Play According To Your Skill Level & Budget
It may be tempting to jump in and play with the high rollers. However, if you would prefer not to risk the potential big losses that may come as a result, rather stick to games that suit your budget and involve players that are at, or around, your skill level.
Learn From The Best
On the other hand, playing against very skilled poker players can be an invaluable learning experience. Just keep the risk to your bankroll, and ego, in mind, and don’t overreach. Pro players can spot a novice from a mile away and will likely show no mercy.
Be Ready To Fold
Knowing when to fold is one of the major key aspects to becoming good at poker. It shouldn’t ever be seen as “surrender” or a last resort. Rather it is a vitally important tool to safe-guard poker players, from themselves, other players, and general misfortune, regardless of how much money they’ve put in the pot.
Always Pay Attention
Poker is all about paying supreme attention, to the game, and in particular to the other players. Professional poker players become masters at reading their opponents. This is done by careful study and observation, looking for patterns, tics and tells, and anything that may aid in predicting the opponent’s hand and strategy.
Make Bluffs Count
Bluffing is a very useful and important part of poker; however it can just as easily become a big disadvantage if not used wisely. Used too frequently and other players may learn to predict it and use it against you. Likewise, it should never be seen as a substitute for folding. This usually only amounts to being reckless.
Don’t Raise If You Can’t Back It Up
One of the most common mistakes of brash new poker players is to raise, simply hoping that it will scare other players, and then folding when it’s subsequently called or raised higher. When this happens, not only is the player losing unnecessary money, but is potentially also giving their opponents telling information. Try to raise only when you are sure of your hand’s strength, and are ready to raise further.
Know Yourself And Your Tilt
“Tilt” and being “tilted” are poker terms for when players basically lose their cool or edge, be it from anger, frustration, distraction, or anything that ends up throwing them off their game. It is often used purposefully and strategically in poker, and it is therefore essential for poker players to learn and understand themselves, and their opponents, to a point where they can avoid, or, if it’s your style, to exploit it.
Playing Online Vs Playing At Live Casinos
While online poker is on the rise in popularity and has much of what makes live casino poker exciting and rewarding, it is however, quite different. Most obvious is the lack of physical presence of other players, and so being unable to read such things as body language. It should therefore be treated as a variant of the game and played accordingly.