Poker tips and saloon secrets from Yo's Poker Palace

Welcome to Yo's Poker Palace, your home for poker news and conversation in Wyoming! Here, we share the wisdom gleaned from running a live poker game for over a decade. Get ready for poker tips you won't find anywhere else, delivered with a dash of Wyoming charm.

One Poker Tip to Rule Them All

Craving the thrill of the World Series of Poker? While we can't promise you a seat at the final table, watching the greats can offer invaluable insights. Check out this highlight reel to learn from the best:

One poker tip to rule them all

Craving the thrill of the World Series of Poker? While we can't promise you a seat at the final table, watching the greats can offer invaluable insights. Check out this highlight reel to learn from the best: World Series of Poker final table highlights

Advice for poker newbies

Starting your poker journey? Here’s Yo's advice to help you build a solid foundation:

Start with solid hand selection: Most beginners play too many hands and end up in tricky spots.

  • If you can’t remember a chart at the table, follow the rule of thumb: “Tight early, looser late.”

Respect position: Acting last lets you gather info and control the pot size.

  • Open only premium hands from early position; add speculative hands (suited connectors, small pairs) when you’re on the button or cutoff.
  • When in doubt, choose position over marginal cards.

Bet with a purpose: Beginners often “freeze” and just check/call.

  • Before every action, ask yourself: “Am I betting for value or as a bluff?” If you can’t answer, check/fold.
  • Size your bets to put real decisions on opponents: ~⅔ pot for value, ~¾ pot for bluffs that need folds.

Learn basic odds: Quick mental math keeps you from chasing.

  • Practice the Rule of 4 & 2: after the flop, outs × 4 ≈ % chance to hit by the river; after the turn, outs × 2 ≈ % to river.
  • Compare that % to the pot odds you’re getting before calling.

Bankroll discipline: Protects you from going broke during normal variance.

  • Keep a cash‑game roll of 25–30 buy‑ins for the stakes you play; 50+ buy‑ins for tournaments.
  • Set a stop‑loss: if you lose 2–3 buy‑ins in a session and feel tilted, cash out.

Table awareness: Reading people isn’t magic; it’s tracking patterns.

  • Tag the table: tight/loose, aggressive/passive, calling‑station.
  • Sit to the left of the most aggressive player when possible.

Avoid fancy plays until the basics are second nature: Low‑stakes fields rarely require high‑level bluffs.

  • Value‑bet relentlessly versus recreational players.
  • Use semi‑bluffs (draw + fold equity) rather than “pure air” bluffs.

Mindset & tilt control: Emotional leaks cost more than strategic ones.

  • Accept variance: bad beats are tuition, not tragedy.
  • Take five deep breaths after every big pot—you literally reset your heart rate.

Study smarter, not longer: Focused review beats marathon videos.

  • After each session, write down three hands that puzzled you, then run them through a free solver or discuss on a forum.
  • Read one classic (e.g., “Elements of Poker” by Tommy Angelo) and one modern solver‑oriented source (e.g., Jonathan Little’s training site).

Learn (and respect) etiquette: Good games thrive on mutual respect—especially in friendly saloon games like yours.

  • Act in turn, keep chips visible, verbalize bets clearly.
  • Tipping the dealer keeps the game cheerful and flowing.

Avoid these common poker mistakes

Even experienced players stumble. Here are common mistakes to avoid at the poker table:

  1. Playing Too Many Hands: Weak hands = weak situations. Leads to lost chips and hard decisions. Solution: Stick to a preflop range chart and tighten up, especially out of position.
  2. Ignoring Position: Being first to act means flying blind. Solution: Favor playing more hands on the button/cutoff, fewer from early seats.
  3. Calling Too Much: Calling feels “safe,” but leaks chips without a plan. Solution: Only call when you’re ahead of your opponent’s range or have clear odds. Otherwise, fold or raise.
  4. Chasing Draws Without Odds: Chasing gutshots or flushes blindly = burning money. Solution: Use pot odds vs. your equity (use Rule of 4 & 2) to decide whether to chase.
  5. Bluffing Too Often or at the Wrong Time: Bad bluffs get called and cost a lot. Solution: Bluff only when you tell a believable story—and know your opponent can fold.
  6. Overvaluing One Pair: Top pair is good… until the board runs out four to a straight or flush. Solution: Learn to slow down postflop. Be okay folding when the action says you’re beat.
  7. Not Adjusting to Opponents: Playing the same way vs. every player is a big leak. Solution: Watch your table: bluff less vs. calling stations, value-bet thinner vs. nits.
  8. Letting Emotions Drive Decisions (Tilt): One tilt call can undo hours of solid play. Solution: Take breaks. Breathe. Have a “stop-loss” rule (e.g., 2 buy-ins). Know when to walk.
  9. Bet Sizing Mistakes: Too small = giving free cards. Too big = folding out worse hands. Solution: Use standard sizes: 3x preflop, ⅔ pot for value bets, and vary by board texture.
  10. Failing to Review & Improve: Repeating bad habits keeps you stuck. Solution: After each session, review 2–3 tough spots. Join a study group or forum.

Saloon secrets: poker wisdom you won’t find in a book

By Yolanda Navarrete

After 13 years running a live poker game in a Wyoming saloon, I’ve seen it all: the overconfident tourist, the silent assassin, the sweet grandma who slowplays quads, and the guy who just can’t fold top pair. But some of the best poker advice I’ve ever learned never came from a book or video — it came from watching people. And living this game.

Here are my personal poker rules, forged in the fires of The Bull Moose Saloon and sharpened over thousands of hours dealing and playing. These aren't GTO. These are YO.

  1. Read the Room Before You Read the Hand
  2. Don’t Beat a Tourist — Entertain Them
  3. Your Table Is a Temple — Set the Tone
  4. Pay Attention When the Chips Stop Talking
  5. Your Ego Isn’t Worth One Chip
  6. Take Care of the Game, and the Game Will Take Care of You

I’ll leave you with this: Learn the rules, study the strategy, but don’t forget the people. That’s where the real edge lives.

See you at the Moose, Yo