Tip #4 – Simple Steps to Improve Your Poker Game

Ok, its a little bit of a more general post this week. Here are some of the simple steps you can take to improve your poker game.

Everybody loves to play poker. Why not, since it can bring a lot of money and bragging rights when you win your home poker game. Being even a little bit casual and not focused on the game and you will find yourself losing your money. So you need to keep some simple things in your mind while you are risking your hard earned money in this game.

These are more guidelines to follow while you are playing and are some of the more basic tips for those who are just starting to play in tournaments and against their buddies. Some simple steps are listed below.

No need of playing every hand

Beginners always play too many hands and this causes them to lose early. Here’s a couple of pointers. The number of people at your table should dictate how much you play. If there are 9 or 10 people playing, then the most you will want to get involved is about 1 out of every 4 to 5 hands.

Once there is 6 or fewer, you have to change up and start playing more. If you don’t, then people will fold when you bet and take your blinds away from you. When you get down to the point where people are concerned about holding on to win some money, that’s when you start to bluff and take advantage of the other players weakness.

What hands should you fold? At a table with 9 or 10 players, depending on how many people are in or have yet to act, you may want to fold anything worse than a King-9 suited, Queen-jack or a pair of 8′s.

Drinking Deteriorates Thinking

I’m kind of proud of myself for that rhyme. Drinking too much alcohol may be fun and your more unpredictable. But you will predictably lose most of the time. Your judgment goes to crap when your Irish eyes are smiling.

Plus, you negate any advantages that you can take away from others like who is full of BS and who is likely to fold.

Don’t bluff too much

This especially holds true on the internet. People just love to call, even if they only have a small pair. Bluffing is an art which needs to be learned. You should never bluff too much, or otherwise people will be expecting it and will try to use that to take you out of the game.

Also, you have to know who your bluffing against. Is it the person who hangs on to their chips and won’t commit? Then that person is very easy to bluff against to win. Did that person just raise you? Time to pack your bags or fold your hand.

Never be in a hand because you are already in it

I know your the big blind and it’s tempting to play that 6-2 off suit. But if someone raises you, don’t call. Best case scenario is that you fold after the flop and feel stupid. The worse case scenario is that you actually make something on your hand, then promptly lose your money to a better hand.

This also includes calling all the time to try to make your straight or flush. It seems like if your one card away from the flush after the flop, you should have a 1 in 2 chance of making the flush. You don’t, its more around the lines of 1 in 4 because of the cards in your hand and on the board.

Don’t check to see what your cards are until it is your turn to bet

This is a great tool to use, it prevents people from picking up tells about your hand. People will see what you do when you fold and what you will do when you have a great hand. Don’t give them more information than you need to.

Never play with money that you can’t afford to lose

This is the most important of all. Winning in poker is far from guaranteed. You should always play within your limits so that you can take care of your business.

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