Online Texas Holdem Poker is one of the most popular forms of casino-based entertainment that there is available on the web today. This simple game has grown incredibly over the past ten years or so, to the point now where many tournaments are televised across the globe; making stars of some of the world's best players like Phil Ivey, Daniel Negreanu and Howard Lederer (find out about an ibc agent here).
The many subtle nuances of the game however mean that it can be a very difficult game for beginners to master and this can lead to a little frustration at times. In this article, we look at ten simple tips to help beginners gain a better understanding of this incredible game and also some hints to develop strategies that will help them win a few more pots against their competitors at the table.
1. Practice makes perfect
Before you play for real cash, find a decent free poker room and play for as long as you can in there. Gaining practice this way is cheap but valuable in learning many of the lessons and subtle nuances of the game. Better still, your mistakes that you will undoubtedly make, are not anywhere near as expensive!
2. Only stake cash you can afford to lose
When you do decide to play for real cash, then only play with disposable cash. Never view poker as a way to make money for something that is needed, or a way to supplement your income. You are never as good a player when you have so much at stake, stay loose and play only with what you can afford to lose.
3. Only play your strong initial hands
Many novices see folding a hand as a sign of weakness, but that's far from the truth. While you are learning the game, or in particularly tight games, playing only the strong hands you have (either a pair, or combinations of 10,J,Q,K,A) gives you a far greater chance of success in the longer term and is usually much more cost-effective.
4. Don't over commit too early in a game
Got two Aces in your hand and tempted to go all in to try and win a huge pot? Be very careful. Over-committing yourself is a common mistake novice players make. Not only does it send immediate warning signals to experienced players (who will usually fold), there is always the chance that the community cards can leave you exposed to flushes, inside straights or more. Be bold, but don't be too feisty even if you do have a strong hand. A small win is better than a big loss!
5. Don't chase a single card if it is getting expensive
If you are waiting for a single card for a straight and it is getting expensive to stay in the hand, then you have to consider if the risk is worth it. How much of your stack are you betting in order to try and land a card that maybe has at best a 1 in 30 chance of being drawn? If your opponents are checking or making small bets, then it may be worth staying in the hand, but if the bets are getting larger, is the risk worth the reward?
6. Watch your opponents betting patterns
Poker is a game of information and the more you have on your opponents then the better player you will be. A good way to gain this information is to watch their betting patterns. Does an opponent always try to bet strongly, even if they have a weak hand? Does someone always pause slightly before betting when they bluff? How your opponents choose to bet depending on what is in their hand can reveal a lot about how they play and you can use that to your advantage as you gain more experience.
7. Pay equal attention to the community cards and the hands other players could have
Novice players often get tunnel vision when they have a good hand and are confident of winning. They often forget to pay attention to the community cards and what other hands are out there. Many novice poker players are shocked when after the final call, the cards are revealed and their pair of Kings are beaten by an inside straight that they hadn't even considered. So remember to pay close attention to your cards, but also the hands that other people may have against you.
8. Know the point at which you have to make a move
Every poker player has been in the situation where there stack has dwindled and they are now playing catch up. It isn't easy and sometimes it is prudent to make a move to try and resolve this before it gets too late. If you are falling further behind the pot leaders, then maybe it is worth considering making a bold move in the next hand or two to see if you can put yourself back in with a chance of winning outright.
9. Bluffs WILL get called
One of the biggest novice mistakes made by players is bluffing. Bluffs are when a player pretends to have a great hand, when in fact they do not and they usually make a huge bet to try and get other players to fold and allow them to win the hand. The only problem with this is, good players know a bad bluff every time they see it and they won't fold, but will call you, leaving you facing a short stack, a slim chance of winning the hand and wishing you hadn't made the bluff in the first place!
10. Know when to walk away
So you've had a great session and walked away with a nice pot of cash to add to your account. Why not enjoy the fruits of your labour? Withdraw some of that cash and put it to use on things other than poker. That way you have something tangible as a reward for your efforts and do not run the risk of simply handing your winnings to other players the next time you play.