Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Five Tips for Online Poker

Online poker is an extremely unpredictable game, and different strategies inside and out of actual play can help maximize your bankroll. Whether you are an online poker amateur or have been playing for a long time, the same mistakes are easy to overlook. Online poker is a very accessible resource for all players and therefore makes it especially dangerous. So before you download one of the many poker rooms available, keep in close mind these tips. These examples along with many others will provide any player with a solid background before jumping too early into real money play online.

Tip #1 – The very first and most decisive difference between online poker and local games is the speed. Many players do not realize how many hands they can play through online in a short period of time. An excellent way to get used to this play is through play money. For a new player online, play money is the perfect chance to get accustomed with the differences.

Tip #2 – After acclimating with the speed, a bankroll should be set for real money play. This bankroll should neither be any amount of money that makes a significant dent in your personal funds nor is too small an amount that playing for you is too sporadic and crazy. After determining your bankroll, always remember to play within it. The standard buy-in for a tournament should be around five percent of your bankroll and a cash table buy-in near two percent. Many players play out of their own bankrolls and although winning can seem significant, the losses can be more devastating.

Tip #3 – Another major problem develops easily with all players, and that problem is tilting or playing in an altered state. Make it a priority to never play under the influence of any drug or alcohol. This makes tilting or playing off-edge after a bad beat even easier. And with the quickness of online poker, and the availability of funds, losing money in this state can occur easily.

Tip # 4 – Many basic tips in actual play can also provide knowledge and strategy that will give you a leading edge over the competition. Tournament play is a valuable method for winning large amounts with a minimal buy-in, but the competition is always difficult. When beginning any standard tournament, through the first break your main goal should be to double your stack.

With the blinds being very small there is no reason to get loose. Simply sit back and wait for your chance to double up. Once the blinds become significantly larger in the later periods, stealing blinds is extremely efficient in building a stack. This is why so often players in late position raise the pot normally with marginal hands to accumulate the blinds.

Tip # 5- Cash game tables may seem frightening but when played in the right circumstances can be very valuable. Many players tend to grind out or play tightly, which if time is not an obstacle can be a good way to win.

Also, always remember that playing multiple tables at once online is no problem unlike local or home games. Usually three to four tables at once is standard. More tables may take your mind off of important hands and too few can bore anyone. Also remember to always try to broaden your view of the game by reading and interacting with other players. The more background and knowledge you have of the game, the more skillful you will become.

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