

4] The Free Card

How To Do It: When you hit a monster hand on the flop, it's likely that your opponents will not have a hand worth playing with. Therefore you can check instead of betting, and offer them a free card to help them make a slightly better hand, and extract money from them on future rounds.

Why It's Effective: If you have hit you monster hand, there is a good chance that your opponents will fold because you essentially have the deck 'crippled', and they will fold to any action. However, if you check and allow your opponents to make a slightly better hand that they would feel more comfortable to bet and call raises with, you stand to make more money than if you initially bet out and forced them to fold on the flop. However, it is important that you never offer a free card to an opponent that could potentially make a better hand than you, and only offer a free card when your opponent can improve, but not enough to beat you.

5] The Semi Bluff

How To Do It: If you have a strong drawing hand like a flush or straight draw, you can semi bluff by betting out instead of just checking and calling in an attempt to make your hand that way.

Why It's Effective: The beauty of the semi bluff is that is disguises your hand, whilst not forcing you to go out of your way and putting yourself in a dangerous situation. If there is a chance that you will have to call a bet anyway, then it may well be the more profitable action to bet out first, rather than wait to call a bet. Not many players expect their opponents to bet out without a made hand, so you stand to win money both by deception on future rounds, and from the occasions where your opponent folds their hand outright.

Summary

These are the main special moves and plays that you can incorporate into your game to help you outplay your opponents and make more money. It may take a while before you are able to use these moves effectively, as it requires a sophisticated knowledge of your opponents and the dynamics of the table to make them successful.

It is important to remember that these plays should only be used in the right situation, and not just because you feel like using them. You should only use a special move when you feel it is the most profitable play to make, otherwise you will simply be losing more money by trying to be fancy when it isn't necessary. Knowledge of when it is best to use each play comes with practice and experience, so don't try and force yourself to make these plays if you are not completely comfortable with them.

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