New to poker? It can be good to have handy this short checklist of tips and tricks issued by CasinoTalk that can be applied in the battles against your opponents. Below are 10 tips that can be helpful when playing poker both online and in-person.
1. Have a bankroll so you can afford to bluff
As in all games, you should never play for more than you can afford to lose.
When you’ve got too much money at stake, it impairs your ability to make the right decisions at the table. Generally speaking, having a large bankroll is associated with self-confidence. Poker is often about being able to bluff in the right spots and radiate self-confidence. You don’t have to be a multi-millionaire; just make sure you’re properly rolled for the stakes you play.
2. Concentration and focus
To succeed in poker, focus is required when it comes to keeping track of both your statistics as well as mapping your opponents. The more you learn about your opponents’ game patterns, the greater your benefits will be in different spots. For that reason, you should never play when you are drunk, tired or generally emotionally out of balance.
3. Be erratic
While this advice might sound strange, in poker it’s quite sound. In the same way that your task is to read your opponents, it is also an advantage to be able to mislead the other players. As such, you should never follow a particular set pattern and above all try not to show any emotions. Being unpredictable is what tends to separate the chaff from the wheat and the winners from the losers at the tables.
4. Keep your head cool
Never incite yourself or get angry at the cards, dealers, or your opponents. Firstly, it is unprofessional and secondly, you really reveal yourself. It takes patience and finesse to succeed at poker. Tilt control is also probably the most difficult lesson to learn in poker, but if you master it you will undoubtedly have a smoother ride in each and every poker session you play.
5. Know when to call it quits
In the same way that it is important to keep a cool and calm demeanor and not tilt, it is just as important to know when it is time to stop playing and call it quits after any session. Generally speaking, if you feel yourself beginning to lose emotional control, make poor plays and bad decisions, or even wonder “is it time to wrap things up and call it quits?”, that’s usually when it’s best to stop playing.
6. Keep quiet
Some professional players, like Daniel Negreanu and William Kassouf, have mastered the art of speech play. There’s nothing wrong with friendly banter at the tables, but be advised that most of the time when you open your mouth it also gives away information. As such, it would seem prudent to limit your speaking at the table to just courteous and necessary interaction with the dealer, floor people, and fellow players.
7. Play to have fun
As in everything else we do, poker usually goes best when we actually feel good. Poker, a mentally demanding casino game requires lots of concentration, finesse, and skill. If for whatever reason you don’t feel well, the game will still be there tomorrow; you will probably have saved yourself from losses. This is true for recreational players, but that much more so for professionals.
8. Practice makes perfect
While many are utilizing poker training sites to improve at the game, there’s no substitute for actual practice. If your eventual goal is to become a professional poker player and ladder up to high stakes play, you should have a regular playing schedule. Eventually, sitting down at a live or virtual poker table will feel like second nature to you, and to a degree you can almost “run on autopilot.”
9. Choose the right poker bonus
As a new online poker player, you can get a certain bonus amount to play for on various gaming sites such as 888poker and others. The size of your bonus depends on your deposit. When it comes to poker bonuses, it is important to find out the conditions that must be met, so be sure to read the fine print for conditions that apply.
10. Find the right online casino or poker room
Many professional poker players have special routines that they follow before their tournaments. Some poker players also have special lucky amulets that they always bring with them to get that really good gaming feeling. The same, of course, applies to the online casino or poker room you play at. Therefore, be sure to choose a casino or poker room with care – to get the best gaming experience possible.
