Learning how to win at bar poker takes knowledge and practice. However, there is no book or even definitive guide out there that offers tips on pub poker strategy. Trust me, I looked. I guess since there is no money in it, people just aren’t willing to take the time to write about the subject. This is really a travesty since I have played in hundreds of these games and honestly find them to be the most fun form of poker.

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Every night around the world, thousands of people descend on local taverns, pubs, and bars to do more than just eat or drink. They come to battle on the felt and try to beat their buddies in one of the world’s most popular past times.

Why Play Poker at Your Local Pub or Tavern?

Many “real money” players avoid these games because they see them as somehow inferior since there is no large prize pool to be won. What they are missing is that there is more to playing poker than just exchanging money back and forth. Sure, the game does revolve around the attempt to win chips and beat your opponents but there is so much more to it than that.

At the heart of poker is the comradery, excitement, and a shared enjoyment of a mysterious game that no one will ever completely figure out. While everyone plays poker for different reasons, the ultimate incentive is purely for fun. This is what pub poker players understand better than their real money counterparts. Isn’t the true measure of loving an activity whether you would do it for free?

With that being said, it is a lot more fun to win rather than the alternative. To that end, I am going to impart upon you all of the essential information you need to excel in tavern or pub poker games. This information has been gained through the experience of playing hundreds of these games, quietly maintaining a reasonably high level of success. I lost track of my wins long ago, but it is likely less than 100 but more than 75. Along with my perspective of having played millions of online real money hands, I offer insights gained from over 10 years of struggling to understand poker a bit better. I certainly don’t know it all but think I know enough to help just about anyone achieve better success at the tables.

About This Guide

This article will be divided into three parts.

First, I will cover a few general tips for success.
Then, we will cover the three key player types to target.
Last, I will discuss how to attack each stage of a tournament with the ultimate goal of winning more often.

My objective for this guide is not to teach you how to play poker but rather how to adapt to the dynamic nature of pub poker tournaments. Keep in mind that this is not a beginner’s guide to poker. If you are a novice, I recommend my comprehensive poker tutorial to get you up to speed on the basics and jargon needed to become a winner. Also, this is not a “last longer” strategy. If you want to last longer, I recommend “Harrington on Hold’em, Volume 1.” It is also pretty good for beginners. I also wrote an article on the best books to fast track poker learning that you may want to check out.

General Tips for Bar Poker Success

1. Be Friendly

Many pub poker players are there for fun and will even play you softer if they like you. If you get a reputation of being a jerk, expect everyone to play their A game against you. The last thing you want to do is ruin the friendly loose-passive atmosphere that is prevalent in these games. My advice is to try to fly under the radar and maintain a cordial image with as many people as possible. Sure, people may notice that you are on nearly every final table, but if you are a nice guy/girl no one will hate you for it. Think of Daniel Negreanu’s demeanor.

2. Read Poker Tournament Formula

Okay, so I said there is no definitive guide to pub poker. There isn’t. Even so, Poker Tournament Formula was written for low buy-in poker tournaments, common in most casinos. While the book is not specifically written for free poker, it is tailored toward games with very fast structures. This is perfect for pub poker games that typically last just a couple of hours or so. I highly recommend reading it to help you get the right mindset for these fast events where you either prosper or perish.

3. Value Bet Thinner

Due to the general loose nature of these games, it’s typically optimal to loosen your requirements for value betting. Generally, if you have second pair or better it is a good idea to try to extract a bit extra, especially on the flop and turn. I continue to be amazed at the type of crap that will call flops and turns in pub poker games. Calls with complete airballs are more common than you would think in free games. Just follow the mantra, “when in doubt, fire a bet out” and you can’t go wrong.

4. Go After Small Pots

Even though bar poker games are full of really sticky players (calling stations), it’s still a really good idea to attack dry boards, especially when in position in limped pots. Even if you get called on the flop and/or turn, you generally have a really good bluffing opportunity on particular runouts, ie. overcards, potential draws completing. Just avoid running bluffs on Ace high boards, it is rare for anyone to lay down top pair in pub poker, and it is a common strategy for people to get involved before the flop with any Ace. My favorite hands to barrel off with include the part of my range that has potential to improve. Bottom pair, backdoor flush draws, gutshot straight draws, and overcards work really well.

5. Don’t Pay off Tight Players

If a tight player raises at any point during the hand and you don’t have at least two-pair or better, it’s best to just throw it away and move on to the next hand. Also, if you fire two barrels get called twice by a really nitty player, it’s almost never a good idea to follow through on the river, especially in multi-way pots. While that third barrel will work often in online games or real money live games, “tight” pub poker players are generally really stubborn with top pair or better. I mean they sit around and wait to play for dozens of hands, you can’t blame them for not wanting to see a showdown the few times they pick up something they see as top tier.

Trust me on this one, some of the more successful pub poker players are rocks. The reason is that they get paid off on the few hands that they play. I can’t blame them for employing this strategy, it’s certainly easier than the style that I advocate playing. The problem is you eventually do have to shift gears or you end up with a lot of bubbles or 8th/9th places.

6. Play the Rebuys

Some leagues allow you to bust out and get “shot rounds” to come back in. Take full advantage of this by playing (or overplaying) strong hands and draws to the max. Once you double up or the “rebuy” options runs out, slow down a bit. I have built up some giant stacks this way. I’m talking 50k chips when everyone else has 5k or so. If all else fails, you’ve got 10-30 big blinds to play with via the shot round to try and get back into it. Besides the obvious +EV nature of this “backup plan” style of play, it’s super fun and great practice for mixing it up.

7. Practice Pulling the Trigger

If you have aspirations to eventually play for real money, either live or online, this is the time to experiment. Pub poker games are your chance to play that style of poker you have always dreamed of playing but never had the guts to do so. If you don’t do it now, you surely won’t when you are eventually sitting in a WSOP event in a pressure situation. Build good aggressive habits while the price is nil or you will regret it later.

For example, if you think a three-barrel bluff is profitable in a particular spot, go for it. Even if you get called on the river and lose, at least

Pub Poker