Basic vs. Fancy Play Poker
Poker players, especially those who have some experience under their belts, can become tempted to engage in “fancy play” poker. This is playing poker in a way that relies too much on tactical moves and disregarding some of the fundamental principles of sound poker or “ABC” poker as it is sometimes known. Players who get too fancy sometimes get so swept up in their contrary play, that it develops into a recognizable syndrome that simply drains off profits.
Fancy play poker entails using tactics such as always slow playing a big monster pair or frequent attempts at bluffs or check-raising. The problem with fancy play is that it doesn’t always work. Slow playing pocket Kings allows an Ace to appear on board. Checking with the intention of raising may fall flat when no players behind bet but simply check it down too.
These tactics are proven to work sometimes and should be executed with careful planning. Players who always try to engage in fancy play become easy to read and the other players will react in ways opposite to what the fancy player wants.
Fancy play can only be successful when used sparingly and with careful consideration of position, board texture, and all the contenders for the casino pot. When in doubt, basic sound poker principles are the least risky and have a higher probability of winning than an action that goes against sound poker logic.
