Have you ever heard the phrase “there is more than one way to win the pot”?  While I do believe in this, I also believe that you should have a reason for your action.

If you are going to play poker and do it to make money you should not call, bet or raise without a reason for doing so. I think that the game of Texas Hold’em Poker is getting to the point where there are many good poker players that know how to play the game well. If you are asking yourself why this post is called what it is, it is just a question to ask yourself the next time you are playing poker and you are thinking of raising, you should always have an answer.

When playing poker, it is important to know who you can take advantage of and who you cant.  The reality is (even though you may not want to admit it), there will be instances where there are players at the poker table that are better than you! 

Its important to focus on outplaying the players you know will give you respect, or the players that are fishy at the table.  Dont get too involved with the players that have the ability to take advantage of you, as this wont be a profitable circumstance.

If you are choosing to play micro or low stakes cash games, be sure to to remember something VERY important.  There is no need for tricky poker skills here!  Generally micro to low stakes poker players don’t really have a clue, so playing tricks really isnt going to get you far.  Play a typical tight aggressive game, ABC poker, and you will be fine!

While the luxury of cash game poker is that you can make a questionable call, or an instincts call, and if you get stacked, you can reload; you dont want to take advantage of this perk. 

One of the best online poker secrets I can give you is, if you have lost 2 full buy-ins in one session, leave that table!  Sure, you have lost 2 buy-ins and that completely sucks; but by this time, either the cards are just not running well for you, you cant beat the fish, or you are going to go on tilt! 

Either take a break, or find a poker table with a different dynamic so that you can take advantage and win the money back without letting emotions get to you.

Poker is not like riding a bicycle!!!!  If you decide to take a break from playing poker, make sure that when you come back, you study the game and get your head back into it before you rejoin your regular poker limits.  Even a week can make a difference!

Your brain learns instincts (especially in online poker), so if you take a break from your routine, it is easy for you to get off track and even just a little difference can change your winning percentage.