-
Playing
too many hands. Most beginners play way too many starting
hands, in fact top players typically play between 20-30% of
their starting hands. Concentrate on higher value starting hands
and help remove the luck element of the game.
-
Know when to hold’em, and know when to fold’em.
Learn how to fold a hand, and don’t be a calling machine. Many beginners keep betting regardless
of the board or what their opponent’s actions are suggesting. Top players frequently say it’s
the hands you can lay down that are often the key to profitable play.
-
Choose less skillful opponents. If you want
to win money. Sounds fairly obvious, but you should play at
betting limits where you can beat the majority of players. Move
down in limits if you are having difficulties winning money.
In poker, always leave your ego at the door.
-
Watch your opponents habits. Especially when
you aren’t in a hand. The best time to study is when you
aren’t emotionally invested in the hand, and you can make
more prudent observations. Watch how opponents bet, and how
much they bet, in what position are they betting. Learning how
your opponents play is key.
-
Betting to gain knowledge. Betting is not
always because you have the best hand. Top players use various
betting techniques to try to gain information. For example,
a defensive bet is one that you can use early on to avoid calling
a bigger future bet. A re-raise may be used to probe the credibility
of your opponent’s hand.
-
Learn to put your opponents on a hand. Once
you have mastered Tips #4 & #5, it is time to put your knowledge
to work. Try putting yourself in your opponents shoes, and learn
to put them on a hand. Ask questions like “Why did he
re-raise me that amount?”, and “Why did he only
call in the previous betting round?”, “Maybe because
he only called me, he has a kicker problem?”
-
Learn how to bluff and semi-bluff. At the
right times against the right players, and at the right frequency.
Bluffing is often a misunderstood concept, and much to many
beginner’s dismay most pros use bluffs quite sparingly.
A bluff can be very effective when used rarely, and where there
is a seemingly low risk of being called by your opponent.
-
Changing Gears. Unpredictability can be good.
Most pros can figure out a really loose player by waiting for
the nuts and being patient. However, an even easier opponent
is a tight player or “rock”, who plays only the
Group 1 type hands. You need to change your game up, and let
them see that you can run bluffs, and can play some lower value
starting hands. These changes should be subtle and shouldn’t
dramatically affect the flop rate we mentioned in Tip #1.
-
Understand player position. And how it is
critical. Not only is it important to play strong hands, it
is even more important in what position you play them. For example,
the ideal position is the Button (the Dealer), as you are last
to act, and have the advantage of watching all of the betting
action before you need to make a decision. eg. If the action
before you consists of a bet, a raise, and a re-raise, and you
hold a pair of Tens, you might think that folding is the right
decision.
-
Read books and take notes. Players can always
learn more if they want to be a better poker player. Keep notes
on what works and doesn’t work for you, and eventually
you will come up with a style of play that works uniquely for
you and improves your game.
