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My top ten poker tips aim to help players with their poker
strategy, approach and continued enjoyment of both online poker
and live poker games. The poker tips are not listed in any
particular order of importance except perhaps the first.
1. Bankroll level
Play at a buy-in level that suits your bankroll and attitude to
risk. Never play with more than you can afford to lose. If
paying the rent depends upon the result of a tournament or a
single hand, you may find the pressure leads to poor decision
making and a disproportionate reaction to the bad beats all
poker players endure.
Here is a link to a know-poker page on
Bankroll Management that features a comprehensive table
which may help your selection.
Top
ten poker tips
2. Do not chase your
losses
If you lose a major portion of your table stake in one or
several large pots, do not try to recoup your losses in a 'do or
die' fashion. Stick to your sound, proven poker strategy; wait
for your next playable hand and look to recover your losses over
the longer term.
Similarly, if you take a big hit to your poker bankroll in one
or several sessions, do not move up to a higher buy-in level
thinking, ‘one good win and I’m back to where I started.’ Often
you will play the higher buy-in level with a too loose or too
tight attitude, neither of which is natural to your game.
No matter if you are playing $0.25/0.50 or $25/50; if you have
lost 80% of your buy-in for any reason, do not throw the rest
away. That remaining 20% (if you walk away with it) should be
thought of as profit; because if you don't, it is a loss.
If you take a big hit to a previously healthy tournament stack;
re-evaluate your options for the amount of chips you
have left and make the best use of them.
Top
ten poker tips
3. Do not play too
many hands
Avoid playing too many hands especially the marginal ones unless
you need to; more often, play the hands which have a better
chance of winning.
Remember, when folding pre-flop, you are playing
your cards. The reason to fold can be various including, too
many players already in the hand, you are out of position, the
price is too high or the cards dealt are just plain rubbish. The
reason to enter the hand must be equally clear.
Online poker pocket cards are dealt to each computer
simultaneously; effectively everyone sees their starting hand at
the same time. Players can consider their options before it is
their turn to act and may errantly follow through with their
decision, regardless of the table action. Before you decide to
play or fold; consider what has happened before you in the
betting round and what may happen after your action.
Top
ten poker tips
4. Recognise trends
There are two trends to understand; table trends and player
trends.
Table trends
Observe a cash table and make a reasoned assessment of its
character before taking your seat or getting heavily involved in
the action. Adapt your game to one that best suits allowing you
to profit. The common thought of 'if a table is loose,
play tight and vice versa' often applies. Do not be put off if a
cash table is more passive or more aggressive than you would
like, provided you can adapt your game to suit the condition.
However at times, it may be prudent to find another table,
sit out or even leave one where the action is far from that with
which you are comfortable.
In a tournament you take what you are given but remember,
changes in the players seated and the blind/chip stack ratio,
means the table character will fluctuate.
Playing any table should not necessitate you making drastic
strategy changes; generally you should consider subtle
adjustments to what is already your standard profitable game.
Player trends
Recognise the LAG, TAG, LP and TP players at your table and have
a strategy in mind to compete with them.
Here is a link to a know-poker page explaining the play styles
LAG, TAG, LP and TP.
You may also find a player who will always raise from the button
or in the small blind if the table folds to that seat, regardless
of the cards they hold. Others may play any Ace they are dealt. While you cannot tell exactly what cards
a player is holding, you may gain an advantage in a number of
hands.
Do not look for trends that are not there when playing online.
If a player takes a long time to come to a betting decision, it
may be they are playing several tables at once, rather than
hatching a cunning plan.
Top
ten poker tips
5. Mix your play style
There is no hard and fast rule as to when and how to mix up your
play; it is a feel thing best developed by practice. If playing
a full table, begin in your style common to that situation
(whatever that is) and after half an hour throw a spanner in the
works. Do not completely abandon your regular game or commit
your chip stack to a one-off hand; just do enough to keep others
guessing.
That little sparkle added once in a while during a session or
tournament will help you to stay fresh and alert during a long
grind and keep your opponents on their toes.
Good poker players recognize when to tighten or loosen their
play in accordance with the tournament stage or cash table
condition. Mixing your game style and changing gears are
important tools for a successful poker player.
Top
ten poker tips
6. Avoid going on tilt
It is easy to say ‘avoid going on tilt’ although harder to do at
times. However consider this; the only person who can put you on
tilt is yourself.
Take a bad beat like a man… or a woman. We have all seen some
poor calls but only a small portion of them really are bad
beats. It can be discouraging to have out played a player and
have luck out play you, but that is poker and bad beats are part
of the fun.
And if you do go on tilt; leave your casino seat, log off (if
online), make a cup of tea, pick your nose or go for a walk...
do anything other than play poker.
Be aware of other players who may be tilting. If you enter a pot
with them, they may pose an awkward question or two.
Top
ten poker tips
7. Recognise your emotion
Be in the right frame of mind before you sit down to play. Do
not take things personally and do not bring personal conditions
to the table. Getting irritated or distressed
will lessen your enjoyment of the game and may lead to poor
decision making.
If you think your emotions are dictating your play, take some
time out to regain your composure, rather than losing more of
your hard earned cash which may compound the reasons to be
upset.
If you are multi-tabling, do not let a mistake (by you or
another player) on one table affect the way you play on another
table.
Do not play drunk; just don’t. Players make poor choices when
feeling loose and play accordingly. Drunkenness can also loosen
your perception of the acceptable table talk used which may
result in a card room or online poker site ban.
Finally, no matter if you are trying to earn a few dollars or
just playing for the experience, poker should be enjoyable. It
is not worth getting infuriated at a $5 or $500 loss when
playing within your bankroll.
Top
ten poker tips
8. Learn to play
correctly
A little knowledge is useful, but if not combined with
intelligence, that knowledge can lead to some costly mistakes.
‘Correct play’ varies according to the situation. If you find an
area of your game that you feel needs improving, seek out useful
poker strategy information. Do not be too proud to seek advice
at any stage in your poker career. Many resources are available
in bookstores and online (there are a number of articles on this
site).
Take a few minutes regularly to read something, anything which
may improve your game.
In all events;
- Pay attention to the cards on the table as well as your
fellow players actions and reactions. Information may still be
gained even when you have folded your hand.
- Understand how table position affects decision making; how
you may and how others do act from any table position.
- Do not be afraid to commit to the pot. If you have a very
good hand, you should not be afraid of getting your chips into
the middle.
- Be smart with your betting; base your actions (including a
fold) on the board cards, other players’ actions and styles,
as well as the blind/stack ratio. Your smart betting must be
clear in your mind and hopefully clear to the table.
- Use pot odds as a method of advice not as a guarantee of
success. Here is a link to a know-poker page explaining
pot odds.
Top
ten poker tips
9. Learn from the mistakes of others and your own
It is valuable to learn from another’s mistake because
hopefully it will have cost them and not you. By taking notes
based on their play you may find a trend which you can later
exploit.
Learning by your own mistakes can only be valuable if you are
completely honest with yourself.
If you look closely at a poker play that initially seems a
mistake, you may see reason for the action. A mistake may be a
simple misread of a hands strength or may have been encouraged
by a players' deceptive skills. Mistakes may also be in a
general play style or play pattern. Whatever the case, look
and learn.
In all events;
- Do not slow-play a hand with insufficient strength that
you should be check raising with. Here is a link to a
know-poker page explaining
slow-playing and check raising.
- Do not assume that because a player has played one or
several poor starting hands out of position, that they are a
poor player or that they never hold a good hand.
- Do not bluff too often. An Internet fact (so it is as
reliable as 7-2 off suit) says; bluffing 11% of the time is
correct. However what counts as a bluff to one player will be
a positional bet to others, or a semi-bluff to anyone else.
If you want your opponents to fold when you bluff, the
frequency should be rare and the bets convincing when you do.
- Know when to fold; if a hand takes a nasty turn and you
think you are beat, muck it and move on. Do not throw good
money after bad. Show strength by leaving chips behind; good
players will recognize the strength in that play.
- Do not call just to keep another player 'honest.’ Call if
you think you have a better hand or better still raise.
Otherwise you are calling with what you think is the worst
hand and that is clearly not good economics.
- Do not spread
yourself too thin; Multi-table play limits the attention a
player may give to each table and will not benefit a new
player’s learning curve. Multi-table play suits
experienced players capable of quickly understanding other
players, the board cards and game state.
Top
ten poker tips
10. Know your own game
Whether you are an aggressive, passive,
tight or loose player, understand what you do best and work at
improving it.
Recognize the type of game and betting format that best suits your
play style. Some players will prefer single-table or multi-table
tournaments, while others veer towards cash tables.
When you find a game and betting format you like and are
successful at, exploit it.
Top
ten poker tips
Finally
Be cool and let the good times roll.
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