The Poker Father's Top 10 Poker Tips for Playing Poker
(Click Here for Texas Hold'em Tournament
Tips)
Poker Tip #1: Playing too many hands
Most beginners play way too many starting hands, in fact top players
typically play between 20-30% of their starting hands. Concentrate
on higher value starting hands and help remove the luck element
of the game.
Poker Tip #2: Know when to hold’em
and know when to fold’em
Learn how to fold a hand, and don’t be a calling machine.
Many beginners keep betting regardless of the board or what their
opponent’s actions are suggesting. Top players frequently
say it’s the hands you can lay down that are often the key
to profitable play.
Poker Tip #3: Choose less skillful opponents
...if you want to win money. Sounds fairly obvious, but you should
play at betting limits where you can beat the majority of players.
Move down in limits if you are having difficulties winning money.
In poker, always leave
your ego at the door.
Please Note: If you want to become a better Poker Player
than you should choose to play against better Poker Players then
yourself. This is the Golden Rule of life if you want to become
better at anything! However, keep in mind that you can lose a
lot of money playing against better players because Poker is
Gambling. Please see our Terms of Use
Page.
Poker Tip #4: Watch your opponents habits
Especially when you aren’t in a hand. The best time to study
is when you aren’t emotionally invested in the hand, and
you can make more prudent observations. Watch how opponents bet,
and how much they bet, in what position are they betting. Learning
how your opponents play is key.
Poker Tip #5: Betting to gain knowledge
Betting is not always because you have the best hand. Top players
use various betting techniques to try to gain information. For
example, a defensive bet is one that you can use early on to avoid
calling a bigger future bet. A re-raise may be used to probe the
credibility of your opponent’s hand.
Poker Tip #6: Learn to put your opponents on a hand
Once you have mastered Tips #4 & #5, it is time to put your
knowledge to work. Try putting yourself in your opponents shoes,
and learn to put them on a hand. Ask questions like “Why
did he re-raise me that amount?”, and “Why did he
only call in the previous betting round?”, “Maybe
because he only called me, he has a kicker problem?”
Poker Tip #7: Learn how to bluff and semi-bluff
...at the right times against the right players, and at the right
frequency. Bluffing is often a misunderstood concept, and much
to many beginner’s dismay most pros use bluffs quite sparingly.
A bluff can be very effective when used rarely, and where there
is a seemingly low risk of being called by your opponent.
Poker Tip #8: Changing Gears
Unpredictability can be good. Most pros can figure out a really
loose player by waiting for the nuts and being patient. However,
an even easier opponent is a tight player or “rock”,
who plays only the Group 1 type hands. You need to change your
game up, and let them see that you can run bluffs, and can play
some lower value starting hands. These changes should be subtle
and shouldn’t dramatically affect the flop rate we mentioned
in Tip #1
Poker Tip #9: Understand player position
...and how it is critical. Not only is it important to play strong
hands, it is even more important in what position you play them.
For example, the ideal position is the Button (the Dealer), as
you are last to act, and have the advantage of watching all of
the betting action before you need to make a decision. eg. If
the action before you consists of a bet, a raise, and a re-raise,
and you hold a pair of Tens, you might think that folding is the
right decision.
Poker Tip # 10: Read books and take notes
Players can always learn more if they want to be a better poker
player. Keep notes on what works and doesn’t work for you,
and eventually you will come up with a style of play that works
uniquely for you and improves your game. Please see our list of
Top Poker Books if you want to see some good selections.
Bonus Poker Tip!
"Keep your friends close, but your Poker Friends Closer"
-The Pokerfather
More Poker Tips
Please also see our news articles on "Five
Unconventional Tips to Poker Success" and "Ten
Tips to Improve Your Online Poker Game"
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Please Also See:
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Starting Hands - Estimating
Odds - Poker
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