| Poker
Tips
Having
a strategy going into a game is as important as the
strategy and goals you have set for your life. To be
taken seriously in Poker as in life, you must appear to
be in control and seem like you know what you're doing.
The
first 5/7 cards you receive will be the foundation of
your hand. Build your strategy around these. You're not
likely to better your opening hand. I believe that the
odds of improving your hand on the draw are about even.
You'll
soon discover who the strong players are at the table.
As tempting as it is, try to resist the temptation of
trying to beat them at risk of losing sight of the other
aspects of your game. You'll lose big time if you're not
lucky. If you're lucky enough to win, it'll hardly be
worth the effort.
Tip #1
If
you can't beat the other hands, don't join them, fold
and live to play another day. The table will always be
ready when you are.
Tip #2
Don't
play in a game that is too tough for you (opponents are
much better) or too high for your bankroll (if you can't
afford to lose, you can't play your best).
Tip #3
Don't
get married to a hand. (You must be able to throw your
hand away when it is obviously beaten no matter how good
a hand you started with.)
Tip #4
To
have a good poker strategy, a poker player should have a
conscious or unconscious understanding of odds and
expectation.
Tip#5
One
of the more popular poker tips is that you should always
study. The best way to improve your game is to study and
practice your skills in low-stakes games.
Tip #6
You
can't expect to win every session you play. Realize that
every session is part of your career session.
Tip #7
You
should never be intimidated. Play steady, and have fun.
Tip #8
The
prime rule in poker is: don't try to beat the other
players; let them try to beat you. This isn't just an
introductory sentence; it is probably more important
than all the tips and hints that follow. Do yourself a
favour by memorizing it.
Tip #9
Be
sure you know the rules of the game. The player who
knows the rules has a decided advantage in any game
against players who are vague about them.
Tip #10
Study
the poker probability tables found elsewhere on this web
site. A player who knows the poker probabilities of
drawing and improving hands has a decided edge over the
player who thinks he knows. But don't become a slave to
poker probabilities. They are probabilities, not laws;
and they do not supply a certain recipe for winning.
Tip #11
Observe
your opponents; learn their poker mannerisms. Are they
loose or tight players? And avoid giveaway mannerisms of
your own.
Tip #12
Play
as often as possible; experience is the best teacher.
Tip #13
Always
remember that in a poker game the average hand becomes
less valuable the more players there are.
Tip #14
Treat
every round of betting as if it were the first. Forget
the previous betting rounds and the money you have
contributed to the pot.
Tip#15
Vary
your playing strategy. The player whose game is always
the same becomes an easy mark for smart poker players.
Tip #16
Try
to keep a poker face. Don't complain when losing or show
elation when winning. The emotional aftermath will
prohibit clear thinking and proper evaluation of
succeeding hands.
Tip #17
Trust
no one at poker; it is a game for blood. If you want to
play a good game you must forget friendship and bet your
hand for what it's worth. Top-money winners do.
Tip #18
When
you play poker, give the game all you've got or get out.
That is not only the best way to win at poker; it's the
only way you and the rest of the players can get any fun
out of what ought to be fun.
Tip #19
Poker
is a game of skill, but a lot of the skill involves
being able to conceal your true feelings and, at the
same time, to assess the true feelings of others who are
trying to do the same.
Tip #20
The
flop is the nexus of the hand; limiting raises preflop
goes far towards disguising your hand.
Tip #21
In
early position you have to play fairly tightly, even in
loose games, since you don't know how many raises there
will be, and you will be out of position for the whole
hand.
Tip#22
When
opening in tight games in any position or loose games in
late position, your attention should be on getting heads
up with a blind or outright stealing the blinds.
Tip #23
It
is better to sacrifice your small early bets then to
rope yourself into a betting war with a seasoned pro.
Tip #24
When
it comes to betting, alcohol can be your enemy. While
beer and cigars tend to go hand in hand with poker
night, alcohol is not recommended if you're going to
play in a casino, especially if the stakes are a little
higher.
Tip#25
One
of the best pieces of advice we can give you about
betting is to bet with your head, not over it. This is
the slogan for Gamblers Anonymous, and it couldn't be
truer.
Tip #26
Very
few people make their fortunes playing poker. A lot more
lose theirs. We don't mean to get preachy here, but we
don't want you to pawn your high school ring to pay the
phone bill. We've seen it happen, and it isn�t pretty.
Tip #27
Never
bring your entire bankroll with you to one gambling
session. You need to have a daily gambling budget. Start
by dividing your bankroll by the number of days you'll
be gambling. Then divide your daily bankroll into the
number of sessions you will be playing each day. This is
now your single-session bankroll. Don't bet tomorrow's
money until tomorrow comes.
Tip #28
Set
a goal of winning between 50 to 100% of a single-session
bankroll. Then set aside your original bankroll plus
half your winnings. Now play with the remainder and
continue to set aside additional winnings.
Tip #29
Discipline
is not only a significant part of being a successful
gambler but probably the most important element of money
management. You must set loss limits and win goals.
Example: When losing half your session bankroll you
walk, and when doubling your money, consider doing the
same.
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