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.
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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.
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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.
The Psychology of Losing
You can’t win every hand or tournament when playing poker. But an extended losing streak can often have severe emotional repercussions that may compound over time, causing you to lose even more. Learn how to break out of the cycle and start winning again.
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.
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.
Taking the Next Step
In poker, it’s important to keep improving your game so that you can move up in stakes. By carefully considering bankroll management, studying the player pool at your new level and approaching the bigger game with the right mindset, you can increase your chances for success.
Most Recent Articles in Poker Strategy
Breaking Down the Non-Hold’em Games Part 1
As No Limit Hold’em continues to become tougher to beat, many players are turning to other games instead. In this article, we’ll go over the rules and outline simple strategies to help get you started in non-Hold’em poker games. Pot Limit Omaha has become the most popular “other” game.
[FTR Quick Tip 002] Preflop Raise Sizing
FTR Quick Tip: Helping you plug leaks in 5 minutes or less. This week's tip focuses on what size of preflop raise is good in different...
[FTR Quick Tip 010] Flop Range Adjustments
FTR Quick Tip: Helping you plug leaks in 5 minutes or less. Poker is a game of adjustment and readjustment. Depending on how your opponents play their hands, you will want to play your hands differently in order to exploit them. Don't play your hands the same way...
Spenda’s 5 Biggest Leaks of a Losing NL Player – Leak 2
#2 Poor Table and Seat Selection Table Selection Table selection is an extremely important and overlooked aspect of playing winning poker. There's an age-old adage: “How would the world's 10th best player fare if he only played with the 9 players who were better than...
Evaluating NLHE MTT Structure
There are many different poker tournament structures that are common today. You need to evaluate the structure in any given MTT to determine how your strategy should change. The depth of the starting stacks (in big blinds) is an especially important factor to consider.
Back to Basics (Part 5): Poker Reads Made Simple
Avoid distractions and get better at making solid, fundamental reads with the fifth installment in the Back to Basics series.
Pre-flop Strategy – Starting Hand Rankings: Group 6
There are still some good hands yet to be played, but you must be careful! We are running pretty thin at this point. Here are my Group 6 hands: Group 6: KT QT JT A7s K9s Q9s T9s J9s A5s A6s A4s A3s A2s Again, this group is a clear departure from Sklansky and the...
Texas Holdem Expected Value Hand Charts – 8 Players
While you should choose your ranges based upon game dynamics and your personal playing style, it’s sometimes helpful to see the average value of different starting hands. In this chart, we’ve compiled the EV of different cards across millions of hands in 8-player games.
Studying Poker With Spreadsheets (Part 5): Checking to Induce
Using a spreadsheet to study situations where you’re checking to induce a bluff can make life so much easier.
SnG Key Strategies
There are a lot of strategic concepts involved in proper Sit and Go play. By learning how to wield your stack as a weapon, playing appropriately tight and developing proper preflop ranges, you’ll be well on your way to beating the games. You’ll also need to consider what other players are doing.
Brick and Mortar/Live Poker Strategy
INTRODUCTION If you are an online player who's about to try B&M poker for the first time, this sticky is meant for you. Unlike Brodie's excellent article on B&M etiquette (a must-read), this one is intended to prepare you mentally for the unbelievable fishfest...
OFC Beginners Guide: It Starts with the Set
In part 2 of the OFC Beginner’s Guide, I focus on the foundation of your hand: the set. The set is arguably the most important part of the hand, as how you set your hand dictates how the rest of the hand will play out. See some specific examples and general concepts with setting up your OFC hands.
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 SNG Strategy: Thin River Value
In a new series dedicated to Sit & Go poker strategy, FTR member, Artur, discusses two hands from his session which have some river...
The Psychology of Losing
You can’t win every hand or tournament when playing poker. But an extended losing streak can often have severe emotional repercussions that may compound over time, causing you to lose even more. Learn how to break out of the cycle and start winning again.