General Advice
As we’ve emphasized, casino or Internet poker can be a great deal of fun. That’s why so many people play it. But poker is complex, and many players are very competitive. This means that to do well in the game, you must be able to play at your best. What follows are a few general tips that should be helpful to you in this area.
Maintain a positive attitude.
A good attitude translates into patience and discipline. Sometimes you won’t get your fair share of good playable hands, and this can be frustrating. But if your attitude becomes negative, you may find yourself playing hands you should have thrown away, plus making other costly errors.
Recognize the short-term luck factor in poker.
To play poker well requires a lot of skill, yet the game contains a large element of luck in the short run. Good players will beat bad players, but not necessarily the next time you play. And seeing a poor player win many hands in a short period of time can be discouraging, especially if you were involved in some of those pots. But this short-term luck is part of poker and, in fact, is one of the factors that keeps the games thriving. Sometimes you will be the player who gets lucky. When this happens, you are said to be on a “rush,” which is a terrific feeling.
Be well-rested when you play.
You must make a lot of decisions when playing poker, and determining the best course of action is often difficult. Although experience helps in this area, being able to think clearly and quickly are extremely important. If you are tired, you may make a few mistakes that you ordinarily would not make, and these errors easily can be the difference between winning and losing.
Drink in moderation.
There’s nothing wrong with drinking socially while playing poker. But many players drink too much and then begin to make bad decisions. An inebriated player typically plays too many hands, goes too far with his hands, calls too many bets and raises, overplays his reasonably good holdings, and otherwise makes decisions associated with bad play.
Enjoy the game.
Poker is fun to play, but as noted, it can be quite frustrating at times, partly because of the short-term luck factor. If you become discouraged and lose your patience and discipline, you may discover that you are making too many mistakes to be successful. So sit back, relax, and enjoy playing the game.Be cautious of playing in a game if you are uncomfortable with the stakes.
Should you play with your rent money? Of course not. First, you might lose it, and that can be a big problem. Second, if you play at a limit you are not comfortable with, the pressure may cause you to make costly mistakes, or at the very least, you won’t play your best game.
Always play your best.
Sometimes when you see poor players making critical mistakes and still winning, you may be tempted to imitate their play. Don’t do it. Remember, despite the short-term luck factor, poker is a game of skill, and good players will beat bad players in the long run.
Protect your hand.
When you first begin to play poker, it’s important to remember to conceal your cards so that no one else can see them. After playing for a short while, this should become second nature. Needless to say, if someone knows what you hold, it will be almost impossible to win, no matter how well you play.
It’s also important to hold on to your cards or to put a chip on top of them, so the dealer won’t mistakenly think you have discarded your hand. In addition, you should turn your cards face up at the showdown, so the dealer can read your hand to see if you have won the pot. Otherwise, you might discover that instead of winning the pot, your hand has been mucked — that is, discarded — by the dealer.
