Welcome Advanced Poker Training! Building a Strategy

I've just partnered up with the pro team at Advanced Poker Training in developing new content. My first objective is designing new combat training scenarios in which players can develop strategies in the challenging situations they face in the game. In support of that objective, I thought I would write this blog and help those who struggle with how to build a good strategy. 

I've also placed a hyperlink here on my social page if you decide you'd like to try your hand at some of these combat scenarios. You can use the trial version for free to test it out! Now, onto the process of building a strategy. 

A good poker strategy accomplishes a known objective. i.g. To play profitably from the blinds, to improve short-handed play, to increase win rate, etc. So, a strategy then can be defined as a plan of action to accomplish a known objective or handle a particular situation.

The process of my strategy building technique begins with clearly stating my objective of what I'm trying to accomplish in the game situation. I then write down four or five specific action steps (behaviors) that I believe will help me reach my objective. My plan of action. I then move into the effort of testing that strategy for effectiveness. 

Here's an example;

Objective:  To improve my button play by leveraging my advantage.

Strategy:

Pre-Flop:

• When folded to, RAISE with top 75% of hands.
• When facing limpers, RAISE with top 25% of hands. 
• When facing a mid-position raiser, 3Bet with top 1-5% + 10-15% of hands, Flat with 5-10% of hands and fold everything else.

Post-Flop:

• When in a heads up and checked to by the pre-flop raiser, BET all boards that don't contain an Ace or King, regardless of the strength of my hand.

• In multi-way pots, when bet into by the last player before me, RAISE with any pair and draws of 6 outs or more.

There are many game situations in which one could develop sound strategies and tactics. For example;

Defending from the small blind

Playing against a calling station

Playing Ace-Rag

Playing against the passive-aggressive opponent

Playing out of position w 2nd pair on an Ace high board with an SPR of 2.

A strategy is as effective as it accomplishes your objective. Given conscious effort and a proper trial run, evaluate your results to determine if you've met your objective or the strategy needs adapting. 

This is where having a good software program to build, test and evaluate your strategy is essential. It sure beats a trial and error method in real game time situations because it will save you a lot of money and time. So enjoy building your technique and strategies in developing a winning poker game on Advanced Poker Training!

Kenna