Poker Strategy
FTR will turn you into a winning poker player!

Welcome to FTR’s Poker Strategy section! We currently have 508 free Poker Strategy articles in our ever growing archive.
These strategy articles contain as much information as you would find in multiple poker books – for free! Make sure you take advantage of this free poker strategy and poker training, on all of the topics shown below. Whether you’re a beginner, seasoned professional, cash game grinder, or tournament specialist, there is something to help take your game to the next level.
FTR has been featured by many poker websites and magazines over the years. In Bluff Magazine, Lee Jones mentioned that FlopTurnRiver.com has absolute golden information you can use to improve your game. Poker pro Chris “Wallace” Fox also recommended FlopTurnRiver.com as a free poker training site in Poker Pro Magazine. We also have many reader testimonials from our members saying FTR made them a winning poker player.
To discuss any of the poker strategy articles you find on our site, make sure to sign up for a free account in our poker forum. Let us help you become a winning player!
Categories in Poker Strategy
Beginner Poker
112 Articles
Basic strategy concepts to teach new players how to play poker.
Cash Games
58 Articles
When the value of your chips actually means something.
Heads Up
6 Articles
Learn how to battle and beat your opponents, mano y mano.
Limit Hold'em
38 Articles
Strategy articles that help you bet, raise, 3-bet, and cap your bets.
Live Poker
38 Articles
Learn how to transition from online play to your local casino.
MTT
35 Articles
We teach you how to make the final table and lock up a big score.
No Limit Hold'em
182 Articles
What are the two most powerful words in poker? I’m all-in.
Omaha
14 Articles
When two cards just aren’t enough.
Open Face Chinese
4 Articles
Learn how to get those Queens up top for Fantasy Land.
Poker Dictionary
1,236 Articles
Learn the lingo and terms used by poker players.
Poker Psychology
67 Articles
The power of the mind in poker: There is no spade.
Poker Rules
14 Articles
The rules of the road. Learn how to play various forms of poker.
Poker Tools
37 Articles
Improve your game by learning how to use the tools of the trade.
Poker Videos
98 Articles
Watch and learn from the best in the world.
SNG
41 Articles
For the players who only have two decisions, shove or fold.
Play Online Poker
$88: No Deposit Required
All new players can claim up to $88 absolutely free.
Mobile Poker
Play from any device – PC, Mac, Mobile, or Tablet.
$600 Exclusive Deposit Bonus
FTR players can claim up to $600 on their first deposit.
Easy Deposits, Fast Cashouts
Many payment methods available for instant deposits.
Claim Your $600 New Player Bonus at 888
Get $88 free, no deposit required, just to try poker at 888! When you’re ready to make your first deposit, FTR members will receive up to $600 free. Don’t hesitate, sign up today!
Featured Poker Strategy Articles
How, Why and When to Double Barrel in No-Limit Hold’em
In this week’s column, we look at tons of different ideas that govern how, when and why to double barrel on the turn in no-limit hold’em games.
Spenda’s 5 Biggest Leaks of a Losing NL Player – Leak 1
If you’re a losing No Limit Hold’em player, then you probably have big leaks in your game. Always remember to consider the value of position at all times. Another thing that losing players have a problem with is controlling the size of the pot.
Bankroll Management 101
Bankroll Management Calculator The above tool will help determine which buy-in level you should be playing at, based on the size of your current bankroll. It will give you 3...
Tactics vs. Strategy (Part 1): The Study of Tactics in Poker
The study of tactical play in poker is about figuring out which plays are likely to work well against certain player types and against the field as a whole.
ISF Theorem
Amazingly, when I was high yesterday from some horrible weed, I came to a breakthrough thought in my poker game. I called sauce up and explained to him what I just realized and he had no idea why it was so amazing. It took me awhile, but then I realized that the...
Beating 6 Max No Limit Holdem by Sauce123
Six-max poker tables offer excitement but require a different style of play than full-ring games. You will want to remain reasonable with your opening ranges, but three-bet liberally. You should c-bet a lot, but be more cautious on future streets.
Most Recent Articles in Poker Strategy
How, Why and When to Double Barrel in No-Limit Hold’em
In this week’s column, we look at tons of different ideas that govern how, when and why to double barrel on the turn in no-limit hold’em games.
[FTR Quick Tip 012] Hand History Review
FTR Quick Tip: Helping you plug leaks in 5 minutes or less. In this video we look at a couple of hand histories played by members of FlopTurnRiver. There are a wide array of options that you have for any given decision at the poker tables. We will look at many of...
Study Poker With Spreadsheets (Part 2): Multiple Betting Options
Being able to calculate two or more EV equations at the same time is the focus of this week’s poker spreadsheet tutorial.
PokerStars Sit And Gos – Heads Up
Click here to read our PokerStars Review. A popular format of Sit And Gos at PokerStars is their Heads-Up Format. In these games players compete against only one other person, in a winner-takes-all format. There are many different games offered at a large variety of...
How to Multi-Table SnGs for Beginners (4 Tabling $6.50 by givememyleg)
In this video I am 4-tabling $6.50 turbos in Full Tilt and the basic point is to show how to begin to learn how to multi-table small stakes...
Betting to Protect Your Hand in Poker
There are times when it can be profitable to bet purely for the sake of protecting your hand even when it doesn’t work out as profitable as a value bet or bluff by itself.
Back to Basics (Part 1): Implied Odds
Implied odds are one of the most important things to learn on a deep level, though it’s usually learned superficially by most players.
Limit Holdem Conclusion
If I haven't mentioned these points, then add them to the list on things to know: 1. Always play within your bankroll. 2. Only play games in which you are comfortable playing. 3. Don't try to play opponents better than you. Find the players worse than you and KILL...
Making Game Theory Easy With Simple Shortcuts
Game theory can be difficult to understand and apply during a game of Hold’em. After reading this, you’ll be able to figure out the right move without having to do complex math in your head. By remembering a few numbers and what they represent, you’ll be able to use game theory to your advantage.
Short Stacked and Dangerous
It’s one of the scariest feelings in poker – You’ve just lost a huge pot to a three-to-one underdog and given up most of your stack. As you watch the opponent sort your chips and integrate them into his pile, a sickening realization creeps up on you… You’re short stacked, playing against opponents with more the five times your chip count.
[FTR Quick Tip 021] Video: Making Adjustments
If you play the same way against different opponents at the poker table, you’re making a big mistake. The true pros always tailor their actions to the leaks and tendencies that they identify in their foes. You can get a lot of information by carefully observing the other players.
NLHE Foundations #06: Putting Opponents on Pre-Flop Ranges (Part 3)
Introduction This is the sixth part of the free NLHE Foundations Series that I'm running here on FTR. This series is designed to give you a very clear set of tools that will teach you how to study what will really make you a better NLHE poker player. If you want to...
Should You Always Use Pot Control?
I have to say that I absolutely love poker but I guess that I have written enough articles now for FlopTurnRiver for you to already now that. In this article I want to look at the concept of pot control. This is something that has been expanded over the past few years...
A Better Approach to Attack and Defense in Poker
It’s important to think of aggression or initiative in poker not so much for any specific hand but rather over the overall range of hands a player might have. Unlike position, the player with initiative does not have an inherent advantage in any given hand.
Brodie’s Brick and Mortar Guide for Online Players
Brodie discusses games, seats and opposition in the brick and mortar poker setting. DaNutsInYoEye suggested that someone write up a brief guide to playing poker in B&M venues. I do a fair amount of B&M playing, so I thought I'd start it out as sort of a series...