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KO or as it is known, the Knockout method is a type of card counting strategy which had first been described in the well known book Knock Out Blackjack. In this system, every card is assigned a value which has to be remembered by the player. However, the only difference between KO and other card counting methods is that 7 is considered to be a low value card and therefore the value given to the 7 is different than in the other methods. Also, the KO card counting method is an unbalanced strategy.

The Card Values

Given below is the values assigned to the cards:

· Count +1- 2,3,4,5,6,7

· Count 0- 8,9

· Count -1- 10, J, Q, K, A

Unbalanced Strategy

The KO card counting method is an unbalanced blackjack strategy. What this means is that if the player begins counting at 0 and counts the entire deck with this strategy, the player would not end up at 0 at the end of the deck. Since 7 is given the value of +1, at the end of the deck the player would have a count of +4. Players who want the best results using the KO strategy would also have to keep a running count through the game.

The player would have to begin at 0 and then subtract or add 1 to the count according to the dealt cards on the table. When a new hand is dealt, the count has to be continued from the last hand and would not have to be refreshed until a new shoe is used. When the count is on the heavy on the lower or the higher side it shows that the cards in the deck too are heavy on that side.

Beginning the Count

In order to begin the KO count there is a formula which has to be used known as the initial running count. This formula is used to determine where the count should start from. When only one deck is used at the game, the count must begin at 0. However, for other situations the player would have to refer to the formula in order to start the count at the right stage.

Like with all other card counting methods, it would be necessary to practice the strategy at home for long before using it at games. The best way to practice is to count the entire deck and to cross check at the end of it. The count at the end of the deck should be +4. Also, the player would have to practice to keep a running count throughout the deck without pausing, without counting out loud, giving signals or any facial expressions and without making any mistakes at all. Once you are able to do this perfectly, it would be safe to use the KO card count at casinos without a problem. Several professional blackjack internet card counters use the KO count since it is easy to follow and is also effective.

Small suited connectors can be a goldmine in NL Texas Holdem, given the right flop and the right opposition. Small suited connectors are best played in position during cheap flops, and on passive tables. Additionally, deeper stack players at PokerStar should be more inclined to play smaller suited connectors when other deep stack players who tend to justify loose calls are present and involved in the hand. Given the correct set of circumstances, small suited connectors can be played profitably.

How to Play Small Suited Connectors

When playing small suited connectors, you want first to ensure you have a deep stack. Additionally, you want other players holding chips that they will gladly toss your way in the event you hit a monster. You should look to see cheap flops with small connecting hands, as these hands fair better when the pot starts off small, and against many opponents.

Another very important aspect to playing suited connectors is having the wisdom to fold them. If you are going to play small suited connectors, you must release when they fail to hit, which is going to be most of the time. If you sort of hit the flop and pair one of your small cards, let it go if someone bets at you! Sometimes you will draw and hit, but most of the time it is just going to be a slow leak in your game. Have the discipline to lose them.

When you do hit and make a hand, play the hand in a manner that disguises the strength of the hand. This will allow you truly to catch your opposition off guard.

While small suited connectors are not for the weak at heart, when these small connecting cards are played properly – suited connectors can be most profitable against the right opposition.

While there are many advantages to playing poker online, one of the disadvantages of online poker is that the absence of physical tells. Thus, it is sometimes difficult to read your opposition. There are, however, some basic clues that you can use for online play. Tells are nothing more than patterns that are somewhat obvious to those paying attention and knowing what to look for. Here are some common online poker tells.

Auto Raising

Action folds to the button, who raises 4 times the big blind. In fact, when looking at your player notes, you notice that every time he is in late position and everyone folded to him, he has raised four times the blinds. Typically, this behavior suggests a steal. When encountering this player under these circumstances, it is wise to widen your reraise range of hands and play back at him. Restealing against the auto-raiser can prove to be profitable. .

The Tilting Player

A tilting player on Poker Stars has let his emotions get to him. Usually a player on tilt just has his “superior hand” cracked by some lucky donkey at the table who “should have known the hero had pocket aces. ” When this player is on tilt, he typically rants and raves, whines and complains. During this outcry of emotions, this players hand range opens up a bit. Additionally this player is prone to overplaying his seemingly superior holdings.

Mr. Automatic

Mr. Automatic knows what he is doing before action gets to him. Pay close attention, you will notice the immediate check. When encountering this player in a heads up or multi-way situation, it is wise to commit to putting out at least a minimal bet. You never know, the automatic button he has chosen might just be the check/fold button. Use this to your advantage.

By understanding some of the basic online poker patterns of behavior, you can use this knowledge to offset the absence of physical tells and turn your online poker experience into a profitable one.

Every poker situation is different. Sometimes you have to make aggressive moves early, sometimes you can sit back on your heels for a while and wait out the gunfight. And a moderately small 100-200 tournament is no different. What’s the smartest strategy for getting through to the final table on an online poker site like Full Tilt Poker or PokerStars?

I would start small here. It’s here at the beginning only that the blinds will be small enough to wade through a few hands and get a feel for things. Let other impatient players fall off one at a time on their flush draws and top two-pair pipe dreams. After the first couple rounds, they’ll have weeded themselves out and the field will be down to around 40 or so.

If you are going to make a play, try trapping one of these players that’s been betting like crazy trying to make a name for himself. That’s the best and smartest way to double up before the blinds take too much of a chunk out of your stack.

In later rounds, you have to make a move, there’s no question. The blinds get so high at the final table, you’re either raising or you’re getting your legs chopped out from under you.

Also, be aware of who you’re playing against in a tournament. Since you can’t buy your way back in, if you’re done, you’re done. That said, just getting to the money is a win in and of itself for many players. So you’ll run into the “money” players and the “victory” players. Someone who’s playing just to get to the money will take it easy after he’s gotten ahead by a certain amount. Someone in it to win it is going to take more risks, have a better overall poker strategy, and move all-in at least a few times to build a huge chip lead. So if you’ve seen someone go all-in before, even if it wasn’t against you, and he does it again, you can start to believe he’s trying to win, and that should shape your response to his bet accordingly.

Also, don’t forget it’s the same as any other tournament, in that you have to use your advantages or you’re a sucker. If you get to the final table and have a sizable chip lead, don’t wait for the blinds to bleed everyone else. Play aggressive and force them to a decision for the rest or a good part of their chips. Unless they’re sitting on strong hidden cards, they’re less likely to limp in and risk being out of the tournament.