If you want to take your poker game to the next level, developing strategy and working on skills will help.
Poker is a relatively simple game to play, whether you are playing 7-card stud or Texas Hold’Em. The likelihood is that you might start playing poker nights with your friends, or even online poker through one of the online casino providers – an excellent way to get started.
The World Series of Poker is probably the biggest and best-known tournament for professional poker players. Getting the games on mainstream television, creating celebrities out of poker players, and really getting the game out there – especially when local feeder tournaments can be entered without much cost and millions can be won – sparked the imagination of more than a few people looking to take their poker game to the next level.
Could it be you? If you want it to be, you will need to master the rules and get in a serious amount of practice – but first, start with these handy tips.
1. Master the Basics
As has already been mentioned, the game of poker is simple to learn, but that doesn’t mean that you don’t need some mastery to be good. When you play poker online there are a number of variants. Depending on the version of the game you are playing, there might be different rules around things like blinds, when you are meant to bet, and what happens in the game.
Understanding these nuances will give you the confidence to raise your game and make the most of the other tips in this list.
2. Understand the Value of Your Hand
Everyone knows that Ace is high, and the best hand is a royal flush – but it is the other potential hands that might make or break your winning streak.
Don’t hold out for that perfect card on the river or the turn if you aren’t confident of the cards in your opponents’ hands. Playing poker, and getting really good at it, is a matter of practice, familiarity, and strategy – you need to learn through playing which hands are the best to have if you can’t make that royal flush.
3. The Power of Position
Where you are sitting in relation to the dealer can help you decide how you want to play. If you are after the blinds, for example, you can get out without losing anything, Being one of the blinds can also let you gauge the interest of the other players based on the moves that they are making.
4. Bluff Intelligently
Texas Hold’Em might be seen as more about the bluffing than it is about the cards that are in your hands – but that doesn’t mean you should try to bluff your way to success with every hand that you have.
Bluffing only works if you can back it up – it’s a much better idea to play up a semi-decent hand than pretend your handful of nothing is worth something.
5. Be Aggressive (at the Right Time)
Aggressive play can be a sign of confidence, so raising the bets when you are happy with your odds of winning is a good way to get the pot to climb. However, if you raise too much you could scare off the opposition, and there is no point in filling the pot by yourself.
6. Know When to Fold
Good poker players do not play every hand. This is something that newbie players find quite difficult to grasp – you don’t need to be involved in every single game that is being played. This also ties in with some of the other points on the list about protecting your happiness.
7. Know Your Opponents
Having a good poker face is an essential part of playing the game well, but that doesn’t mean you can’t try and read your opponents at least a little bit. Nobody is expecting you to psychoanalyze every move they make, but you might find that one of the players fidgets when they have good cards – so you might want to use that to your advantage.
8. Play Good Hands Well
Fast rounds are often more fun, and they tend to be the ones that are most filled with adrenaline and excitement. This only matters if your cards are good enough to stay in the game – and if they are, don’t waste time deliberating – just play.
9. Focus and Discipline
Emotion and ‘gut feelings’ are the reason that players make mistakes and the reason they start chasing their losses and destroying their bankroll. Staying focused and disciplined will be the best way to keep playing.
10. Only Play When You Want To
Related to the last point, stop playing when you are no longer having fun. If you are becoming stressed, upset, or distracted, then just stand up and leave – you can always come back tomorrow.
