Three 'Under the Gun' Poker Tips

When one is said to be "under the gun", it's meant to imply that the person has to act in a stressful situation. The poker player who is under the gun is seated to the big blind's left. However, it's good to know that its implication is limited to the pre-flop betting round. So if you find yourself under the gun, be cool about it and make the best of what's known to be the worst position after the hole cards are dealt. Here are three poker tips to help you through this inimitable position.

Tip number one is about having a confident attitude. And obviously, there's no real gun pointed at you. Once you've cleared your view of this label, you can assertively make strategic plays that are demanded under the gun. The pre-flop places you in the least favorable position to make the bets for the simple reason that you are making the first one. You can fold, call, or raise the bets at this time.

The second tip at the pre-flop is making a straightforward play as often as you can. Act in relation to how strong or weak your pre-flop odds are. A pre-flop odd is the likelihood that your hand will improve after the flop. So, if you've got bullets or pocket aces, the odds that they will remain a high pair post-flop is about 71%. So, it's generally wise to stay in the game because this is a high ranking hand in itself. In case you have pocket rags, just fold.

The last tip is, shake things up a bit by deviating from a clean-cut play. Once in a while, take a shot at stealing the blinds or raising the wagers instead of calling the bet. Being under the gun shouldn't be a grave circumstance all of the time, just change poker tactics every now and then. Remember, after the pre-flop you've gained some release from the pressures of being under the gun. If you're still in the game, that is.

Follow these three poker tips when you're under the gun. One, change your perception of the position, there's no real gun to your head obviously. Consider the power of the position rather than its drawbacks. Two, frequently make a straightforward play. And lastly, with respect to the second tip, deviate from the conventional once in a while. You want to stay in the game and win the pots, so being predictable is the last thing you want to be.