Learning how to play online poker better is perhaps the first step you need to take to increase your skills and have a successful game of poker. If you’re one of many players wondering how to sharpen their poker skills, then you’re in the right place.
In this how to play online Poker better guide, we’ll go into all the tips, tricks, and ways to improve your overall Poker skills and a become a better player. With so many competitive players and professional Poker players that you can play against, our tips will give you some handy knowledge that will help you play with more confidence when you’re playing online Poker.
The first thing we simply must mention is that unlike slots or even other table games, Poker is one of those games that involves a large element of skill. Of course, like every single casino game out there, there is also an element of luck and no Poker strategy can guarantee that you will always win.
Similarly, like every other casino game, your Poker skills will improve with practice – the more you play, the better you will become at evaluating the game and deciding on your moves at one of the most popular casino card games out there.
1. Begin By Playing Low-Stakes Poker Online
Even if you’re an experienced Poker player with lots of experience playing
offline, playing online Poker is different in some ways and can take some
time to get used to. For this reason, we strongly recommend you start out
by playing with lower stakes.
In general, if you’re new to a game, it’s never a good idea to start out
with high stakes as you’re more likely to lose more often and at a faster
rate. The idea is to learn the game and try to last as long as you can in
the game, without having to top up your balance frequently. This is
especially suggested for players who are totally new to the world of poker.
If you’re interested in playing Poker online, the goal is simply to get
familiar with playing it online first.
2. Time Investment – Playing Long Poker Sessions
Grab a big cup of coffee, get comfortable, and prepare yourself for a long
session if you want to learn how to play online poker
better. Most poker sessions can last several hours and there is no way of
knowing the length of the sessions before the game begins. If you want to
get better at playing poker, you have to be ready to play for lengthy
sessions.
This leads us to the next point which any professional and expert
professional poker would say is one of the most crucial elements of playing
poker: patience. Playing any poker session, whether offline or online,
requires lots of dedication and patience. Ultimately, being patient in the
game will also help you make better decisions that can improve your odds.
3. Don’t Worry About Playing A ‘Balanced Style’
Most players, especially beginners, are concerned that they’re not using
what is referred to as a ‘balanced style’ in Poker. A balanced style refers
to a playing in a way that tries to avoid patterns that can later on be
exploited by other players in the game, therefore they vary their actions
in similar situations to achieve a balance style. However, playing with a
balanced style is generally only necessary if you’re going up against the
top Poker experts.
If you’re playing with players who aren’t as skilled, you can have a more
flexible style of play because they won’t be as good at reading the meaning
behind all of your actions. When playing against experienced opponents,
it’s good to play in a less predictable way such as, for example, varying
your bets and actions to make them harder to read.
Play Live Poker Games
4. Be Prepared For Some Crazy Ups And Downs During Gameplay
Besides being mentally and physically prepared for a long session, you also
need to be prepared for some significant ups and downs that can take you by
surprise during the game. First of all, we have to keep in mind that when
you’re
playing Poker
, there can be a huge number of players you need to go against, each one
bringing a different level of skill to the table. When playing in Poker
tournaments, especially low-stakes tournaments, the number of players can
be hundreds, so it will be very difficult to predict how the game will
unfold.
For instance, imagine a scenario where you’re playing with a large number
of other players. The possibility of players calling your raises is much
higher. This might be favourable later on during the game but it can make
the outcome of the game much more unpredictable and put you in a much worse
position than you anticipated for.
Because the game can last so long, it’s also good to remember that you
could easily end up in a very different position than the one you started
in. However, if you end up in a worse position, it’s not time to call it
quits just yet because this is actually likely to balance out in the long
term. Again, patience is key here; if you find yourself in an undesirable
position, remain patient and make sure you have enough balance to rely on.
The general rule for this is that your bankroll should be equivalent to at
least 10 times the size of your buy-in, ideally even 20 times or more.
Another reason why it’s important to have a sufficient balance is that you
also need to take into consideration the cost of any possible re-buys and
add-ons that will be added to the cost of the initial buy-in.
As we mentioned earlier, no Poker strategy can guarantee you will always
win, in fact, losing is simply part of playing online Poker, hence why you
need a good balance to back you up. In a nutshell, before you sit at the
Poker table, make sure your balance can last you throughout the game
without having to top-up multiple times, as you will end up going way over
budget, which is always a bad idea.
5. In-Game Poker Position Is Everything
There are many kinds of buttons in all sorts of different poker style games
however, one that always stands out without fail is the “dealer” button.
This is the largest button on the table and at most times an influential
button amongst players. The dealer button is featured so frequently and so
many times in a game, both in tournaments and/or cash games, that it has
also become known as just “the button”. Most players seem to forget that
there are many more buttons to focus on, but hey, a dealer is a dealer
after all.
Just as the name implies, the dealer button is there to showcase which
player in the game is the in-play dealer. In games played among friends, it
may designate the actual dealer himself who will be shuffling the cards and
calling the bets. However, in a game of poker being held in a casino, it is
an honorary title just as to determine positions of play because there
would always be a physical casino dealer present. Here, you would not need
to worry about shuffling and dealing the cards but on the downside, your
breaks will be less frequent, and you won’t be taking any tips home.
In a house poker game, the dealer button is important to show the player
who is actually shuffling and dealing. In a casino with a house dealer all
of this changes, and the dealer button is there to show the player who acts
last on that deal. On the other hand, the person who in this situation
would be a dealer in a home game.
Then there is the ultimate and most important advantage of being the dealer
button, because it is the best position in poker. After the flop stage when
all players have seen the first three out of the five available community
cards, the dealer is in the final calling position and gets to act last in
every round of betting for that game. This position allows you to take a
step back and watch the action of every player in that game round, analyse
what they are doing before taking your decision.
6. Play Online Poker In A Distraction-Free Zone
Here’s where playing online Poker can offer an advantage for players as
opposed to playing in a physical casino: distractions, distractions, and
more distractions. When you’re sitting in a buzzing casino or a crowded
Poker tournament full of other players and activities going on, it’s much
easier to get distracted and be less focused on the game.
Many online players also make the common mistake of playing with many
distractions at home, especially while they’re waiting for others to take
their turns playing. The problem with taking a break from the game and
using distractions like your phone, TV, or any other way to kill the time,
is that you’re more likely to make a mistake. If you’re distracted and not
totally following the game, the chances of not playing your hand in the
best way possible is higher. Not only that, but you might even miss out on
some important information that could become useful down the road.
One good tactic to avoid distractions when playing online is to look at
playing online Poker in a professional way, as if you were playing in the
big tournaments. Pick a room or location that is as free from distractions
as possible and avoid doing other things alongside the game. Playing in a
distraction-free zone can really be an effective way to up your game and
play your hand to the best of your abilities.
Conclusion
In this guide, we’ve highlighted some of the best tips on how to play
online Poker better, but perhaps the most important thing to remember is
that practice makes perfect. The more you play, the better you will get at
playing online Poker. Find an online Poker game with low stakes and play
multiple rounds until you feel confident that you know the game inside out
before upping your stakes. Stay focused throughout the game and stay
patient: a bad situation has the chance to turn around in your favour if
you play your cards right. Head to Platincasino UK and put your
new-found knowledge to the test.
How To Play Online Poker Better – FAQ
Why is Poker strategy important?
It’s very important to apply one of the most important aspects of poker strategy when you are playing, that of observation. Observation lets you in on all the information you need to understand about your opponents to be able to make rational decisions. If you are playing your game without analysing your opponents and each of their moves in a particular hand, it will be almost impossible to gauge what type of cards they might be holding which would negatively affect the actions you should be taking. Poker cannot function well for a player without a strategy. It is one of the necessary actions in the mix of needed tools in any game of poker. But winning does not just come with a good strategy, it requires using it well to be able to outsmart your opponents. Strategy will get you ready for situational play because every game and every table is different like every other situation.
Is Poker an art or a science?
For many, the Poker game can be classified as a very unique game. If we take a look at the core details of how things work in poker, the outcome of many games tends to be down to the skill of the winning player. It’s kind of common sense, no? The more skilled you are, the better results you are going to achieve. But, this is not always the case. There is a very clear explanation on why many skilled and highly rated players have not been successful. This is because they fail to apply the art to the skill of poker. You can look at it this way: the professional losers pick the wrong games, whilst the mediocre less skilled winners carefully pick the more suitable ones. There is no point being the 6th best player in the world if you are sitting on a table with the top five players in the world.
Is online Poker safe or rigged?
Online Poker is safe to play because any licensed and reputable casino like Platincasino UK will use a Random Number Generator (RNG) to ensure that the outcome of the cards is totally random, making it a fair game to play. Any regulated poker site or online casino works with an RNG so the games are safe to play and can’t be tampered with. And if you’re still unsure whether online Poker can be rigged, don’t forget that not only is it practically impossible, it’s also way too risky for any online casino to attempt to rig their games because this would result in massive fines and loss of licenses needed to operate their site. So, no, online poker isn’t rigged.
Should I fold when I’m unsure what to do in Poker?
In a game of Poker, you need to be sure to keep some sort of consistency and flow otherwise you might be heading into very rough waters when you sit down at the table. The first Poker fail is making way too many pointless and invaluable bluffs, followed by calling way too often and for the wrong reasons. This could be classified as the second fastest way to lose a game of Poker. Here is the golden rule: when you find yourself overthinking about whether you should call or fold, or bet or raise, do yourself an ace service and get rid of the cards in your hands.
How do I bluff effectively in Poker?
If you want to become a skilled Poker player, you need to master the art of patience and even more importantly, the art of bluffing. Being able to bluff is actually one of the most crucial skill sets you need to have when playing Poker. This is because even if you don’t have a very good hand, there is still a chance you can win if you can bluff. Bluffing might seem like a simple tactic but it’s not an easy skill to master and it can also be very risky. One thing every successful bluffer does is to maintain a constant image. Playing aggressively might signal to your opponents that you have a strong hand, so the way to go is to maintain your image and pace so as not to give away what position you’re in. Bluffing can be a risky move and it’s generally good to wait till the later stages in the game when many players have made a move before you think about bluffing.
