Poker is 50% strategy, 50% memory. To succeed, you’d have to know the ins and outs, master mechanics, and work with the rules to rise above them. But contrary to popular belief, sticking to what you know can only get you so far. There are more things you need to bear in mind than you know, more than the basic principle your learned from playing poker on your kitchen table. So to have more productive runs, this guide to playing poker shares five of the most important things to remember in a highly-competitive online poker match.
The good hands
First, the poker hand rankings should always be encrypted in your mind. That way, you know which cards to focus on and work on how you can build a strong hand. From highest to lowest, the hand rankings are arranged as: Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, Pair, and High Card. In terms of good starting hands, you can use 9-9, T-T, J-J, Q-Q, K-K, A-A and A-J, A-Q and A-K to get a nice edge.
The proper calls
Calling too much is a classic mistake among rookie online players. One might assume the art of calling is a basic trick that needs no poker guide, but a lot of times calling becomes the deciding point that makes or breaks the game. Why do some players do it? When they don’t know what they hold and what their cards dictate. That’s why hand reading is important, for you to measure how strong your hand is and to help you decide whether to bet or call.
The position
You’ll find this in any poker guide you find online, that ignoring position is a mortal sin especially in online poker. Taking advantage of position lets you have more leverage over your opponents, aside from the time you get thinking about your next killer move. Generally, being in the last position gives you more edge, because a) when it’s your turn, you will have had more information about your opponents’ standings, b) you’ll have better bluffing opportunities, and c) you have more control over the pot size. Playing according to position is a trick used by most pro players, so why not do it?
The cool
This poker guide won’t be complete without this: in any poker game, remember to keep your cool. Everybody gets their fair share of a bad loss- be it getting bad cards, bad hands, or bad bets. You’ll be surprised by the amount of players, even the most professional, highly-skilled ones, go crazy in a poker match, so this always needs reminding. Playing without your cool often leads to impulsive decisions and instant losses, which automatically translates to an unpleasant playing experience. When an awful run comes, keep playing, get over it, or take a break. You can always log on the next day.
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