European Player's Challenge

A Pattern, a Play, and a Poker

Any game needs strategies. The most successful football managers succeed by a tactical combination of plays and psychology. Nothing can be truer for poker. In the game, a player has more chances of winning by wit than by the cards. It is essentially a mind game. Most strategies in poker are supported by mathematics and rely heavily on the pattern on how your opponent's play. Every good enough poker player knows this and would probably try to read to see if you have a "tell".

But you can turn this around and transform your "tell" as a ploy for another deception. And the most profitable ploy is to establish a pattern that lets your opponent think you're a certain type of player, which can be dealt with by a certain type of strategy. For you to be able to pull this off, you have to be intentionally repetitive.

Like this one.

The auto-fold play is best used when you're under the gun. Among the group, you're the first one to act after the cards have been dealt. If you're doing this unintentionally, then that's a sign of weakness and it's a major tell. Doing this intentionally is a method of deception.

You fold 90% of the time. And this might sound preposterous, but fold before your second card is dealt, unless you have a royal card. Once you don't fold after the second card, your opponents will assume you have strong cards.

And then once you know everyone at the table have bitten your folding pattern, it's time for you to turn the tables. So the next time a card is dealt under the gun - whatever you get - act relieved and call.

Most of your opponents will think you have an ace or a king - even before the 2nd card is dealt. So when an ace or a king does flips up during the game, they would think you now have a pair. Now, you should bet as if you do have a pair and play the part of your opponents' assumptions. Their pressure cranks up and at this point, no one would be brave enough to take you on.

If they do call your bet that means their hand must be extremely be good. At least you know when you'll have to fold. Either way, the auto-fold play serves as a very effective ploy to deceive. There are many more patterns like this one, but just remember: mind games are vital.