Poker Theory is Basically About Misplays

David Sklansky said in 1987 that winning or losing at poker is really like waking up in bed: it depends which side one woke up in. Wake up at the wrong side, the opponents win. Wake up at the right side, one wins. The same poker theory goes for opponents in poker---in fact for all poker players.

Poker theory says, if one could only see the cards of the opponents, strategies could easily come into play. Poker strategies would be specifically employed to beat certain hands of the other players. If an opponent holds a higher hand, the poker theory says one could know how much to draw exactly or how much bluffing needs to be done. If one could see how poor other's poker hands are, then one could see how much to bet and how long to persevere in betting. If one could see other players' cards.

Now, if one's poker hand is played in the way as one would if one were to see the opponents' cards, then winning would be certain, says the poker theory. In lieu of actually seeing the opponents' cards is anything that comes closest to accurate estimating. This means that, instead of actually seeing other's cards, what is done in poker is watch the opponents' reactions, facial expressions, pretensions and betting manners. If one is able to "see" through an opponent through these signs, then one could play one's hands as though one could actually see the opponent's cards.

However, the poker theory says, if one plays his cards differently from how one would play them if one could see the opponent's cards, then losing in poker is certain. The same goes for the opponents. If they play their cards the way they would if they could see other's cards, then they would certainly win. However, if they play differently from the way they would if they could see others' cards, they would surely lose.

Hence, perfect card information on the present poker game is what poker theory is all about. A poker player aiming for poker winnings must have as accurate an information as possible on the cards of other players---anything that has the semblance of actually seeing the opponent's cards. This means being as keenly observant of other players' actuations and reactions as possible. On this kind of card information relies whether a poker player has misplays or not.

Poker theory may seem pretty obvious, but if pondered, it is the fundamental key to poker winnings.