PLAY LIKE A PRO

Want to improve your game? First thing you should do is forget about the cards. Poker is much more a game of psychology and skill than dumb luck. Here are a few tips from local poker pro Jim Davenport to help you win those big pots:

{club} Watch your opponent ? Most people zone out of the hand after they fold their cards, wasting a perfect opportunity to study others at the table. Watch players who bluff, who chase hands and who lure their opponents in with big bets. Look for patterns in their body language and use that information to read them on important plays. And don’t feel bad about stereotyping your opponent in your mind. If the half-shaven guy in the torn jeans and stained T-shirt looks like a loose cannon, he probably is.

{diamond} Don’t bluff on all-in ? It’s generally a bad idea to go all-in when you have nothing. Even the most timid players will call a hot-shot hustler’s all-in if the chips are stacked right.

{heart} Play aggressively on three-of-a-kinds ? If you pull up a three-of-a-kind on the flop, bet hard. Davenport said that if you stick to this strategy, you’ll win more money over time than if you slow-play the hand.

{spade} Play position ? Always be aware of the dealer button and use it to your advantage. Remember, it’s always easier to bet big than to call a big bet.

{club} Beer is bad ? “I always look for the guy who’s been drinking a lot,” Davenport said. “He’s like a bet-calling machine. Alcohol gives you a false sense of confidence.”

{diamond} Have fun ? The best way to stay loose is to avoid games you can’t afford. If you need to win the pot to pay this month’s rent, then you shouldn’t be playing. If you need the money, you’re going to be much more nervous.dpt.02-sunday-3-CPhotoInfo651SI81B20060702j1p7aunc(LA)Learn your opponents’ habits.