Sports & Gaming

Postflop, Part 1

Phil Ivey

Lesson time 27:51 min

Phil provides an in-depth look at a number of different postflop situations. Learn when to slow play a hand, how to float the flop, and which draws to play depending on the context.

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Topics include: Forcing Mistakes · Slow Playing · Hand Review: Slow Play · Always Think a Street Ahead · Continuation Betting and Board Texture · Floating the Flop · Floating Considerations · Hand Review: Floating · Floating the Turn · Playing Small Flush Draws Heads Up · Playing Draws With a Small Stack

Preview

PHIL IVEY (VOICEOVER): Postflop is where things get serious. The bigger the pot, the higher the stakes. ANNOUNCER 1: This flip is worth a lot of money. PHIL IVEY (VOICEOVER): The longer a hand is played, the more room there is for mistakes. But this is where the big money is. You've got to know when to shut it down and when, more importantly, to go in for the kill. ANNOUNCER 2: Ivey is all in. ANNOUNCER 1: Phil Ivey, everybody. Best in the world. - There's really two different types of players. And one type of player is the player who waits for their opponents to make mistakes. And there's the other type of player who creates mistakes. And the way you create mistakes is by bluffing a lot, by, you know, you're inner dancing. You're going with your instincts. You're going with your reads. You're making calls that maybe you shouldn't make. You know, you're-- you're-- you're bluffing a spot set they aren't used to. It's really like an art to it. You know, like, it's like, you know, you have-- you got see how people perceive you. I mean, they see you're not bluffing a lot, they catch you in a couple bluffs. Now you know they-- they have that in your mind that you're capable of making big bluffs, you're capable of doing anything. Players need to know that you're capable of spazzing out, doing anything anytime. And what happens is it really becomes difficult for them to play against you, you know? I'm able to put people into a box a lot of times and say, well, this is what he's capable of doing. You know, he's going to bluff here. He's going to raise here. He's going to fold in this situation. And once I'm able to do that, then I pretty much got him, you know? And it's going to be very difficult for him to beat me. But if I'm playing against someone who's creating mistakes, he's bluffing a lot, who's doing things differently than I'm used to, now it's much more easier for me to read them. I need to be much more careful, you know? And they're able to-- they have a much better chance against me. Now, you could also wait for mistakes. That means play fundamentally, more correcting your opponent, and wait for them to make mistakes. I mean, that's a way of winning. That's a safer way of playing. But I think the person that creates mistakes is going to be more profitable in the end if they don't go completely crazy. [MUSIC PLAYING] Situations where you should try slow playing more is when, I would say, you have a very aggressive opponent who is continuation betting a lot. He's also betting the turn a lot and he's making big bluffs on the river. So in those situations where your opponent's playing very aggressively, then you should consider slow playing your hand, because you're going to get more value out of your hand. If you're playing against a guy who doesn't play like that, then there's not as much value in slow playing, so you probably shouldn't slow play your hand. So you really need to be paying attention to ...

About the Instructor

At age 38, Phil Ivey became the youngest player to win 10 World Series of Poker bracelets. Now the man known for his enigmatic table presence—and widely regarded as the world’s best all-around poker player—gives you unprecedented access to his mental game. Learn poker strategy, pick up new poker tips, and review hands with the player who’s won more than $26 million in live tournament earnings.

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Phil Ivey

Phil Ivey opens up for the first time about his poker strategy and teaches you how to make smarter moves at the table.

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