Free Online Poker Lesson On Why You Need To Learn How To Spot Suspicious Play

From free poker games to the highest stakes games you will come across experienced cunning poker players who seamlessly switch and vary their play style all through the tourney. They also know when other players behave differently from what is generally expected of them. Not only they can make themselves unpredictable, they can detect the quality of the unpredictability of others and use this suspicious activity detection ability to avoid costly traps.

During this free poker article we'll go through a good example of this sort of play where the players "suspicion itch" avoided an expensive experience at the hands of another cunning player.

BLINDS 3k/6k

PREFLOP:

A has As-Jd and raises to 16k

This is a standard raise from early position. But notice B's audacious, but well-timed reraise:

B has Ac-7s and reraises to 45k

B's plan may be to take any joiners to the Flop and then attempt a large continuation bet (also known as C-bet) if other players check on the Flop. The reraise is also a deterrent for other players to come in, so that the C-bet will be more effective. In this example though the reraise was not enough for C:

C has 10d-10c from BB and calls 39k (Pot 117k)

At thus stage A might feel that B had something like A-K. Also, B has position over A, so A folds.

FLOP: 10s-4c-Qh

C bets 30k

C, who has a Set, now bets very small! This is kind of odd as Sets should be played strong here since there is a high probability of a Straight draw on the Table (a KJ or AK will be good enough to justify calling a 30k bet on a 117k pot). C is probably hoping that B will figure this to be a C-bet, a bluff, and, considering B was aggressive preflop he hopes B will keep on with the aggressive stance by raising. This will produce a good spot for C to move all-in at.

Now if B believed that C did a continuation bet, then he should respond by raising. However, at a 117,000 pot, how large should a continuation bet be? Half the pot? Equal to the size of the pot? Is a small bet a C-bet? (Looks suspicious).

B is now able to think, rightly, that C had a strong hand when he called B's preflop reraise (another suspicion), and then C strengthened his hand during the flop, and so is value- betting (third suspicion!).

B cannot raise this (if he did C will push all-in); also, B cannot call this for he has Ace-rag that is nothing, and so B folds. Good use of a suspicious activity detector ability!

And thus there ends the lesson, maybe not so much a how to play poker for beginners one as it is a bit deep but if you're more experienced I am hoping this resonates with you. To get more practice and learn better how to spot suspicious actions but without risking money it is a good plan to play free poker tournaments at quality free online poker sites sites before you risk cash on your hunches.