How to Play Better Poker
New to poker? Don't make the same mistakes a lot of others have before. Save time and trouble by following the rules of thumb in poker below.
Poker Tip: Play poker online before playing live.
Practicing online has many advantages. You can do it for free. You can bluff without being seen. Hands are dealt faster. You can play at very low stake tables. And you can play in multiple tables. That's just some of the advantages. But the bottom line is: Playing poker online helps you learn faster than if you did it all live.
Poker Tip: Raise what you can call.
Be the aggressor. If you just call someone else's bet, you will be dictated upon by more forceful players on the table. Avoid being bullied. If your hand is good enough to call with, you might as well raise with it especially if you play No Limit Holdem.
Poker Tip: Bluff sparingly.
Some people - mostly inexperienced amateurs - bluff just for the hell of it. Do not abuse this technique just because you think "poker is about bluffing." It isn't. Bluffing works only in certain situations and until you are more adept at identifying these situations, avoid bluffing altogether.
Poker Tip: Play true to your position.
At first you will want to play tight no matter where are at the table. But as you gain in experience, you will want to adjust the kind of hands you play depending on your table position. The closer you are to the button's left, the tighter you must play. The closer to their right, the looser you can play.
Poker Tip: Play loose when needed.
In tournaments when the blinds are getting high, or when you're short-stacked, or when the table is short-handed (has few players in it), you must play looser. If not, posting the blinds will cost you. Better to gamble with a marginal hand than to lose without a fight.
Poker Tip: Use math, not hunches.
Hunches don't work. A lot of gambling and its outcome is decided by math. That's the truth whether you want to believe it or not. So when deciding whether or not to fold your hand, do your math. Check the pot odds and do what they tell you to. If you drop this tactic you will lose in the long run just as if you had stopped using strategy in blackjack.
Poker Tip: Understand the differences between ring games and tournaments.
As a beginner you should avoid playing in tournaments. Stick to ring games since it is easier to play and requires less commitment. When you do decide to enter a tournament, know that it will be a wholly different ball game. Be ready to adjust yourself to a faster, riskier game.
Poker Tip: Do not play junk hands, period.
No matter what opponents you have, what table it is or how much money you have, DO NOT PLAY JUNK HANDS. You may miss a monster if you do, but in the long run avoiding junk hands will save you money.
Poker Tip: Beware of second-best hands.
Hands like Q-J off-suit are trap hands. They often make you think you have a great hand going until it's too late. If you get a straight, someone else can easily have the nuts. Know what the best hands are - A-A, A-K, etc. - and avoid these trap hands.