Thursday, February 4, 2010

Just Beginning as a Poker Player? Three essential tips

Poker is very fun and exciting and many people play as a hobby, some even as a career. The basic rules of poker are simple, but the game itself can become very challenging when you begin to play at higher levels alongside better players. Prior to investing any money in poker, it is advised that you solidly grasp the rules of betting, calling, raising, and folding. You also must know the rank of each hand, in order to make wise decisions and the fewest errors possible. You don’t want to think you have the best hand when, in reality, you are beat by many other possible hands. Here are 3 more tips on becoming a poker player.

1. “Play Money” to start- Play money allows you to start learning and applying the basic rules and fundamentals without a single cost to you. You won’t have to worry about shooting through your whole bank account trying to become a good poker player. Most online poker sites offer “play money” games, so you’ll have many from which to choose. You can also just play for fun at your home with friends.

2. Don’t be afraid to try out multiple strategies- You have to find a playing style that works for you and it may take a few tries before you find out exactly what that style is. You might not be an uber-aggressive player, so if that doesn’t suit you, try to play more conservatively. Experiment while you’re playing for free – now’s the right time. Don’t feel stuck in one strategy when you’re just getting started. You’ll be very easy to read by more experienced players and you will get quickly frustrated if other players are bullying you around the table constantly.

3. Don’t let your ego get in the way of playing a solid poker game- There will be times you will get lucky and win some big hands or suck out the cards you need to beat people. Don't let that go to your head. Keep a level head at all times, regardless of whether you’re up or down. You will ultimately concentrate better and, as a result, play your best poker.
These tips should help you smoothly transition into learning the game of poker. Poker does involve a little bit of luck, but skilled players perform better over the long run and you should aim to be one of those players. By letting these tips guide you, you can master the fundamentals, develop a successful poker playing style, and dominate online games even when you switch to playing for real money.