Poker Hints - Tips for Profits

The following Poker Hints and Poker Tips can quickly install some wisdom to a player of lesser years. Poker is by nature a game that can be played after only an hours practice, but takes a lifetime to master.

1. 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 from the game.

2. 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..

3. 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.

4. Watch your opponents habits, especially when you are not 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.

5. 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.

6. Learn to put your opponents on a hand. Once you have mastered Tips #4 &5, it is time to put your knowledge to work.

7. 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?"

8. 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.

9. 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 strongest of 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

10. 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.