The following poker tips are meant to provide some basic tips for intermediate poker players. The tips are based on the experience of seasoned professionals. Basic poker tips can provide a nice supplement of information to players that have a grasp of poker strategy but little actual experience.
Play at your skill level
Don’t step into a tournament if you’re just learning to play poker. If you want to make money, be sure you know who your opponents are and be sure you can play at least as well as they can.
Don’t play above your limit
Most experts agree that you should start with at least 50 times the table limit.
Know when to fold ’em
Top poker players typically play 20 to 30% of their starting hands. You can remove some of the luck element of poker by concentrating on higher value starting hands.
Study your opponents’ habits
You can almost learn as much about a player’s hand by watching their behaviour as you can by actually seeing the cards. How do they bet when they’re bluffing? How do they act when they have a good hand? The way to win at poker is to know what your opponents are holding before they lay their cards down.
Don’t call unless you would be willing to raise
Basically, only call if you think you have the best hand at the table. If you wouldn’t raise then you may want to consider abandoning the hand.
Learn to bluff but use it sparingly
Top poker players only bluff when they know they there’s a low risk of being called. Don’t depend on bluffing to get yourself out of a string of bad luck. That’s a good way to lose all your money.
Keep your opponents on their toes
If your opponents have taken this course than they know to study your actions in the same way you should be studying theirs. The best way to beat a diligent player is to be unpredictable. A player that is easy to understand is a player that is easy to beat.
Know your position and how to use it
The ideal poker position is the dealer, or button, as it is the last position to act. In this position, you have the advantage of watching all of the betting action before you need to make a decision.
There’s nothing wrong with online poker
Online poker is a good place to test your basic skills and figure out a good strategy. At the casino, you’ll have to play more wisely against the possibly more skilled competition.
Know what the best hand is when you make your bet
For example, if the board is single suited and your best hand is a three of a kind then you need to consider someone may very well have a flush.
Don’t get too greedy
It’s much better to win some small pots than lose a few big ones. If you have the best hand and the pot is big enough, go ahead and push as big a raise as you can in an attempt to take it down at that point. Don’t feel bad about not making as much as you could have had you let people stay in.
Don’t worry, be happy
Play when you’re feeling good. If you’re feeling angry, tired or sad you probably won’t play your best. Remember, it’s a game and it’s supposed to be fun.
Do your research
In addition to these courses, there are many good poker books dealing with poker strategy and how to play the game. Also, take notes on what works for you and what does not. It is important for you to come up with a style of play that fits you and improves your game.
