Poker is one of the most popular games around the world. With ancient roots that go back nearly 1,000 years, poker today is adored by people across cultures and continents. Aside from being a very fun way to pass the time with friends, poker’s popularity is also credited to the amount of money involved in professional gambling settings. Tournaments such as the World Series of Poker (WSOP) and the World Poker Tour are known for their million-dollar pots, inspiring more and more people to learn this iconic card game.
If you’re a poker rookie who wants to reach the same success attained by legendary poker players like Daniel Negreanu or Justin Bonomo, then keep reading.
It’s essential to start at low stakes
Beginners should learn to be patient and start their poker journey by playing low stake games. Doing so means you won’t risk a ton of money and these games will help you develop your own poker strategy. With low stake games, you will feel more comfortable learning the rules of poker, understanding the positions, and figuring out what hands to play. This is because you will not feel under pressure to be the best player on the table. What’s more, starting at the lowest limits can help you avoid players who have a much higher skill level than you.
Learn how to compute your odds
In order to make the right call on the table, you should know your poker odds. Being able to calculate poker odds will give you the best chance of making informed decisions. You can do this by paying close attention to how and when your opponents bet and making an informed calculation on the strength of their hand. By making good mathematical decisions, you can avoid huge losses and become a strong progressive player.
Be conservative with bluffing
As a beginner, you may feel inspired to bluff your way to winning the pot. After all, plenty of players have pulled off amazing bluffs at the WSOP. However, bluffing is not something that you should do too much. Since you’re new to the game, it’s best that you play strong hands instead of trying to constantly bluff your opponents. If you lose bad on a bluff early on, you will be seen as an easy target by the other players. As your skill level increases, you’ll eventually be familiar with where and when a bluff may work to your advantage.
Don’t overvalue suited cards
Suited cards are cards of the same suit – e.g. the two and six of clubs. Lots of beginners make the mistake of playing hard with suited cards due to the increased chance of getting a flush draw. But the reality is that flushes are not as common as one may think. Having cards that are of the same suit only improves your hand by a measly 2 percent. So, reluctant as you may be, learn to fold your low-suited cards.
By following the tips we’ve listed above, you can greatly improve your poker skills. For more insightful articles on casino games, be sure to read our other posts here on The Digital Trends.
