Poker Strategy Blog
Weekly tips, strategy deep-dives, and real-world hand analysis from Phil Henderson.
Start Here: Everything You Get at Situational Poker
New to Situational Poker? Phil walks you through every track, every lesson, every certificate, and what's coming next — all free.
Read the Guide →How to Play Texas Hold'em: A Complete Beginner's Guide
Everything you need to know before sitting down at your first table — rules, hand rankings, betting, and the mistakes most new players make.
Read more →Pot Odds Explained: The Simple Math That Separates Winners from Losers
The single calculation every winning player knows — and most beginners skip. Learn it once and use it forever.
Read more →How to Read Poker Tells: Betting Patterns, Timing, and Physical Cues
The best tells aren't physical — they're in how people bet. Learn the patterns that reveal what your opponents are holding.
Read more →Poker Bankroll Management 101: Why Your Poker Money Needs Its Own Home
Your poker money needs its own home — completely separate from rent, groceries, and everything else. Here's why that one simple rule could be the most important thing you ever learn about the game.
Read more →Poker Bankroll Management: The 3 Golden Rules That Keep You in the Game
Having a bankroll isn't enough — you need rules for how to use it. Here are the three non-negotiables that separate players who last from players who go broke.
Read more →Bankroll Management for Low-Stakes Cash Games: Exact Numbers for $0.25/$0.50 to $1/$2
If you're grinding low-stakes cash games right now, this is the bankroll guide built specifically for you — with exact dollar amounts, shot-taking rules, and honest talk about bad beats.
Read more →Bankroll Management for Mid-Stakes Cash Games ($2/$5 to $5/$10): Why the Rules Change When the Money Gets Real
Moving up to mid-stakes cash games isn't just a bankroll milestone — it's a different game with different rules. Here's how to protect your money when the stakes get serious.
Read more →Bankroll Management for High-Stakes Cash Games ($10/$20 and Above): The Reality Behind the Big Pots
Playing $10/$20 and above isn't just about having the skills — it's about having the bankroll, the backing, and the lifestyle infrastructure to survive at poker's highest cash game levels. Here's what that actually looks like.
Read more →Bankroll Management for Low Buy-In Tournaments ($5–$50 MTTs and Sit & Go's): Why You Need More Bullets Than You Think
Low buy-in tournaments feel cheap to enter — but the variance will humble you fast if your bankroll isn't built for it. Here's exactly how many buy-ins you need and why.
Read more →Bankroll Management for Mid Buy-In Tournaments ($100–$500): Playing the Level Where the Game Gets Serious
The $100–$500 tournament range is where recreational players separate from serious ones — and where bankroll management can make or break your poker career. Phil Henderson breaks down exactly what it takes to play this level sustainably.
Read more →Bankroll Management for High Buy-In Tournaments ($1,000+ and the WSOP Dream): When Big Events Play by Different Rules
The WSOP Main Event. The $1,500 freezeout. The $2,500 mixed game you've always wanted to play. High buy-in tournaments live by different financial rules — here's how to navigate them without wrecking your poker bankroll.
Read more →Your Complete Poker Financial Plan: Mixing Games, Tracking Results, Taxes & Defining Success
After eight posts covering every level of the poker bankroll management ladder, it's time to bring it all together — one personal financial plan that covers game selection, tracking, taxes, and what success actually looks like for you.
Read more →Your First Time Playing Poker at a Casino: What to Expect and How to Handle It
Walking into a casino poker room for the first time can feel intimidating — but it doesn't have to be. Here's everything you need to know before you sit down.
Read more →Texas Hold'em Starting Hands: Which to Play, Which to Fold, and Why Position Changes Everything
Not sure which hands to play in Texas Hold'em? Phil Henderson cuts through the confusion with a simple, no-chart guide to starting hand selection that you'll actually remember at the table.
Read more →Table Position in Texas Hold'em: Why Where You Sit Matters More Than the Cards You Hold
Most beginners obsess over their cards. Experienced players obsess over where they're sitting. Here's why table position in Texas Hold'em is one of the most powerful edges in the game — and how to use it from day one.
Read more →How to Bluff in Poker: When It Works, When It Doesn't, and Why You're Probably Doing It Too Much
Bluffing is one of the most misunderstood weapons in poker — most beginners do it too often, at the wrong times, against the wrong people. Here's how to do it right.
Read more →How to Read a Poker Table Before You Play a Single Hand
Most players sit down, post their blind, and start playing. The ones who win consistently do something different — they read the table first. Here's how.
Read more →How to Play from the Big Blind in Texas Hold'em (And Why Most Players Get It Wrong)
The big blind is the most misplayed position at the poker table — most players either defend too much or fold too often. Here's how to finally get it right.
Read more →The Continuation Bet in Texas Hold'em: When to Fire and When to Check
You raised pre-flop, the flop missed you, and now everyone's staring at you to act. The continuation bet is one of the most powerful tools in Texas Hold'em — but only when you use it right.
Read more →How to Play Pocket Pairs in Texas Hold'em: Small, Medium, and Big Pairs Explained
Pocket pairs are some of the most exciting hands in Texas Hold'em — and some of the most misplayed. Here's how to handle every pair, from deuces to aces, before and after the flop.
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