I'm a fairly new online no limit Texas Holdem player, and while having a
decent understanding of the game and reasonably good instincts, I still tend
to get wrapped up in the moment of the hand, and don't always think about
everything that I should be thinking about. So, I've made a list of
questions that I want to be asking myself at all phases during a hand. It
also helps to slow down my pace, and be a little less reactive. While a lot
of this seems pretty obvious, I still find myself forgetting key elements,
especially in the excitement of a good hand (e.g. I tend to play the hand
based only on my good cards, as opposed to everything that's happening
around me). Also, when you play online it's very easy to click a button
without really thinking about why you're doing what you're doing.
Preflop - Watch and Characterize Other Players
What is my POSITION and what has happened before me? Consider the limpers
and the raisers.
What is the playing style of the people entering this hand? Consider what I know
about these players and what limping or raising by these players could mean.
Based on my POSITION and previous activity, are these good cards to play?
-Why shouldn't I fold?
-What do I hope to do with these cards? Hit a big pair, a set, complete my
draw?
-Should I call?
-Am I on a draw?
-Am I slow playing (be careful!)?
-What message does a call send?
-Should I raise?
-Am I raising to win the hand before the flop?
-To get more money in the pot?
-To chase out drawing hands?
-What message does a raise send?
-Will I call a raise or reraise with these cards?
-Where did the raise come from? Limper, later player or blind?
-A raise from the blind?
-What do I think they would raise/reraise with (based on the amount
and their play to this point)?
-What kind of player are they? Rock? Maniac? Chaser?
-How much did they raise/reraise?
SLOWDOWN!
Postflop - Watch and Characterize Other Players
Did the flop help me?
-How did the flop mesh with my hand?
-How strong is my hand relative to the flop?
-Am I still on a draw?
-How many outs do I have?
-If I flopped a set, straight, or flush, how vulnerable am I to a better
hand?
-Did I miss the flop?
-How might the flop have helped an opponent?
-Based on the flop, what does my opponent think that I have?
What is my POSITION and what has happened before me?
-Checkers?
-Limpers?
-Raisers?
If checked or small bet with no straight/flush yet possible, what could
someone be playing/slowplaying? Set? Two pair? Big pair? AA or KK? Second
best or bottom pair?
-What did these players do preflop?
If large bet or raised with no straight/flush yet possible, what could
someone have?
-What did these players do preflop?
What is my response to a check, bet or raise?
-Why shouldn't I fold?
-What is the apparent relative strength of my hand?
-What did these players do preflop?
-How much was bet/raised?
-Should I check?
-For deception?
-To gather information?
-On a draw?
-Check raise?
-Because I've got nothing and want a free card?
-Should I call?
-If on a draw, what are my pot odds?
-Am I slowplaying?
-What message does a call send?
-Am I chasing (not good odds for my draw)? if so, stop it, dumbass!
-Should I raise?
-Am I raising to win the hand here?
-To get more money in the pot?
-To chase out drawing hands?
-For a potential free card on the turn?
-Do I have so many outs that I'm sure to make a strong hand?
-What message does a raise send?
-Will I call a raise or reraise with these cards?
-Where did the raise come from? Limper, later player or blind?
-What do I think they would raise/reraise with (based on the amount
and their play to this point)?
SLOWDOWN!
Turn/River
Watch and characterize other players.
***all of the above regarding POSITION, betting and player actions apply***
How are my opponents responding to the turn/river cards?
If still on a draw, did I hit it?
-Do I have the right pot odds to continue drawing?
-Am I drawing dead based on the board?
Are they betting or raising?
-For the turn/river card to have helped them, what must they have?
-Is this plausible based on what you've seen them play (e.g. Ace
any card)?
What opponent draws could the turn/river cards have completed?
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