Everyone loves the idea of being a pro-gambling player. The kind of player that sits down commands the table, and walks away with pockets full of cash. But, as you probably already know, being a pro Poker player isn’t as easy as it looks. Poker is a game, first and foremost, of skill. This means you either can play poker well or just don’t have what it takes to dominate the public tables.
But, with Poker being a game of skill, you can be better at the game. The more familiar you are with the game, and the better you grasp strong strategy, the more you’ll win. Most appealing of all is that you can play better Poker right now. With just a few simple tips, you can go from a poor player to a strong Poker player, assuming you use the information correctly.
Let’s take a look at how you can play better Poker right now.
Play Fewer Hands
When playing Poker, your instinct is probably to engage with as many hands as possible. It’s only polite, after all, given that if you don’t play, everyone else ultimately has less to work with. Right? Wrong. When you play Poker, especially when you’re playing with real money, you’re under no obligation to participate in any hand. You can play the hands you want when you want, and the rest of the table will get along just fine.
The reality is that only a few Poker hands are worth playing. Remember that as much as Poker is a game of skill, it’s also partially a game of luck. This means that you’ll often draw worthless hands, and playing those hands is taking a massive risk.
Instead of engaging with lousy hands, resign to the idea that you’re only going to play hands worth the time. In other words, only ante up if you think the hand offers some chance of winning. Just this one small change in your play style will add up to a far better overall Poker experience.
Fold If You’re Unsure
You have to defend your strong Poker hand, right? Especially if you’ve already put in a few bets. After all, what’s the point of betting if you just land up folding?
This is the exact wrong Poker attitude to have. If, at any time, you start to doubt if your hand will win, fold. One of the biggest mistakes that amateur players make is thinking that it’s necessary to keep pushing with a hand, even after other players are piling on. Yes, there is a chance that the other players are bluffing. But, if you have any Poker sense at all, you’ll already know the moment you doubt your hand, it’s probably time to fold. Forget the sunk cost fallacy.
Do keep in mind, however, that we’re assuming you already have an idea of how your opponents play. Which is to say, you must already have an idea if your opponents are the kind to blatantly bluff or only bet when they have a hand.
Watch Your Opponents
Following on from the previous point, you need to watch your opponents. Yes, we’re aware that you’re playing online and can’t necessarily physically watch your opponents at a site like Big Dollar online casino. But you can still learn plenty from just observing how your opponents bet.
You must build up a mental picture of each opponent, get a clear idea of how and when each bet, and use the information wisely. In fact, you must spend most of your time playing Poker, analysing the other players rather than focusing on your own cards. It is, of course, important to keep track of your own game, but much more important to keep track of your opponent’s games.
Once you pay attention, it won’t take long for you to spot the good players and the players that only think they’re good. No matter the sort of player you’re facing, you can easily use their style against them.
Use Your Bluffing Power
Want to know a secret? While you watch your opponents, they also watch you. So, how do you prevent your opponents from understanding how you play? Easy: bluff often, bluff aggressively, and don’t only bet big on your strongest hands.
The general rule of most Poker players is to not bet unless they have at least something in their hand. Well, guess what? If you bet on a weak hand, you’ll throw your opponents off immediately. The moment they realize that you’re an unpredictable player, they’ll deal with you cautiously from that point on. The moment they start doing that, you have an enormous advantage. When the time does come for you to bet on a strong hand, and you bet aggressively, they won’t know what to make of you.
Push When You Sense Weakness
Are opponents starting to waver? Are you starting to see signs of weakness? Then it’s time to push and to push hard. Remember, you’re playing for real money here, and there is certainly no room for mercy. Once you feel like you have an advantage, do everything in your power to follow through to the end.
What are the signs of weakness? Low stacks, primarily. When an opponent knows that they’re running on fumes, you know that they’re dealing with very few options. They’re going to wait to get a decent hand, try their luck, and go for broke. Or alternatively, they’re going to go all in on a bluff.
Expect this, use it to your advantage, and go in for the kill.
Only Play When You Want To Play
Lastly, keep in mind that you don’t play your best Poker when you’re not in the mood to play Poker. So, don’t play when you’re not in the mood. It’s a simple rule, but a very important one. No one plays well when they’re not feeling the vibe, and forcing yourself to play is the road to bankruptcy.
Just call it quits, go take a nap, and play again when you’re feeling the vibe. Easy.
