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If you’ve played poker for anytime at all, especially free poker games or lost a wad of money in cash games, and shook your head in wonder at why and how some people insist on playing what is universally called donkey or donk style poker. I’m sure most anyone who plays free poker knows what donkey poker is, but in a nutshell it is a poker player who calls every hand, regardless of what cards they hold, who has no problem going all in with 92 off suit, closing their eyes and praying for a winning board; i.e., donking the hand

I’ve seen no end of players donking. I’m not sure if it is the fact they are playing free poker, or they get an adrenaline rush from it, or truly have no idea how to play poker. Possibly they learned to play by themselves or in fun beer and poker games with friends and so have not learned key poker concepts like pot odds and outs etc.

I will also say, that trying to play donkey poker will break you faster than any other style of poker. You may win a few hands and build a small bankroll, but nearly every player I have seen play this style of poker goes broke and you will soon see them asking for a loan, or spending endless real cash in order to play again.

It can be quite frustrating to play against donkey style players. You may lose a few hands and be tempted to allow that emotion to affect your style of play, but in the long run, good poker play will only build your bankroll not bankrupt you. Patience is the number one skill you must possess to play a good game of poker and build your bank.

So when you are tempted to change your style of play, and we’ve all done it a time or two, remember in the long run you’re the one who will still have a bankroll to play with while others will be scrambling to find someone to front them some chips!

To learn how to play and beat donkeys (and stay sane) go and play free poker, there you will find legions of donkeys who will quickly show you their all in on 7-2 ways and generally attack your sanity! Free poker games sites are also the ideal places to learn how to play poker for beginners On free poker sites you will learn poker basics in a low risk environment as well as learning how to combat donk play and find ways to regularly have the donkeys donate their stacks to your bankroll!

Strong money game and free poker games players often amaze me with their ability to put their opponents on hands with incredible regularity. We all do this to some extent but even the good players can over use this tactic on occasion especially in poker tournaments and you can lose chips as a result. It is a particular danger if you are playing when tired. Read here what one player did; probably he is already exhausted so he committed an untimely mistake, I hope seeing this will help you avoid such a situation and save you some money or if you’re in free poker games your chips.

BLINDS 3k/6k

PREFLOP:

A has Kd-Kc, raises to 16k
B has Ad-9d, is on BB, calls10k (Pot 44k)

A’s standard raise (about 2.5x the big blind)  raise is intended to hide the actual strength of his hand. B’s call is discounted, so he makes it.

FLOP: 9c-5h-Qh

A bets 22k
B calls 22k (Pot 88k)

The 22k bet seems like a continuation bet in a Flop which is not so likely to hit anyone, and at this point B may think A is on a draw (a Flush draw or a Straight draw) and so calls in order to try to improve his hand.

TURN: 9c-5h-Qh-7c

A bets 109k

What did A want to do with his 109k bet in a pot of 88k?

Let’s see, before we see what B does:

Question: Was he signifying that he hit a Nine-high Straight?
Answer: Possibly, since there are 2 Flush draws on the table that could threaten his Straight if he keeps going to the River. He wants to end the hand, or he wants to give insufficient odds for anyone with a Flush draw to call. Or, maybe he is representing all of these.

Question: Might he have A-Q or something?
Answer: No idea! Perhaps I put him on the hand at the Flop though I wasn’t putting him on it after the Flop. Would he pile up 109k on just A-Q? What if I have K-K? He doesn’t know what I have; I called at a reduced price from the BB. Also, favorably, he may have a 10-9 or J-9, and I have a huge advantage.

Question: What else do you think he had?
Answer: A Flush draw or a Straight draw. Either way my pair of Nines is leading, so I call.

Question: Even though it’s for all your chips?
Answer: This is the best hand I’ve had for hours!

B calls all-in 109k (Pot 306k)

B forgot to think that A may have K-K or A-A. Based on the theoretical question-answer set above, Bs answers mean that on looking at the table B believed that As cards are related to the table so as to Pair up one of As cards and make a 5-card hand (Straight or Flush) or a possible 5-card hand. The fundamental error being made is that B was only thinking about the board and not what A’s hand may be and, in doing so forgot to put A on other hands that might not be so readily matched to the Board cards. Plus, being tired he compounded the error by calling with a marginal hand to get it over with and the result was being knocked out of the game.

So make sure when you play not to overplay and play tired and if you are keep back to basics or play free poker else your body and mind may play tricks on you. And if you are new to poker online then you do get mind fried more quickly so try some how to play poker for beginners games and free poker coaching first before stepping into extended tournament poker games.