Online Poker Secrets» playing poker

Know the Structure

jen — Sat, 16 May 2009 16:55:45 +0000

An important note about playing poker tournaments: Know the structure before you play!

This is important because, any changes in the structure can affect your overall play. If the structure is regular for the first 2 hours, and then afterwards, speeds up a bit – you will have to make a change in your game. If you arent aware of this before you begin the poker tournament, you may find yourself struggling to catch up and then you are not playing your A game.

10x Max Buy-In Rule (Moving Up Stakes)

jen — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:41:22 +0000

If you already know the ins and outs of playing poker online, this online poker secret just might be what it takes for you to transition from a losing to a winning poker player.

No matter what stake you are playing, you should always have a minimum of 10x the Max Buy-in in your bankroll. DO NOT MOVE UP STAKES, UNTIL YOU HAVE ATLEAST 10X MAX BUY-IN TO THE NEXT LEVEL!!!

Having an appropriate bankroll to play a certain level of poker is just as important as understanding how to play the game! I keep a general rule to myself that if I am going to move up stakes, I must have atleast 15x the max buy-in for the game – this way, i have 5x buy-ins to play with and keep myself at the stake I am playing, without moving back down.

NO POKER (when under the weather)

jen — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 19:42:28 +0000

You may not think it, but your health is a very important factor when playing online poker. If you dont feel well, you would just call in sick if you were working at an office right? So what is the difference between your day job and playing poker?

Treating poker as a business (if you are looking to profit of course) is exactly what needs to be done, so if you are under the weather, take the day off.

Sometimes the cards just arent there…

jen — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 17:18:31 +0000

Don’t change the way you are playing poker just because you are losing. The reality in online poker (and live too) is sometimes your good cards just dont hold up, or you just dont get the cards you want. If you feel you are playing good poker and are winning consistently you may have a bad day or two or 10 even! Don’t let these losing days change the way you play or make you start to question the way you are playing.

To ride the rush you have to weather the storm too!

Know who you can outplay!

jen — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:47:39 +0000

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.

Take a break, then study!

jen — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 18:47:01 +0000

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.

Dont overplay AK

jen — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 04:19:35 +0000

Just happens too often! Poker Players overplay AK thinking it is a “premium hand”. Keep in mind its only AK high. And even if you hit an Ace or a King (just one of the 2) it is only 1 pair! When playing hands like AK in poker, just make sure you are playing the poker players along with the hands!

Zen and the Art of Poker

jen — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 19:04:34 +0000

While Zen and the Art of Poker is probably one of the easiest books to read, and many will think that its too easy – I believe it is probably one of the best poker books out there. Learning patience and the mechanical play of Texas Holdem would be an incredible asset when playing online poker. You will learn how to be relaxed and play only with your mind, rather than playing poker with your emotions.

Limping under the gun

jen — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 04:16:28 +0000

For the most part, you should be limping under the gun (UTG) with your decent hands (88,99,TT,JJ,AJs,AQ,AQs,AK,AKs) and not raise – at a full table. The reason for this is, either you are expecting someone to raise, for you to be able to reraise, or players will assume with a UTG limp that you are strong and fold – giving you the same implications of raising, but still getting potential action on your decent holdem hands.

Patience Grasshopper..

jen — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 22:47:05 +0000

We have all heard this one before, but that doesnt mean we all listen. Its amazing that the smallest peices of advice in Poker are actually the most important to listen to. Patience is key when playing poker, ESPECIALLY online! You are seeing so many hands/hour, and its so easy to play hands just because they are there. Whether you are playing tournament poker or cash games, patience can be key to your success – as all it takes is 1 bad move and your game could be thrown.