As a beginner of any game, the rule is to always master the basics – that is your strength. If you are not yet confident on poker, do not lose hope. Keep on reading and you shall be over the edge of the table in no time.
Firstly, there are a couple of generalities you have to remember. One, you should be playing against tougher players than you are playing against your friends. If you are playing with seasoned poker players, the level of competition is going to be higher. As you have seen in the above picture, poker players raise after pre-flop, along with a variety of reasons to fold, making it expensive for you to stay in the game. Always bear in mind that if you decide to fold, you will not lose any money, however you will not be given any more cards to compete the next hand.
The next thing to remember is that you are playing not only for the money – but also for the experience itself. Dewabet is a highly competitive game, and you never know who you are competing against. When you take the time to learn the game, you will be less likely to get upset if you lose.
One of the most valuable resources for learning to play poker is by observing other players. You can spot certain players that are solid in their game and those that might be steer clear of the game. Never underestimate any player, as they too can be the difference between winning and losing. Practice observing your opponents, even when you are not in the hand. This is the first step towards discovering the cards they are holding and hence giving you the edge in the game.
Once you have focussed in on an opponent and can tell he is doing something specific, you should refrain from challenging him. Wait instead for something better, and if you spot a pattern, you will be able to challenge him later on in the game. The bright side of this strategy is that if you challenge a player while you are in the lead, you will normally have more success as you are in better position to bet, having observed your opponent’s move earlier.
One of the biggest mistakes poker players make is that they get bored. Again, the boredom is the number one reason for losing at poker. If you are taking the time to observe a single player, there is a great chance you have spotted a weakness in their game. That player may have a tell, an behaviour or a tell-tale scratch on their cards. Once you have a description of the player’s game, it is usually very simple to challenge the player and take their money. You will note that most players don’t like this, as they feel it is taking the easy way out. However, if the situation is reversed, you may have a chance of taking the easy win.
Traditionally, poker is a game of bluff and counter-bluff. Once you are able to master the skills of these other forms of challenge then you can begin to play in a more aggressive manner and win more pots. This is really the key to winning at poker and to winning big.
This is really the crux of the matter. You need to be aggressive and play a lot of hands if you want to give yourself a chance of winning big. Staying in many pots gives you more of a chance of winning and puts you in control of the game, which is important the more you practice.
The important thing to remember is that poker is not really a game of luck, it is a game of skill. To improve your skill, spend as much time as is possible learning from Hit and Run. If you do not want to spend any money, it is possible to practice through the use of play money and free virtual games. You can also play for points which you can redeem for merchandise. But, remember that the only true way to get good at poker is to spend a lot of time learning the game and focusing on it, so that you can back the effort required when you are ready to bet with real money.