Home > Pokerology School > Texas Hold'em > Intermediate > Mixing Up Your Game

Mixing Up Your Poker Game

The phrase "mixing it up" is used to describe an unexpected change in a poker player’s strategy. For example, a player raises three consecutive times pre-flop revealing big pocket pairs. The fourth time he raises it is assumed he has another big pair. If instead, he’s holding a small suited connector – the player is "mixing up his game" in order to keep his play unpredictable.

It’s important to mix it up as your image at the poker table is determined by your history of play. Whether that play time is two hours or two years, other players will be searching for patterns in your strategy. If they find a pattern, they will certainly use it against you. By mixing up your game you are defending yourself against opponents figuring out your game strategy and deciphering your hole cards.

The following are helpful tactics for occasionally mixing up your game:

  • Raise preflop with suited connectors.
  • Vary the betting amount – if you raised three times the big blind with JJ, raise 4 ½ times the blind the next time you pick them up.
  • Re-raise from late position with a hand you normally would just call with.
  • Call with a hand that you would normally raise with.
  • Show a bluff.
  • Bet drawing hands such as four cards to a flush or straight.
  • Don’t raise when you pick up a big hand on the button.
  • Don’t raise the blinds when most players have folded even if you pick up a big hand on the button.

Pick Your Spots Wisely

Caution! Mixing up your poker game should not be an excuse for poor play. Pick your spots and do not feel like you should mix up every hand in a short period of time. The objective is to keep your opponents questioning the strength of your hand while maximizing your wins and minimizing your losses. If you play like a maniac you will certainly keep them guessing; however, it will cost you a lot of chips and will negatively impact your table image.

Here are a few points of caution to consider when you are mixing up your game:

  • If you limp in with a big pair and get multiple callers, be prepared to let the hand go to an unfavourable flop – remember, it’s just one pair.
  • Do not continue to play a poor hand aggressively if you are met with resistance – 5s2s is no good to a board of AhJcQh if you get called even once.
  • Bluff at small pots that will not hurt your chip stack. If you are called then use these small wins to advertise by showing the bluff.
  • If you bet a drawing hand and are called, be aware that the caller could have the same draw. If you make the low end of the straight or a low flush, your opponent could have a high straight or a bigger flush.
  • Carefully select opponents when you decide to mix up your game – it is not sensible to target short-stacked players who will typically be playing very solid.
  • In a tournament, consider the timing of when you mix it up – wait until you have developed a table image and do not risk your tournament life just for the sake of being an unpredictable player.

Hand Example – Mixing It With Suited Connectors

  • No Limit Hold’em Tournament Play
  • Blinds: 100/200
  • Large stack has 9,200, average stack is 5,000, short stack has 1,650

Pre-flop

An aggressive player with 6,400 in chips raises to 400 and one player flat calls the raise in front of you. You look down to find 7c8c from the cut-off seat. The last hand you raised was more than ten hands ago and you were called down to reveal QhQd. You feel confident that your table image is solid. As second chip leader at the table with 8,500 in chips it is a good time to mix up your game. You re-raise to 800:

Figure 1.
figure 1

After your raise the blinds decide to fold, and the raiser calls and the original limper calls. There are 3 now players in the pot.

The Flop

The flop is 2c7hJc with 2,700 in the pot. The first player bets 1,500 and the second player folds. You suspect the first player hit a jack and is testing to see if it is good. You flopped top pair and four cards to a flush. You presume you are currently behind, but have 14 outs to make the best hand (two 7’s, three 8’s, and nine clubs).

Figure 2.
figure 2

With so many outs it is an option to simply call and hope to hit, but it would be difficult to regain control on the turn if you do not make your hand. Therefore you decide to raise to 4,000 representing the big hand you bet pre-flop and your opponent folds Jd10d face-up. Normally, you should muck your cards and take the pot in silence, satisfied that you pulled off a successful semi-bluff. But, remember you were mixing up your game. This is an ideal time to advertise that you do not always have two queens when you raise. Return the favor of your opponent by turning your cards face-up.

Next Lesson: Intermediate Level » Module 1 » Lesson 5 » The Tilt Factor