Winning at online texas holdem

10 Tips for Winning Poker Online

Follow these 10 tips to improve your game and your bottom line.

How can you win at poker online? There are many different tips, tools and techniques that will help new players get up to speed, as well as ease the transition for live players that are new to playing online poker. With that in mind, here are the top 10 online poker tips for those new to the game or who simply want to improve their game and consistently win at poker.

1 Begin by playing low-stakes poker

Whether you’re a complete novice or are used to playing high-stakes live games, beginning with lower-stakes is advisable when starting out with online poker. There are several reasons for this:

  • Your first sessions will primarily involve getting used to the online poker software.
  • The pace of online poker is much faster when compared with live poker, and may take some adjusting to.
  • Lower stakes will allow you to explore and experiment with the software, the lobby and the gameplay without putting too much at stake.
  • Smaller stakes allow you to exercise good bankroll management without making a huge first deposit.
  • Without too much on the line, you can concentrate on evaluating the gameplay experience without stressing too much about any losses.

Generally speaking, online poker will tend to offer more difficult opposition than live games at comparable stakes. Starting low will help all new players gain a good understanding of how to play, and ultimately how to win at online poker. And don’t forget you can win real money prizes without risk when playing in freeroll tournaments.

2 Become familiar with the new aspects of playing online poker

Use your first few sessions to get familiar with some aspects of poker unique to the online version, such as using the time-bank feature. For experienced live players, having a set amount of time to act and a relatively short time, at that can be a significant adjustment, and new players may also be surprised at the speedy pace of the online game. Use the time-bank to get a little more time for your decisions.

Compared with playing live, online poker players can generally expect to see more than twice the number of poker hands per hour that they’d be used to, and when a hand is over there’s rarely time to rest before the next one is dealt.

From the layout of the lobby, the in-game controls at the table, the cashier page, rake-back offers and other bonuses, there’s a lot to explore. It’s worth taking some time to get acquainted with the site before you even fire up a table.

3 Start out by playing a single table

One of the many benefits of playing online is the ability to play more than one table at a time, but we’d recommend leaving multi-tabling until you’ve gained a little more experience.

Learn to win at online poker consistently on one table first there’s nothing wrong with starting slow, and this approach can help you understand many of the nuances of online poker without becoming overwhelmed. Once you feel confident playing a single table, you can begin adding extra tables one at a time, if you feel comfortable doing so.

4 Create a distraction-free zone for playing

For many online players, their home is their poker room instead of driving to a casino, they just have to fire up the laptop on the sofa. And so distractions such as watching television, talking on the phone or surfing the web can cause them to make a mistake, either by playing a hand poorly or missing out on information that could assist them in future situations.

Developing an unprofessional attitude towards playing can translate into not taking poker seriously enough to win. Create an environment free from distractions to give yourself the best chance to win at poker.

I have a solid routine do some mental prep work, meditation or work with a primed mind. I don’t just wake up and start to play. I like a cold shower as well and deep breathing helps a lot!

Professional Poker Player with over $4.5 million in online and live winnings

Reviewing a couple of hands you have tagged earlier is good preparation, having a playlist of music which suits your mood is good and actively drinking a lot of water.

CardsChat member since July 2011 with over 9000 posts in the forum

5 Consider making key hardware updates

As we’ve discussed, playing on a laptop while sitting on the couch in the family room is a situation bound to create distractions. Playing at a desk, ideally in a room separate from the rest of your living space, can help establish a professional attitude while playing online poker. And if you’re playing a lot, investing in an ergonomic chair can help reduce issues with back pain.

Other upgrades can help towards your goal of winning at online poker. For example, a large, high-resolution monitor can reduce eye-strain and will make multi-tabling much easier, while a high-quality mouse can reduce wrist strain, as well as the time it takes to complete action.

6 Master the Art of Bluffing

You won’t always get dealt the best cards at the table, so bluffing is an essential part of any winning player’s strategy. Getting better at bluffing will enable you to win even when you don’t have the best hand, but before deciding to bluff you need to consider things like your position, stack size, table image and the play of that hand so far. Bluffing is one of the trickier skills to master, even for the best poker players. Luckily for you we’ve put together a full comprehensive guide on how to bluff successfully!

7 Use software functionality to your advantage

Many different poker-specific software tools are available see below but the best way to start using software to your advantage is through a feature already present on most poker sites: the note-taking function. One of the great things about playing online is that you can make notes on your opponents during play, which are visible whenever you encounter them again.

Also available on many poker sites is the ability to color-code players. Developing a color-coded system for identifying the relative strength of players can help with table selection. For example, let's say you always tag the best players at your table with a red tag. If you see a table full of red-tagged players in the lobby, you’ll know to steer clear.

8 Consider purchasing software

Software programs like Hold'Em Manager and Poker Tracker provide a head's up display feature (HUD) that gives information about your opponents by tracking all of the hands you’ve played together. This data will then be available to you at-a-glance, whenever you meet that player at the tables.

These programs often also include a hand history replayer. While a lot of poker sites offer a free hand history tool, they lack much of the functionality available in more advanced programs. The ability to replay a cash session or entire tournament away from the tables is an invaluable study tool for any poker player.

Sit 'n Go Wizard is a learning tool for tournament players which can help you gain an understanding of ICM (the independent chip model a mathematical approach to evaluating equity in the late stages of a tournament). It's a great tool for improving your calling and shoving ranges, which is a big step towards learning how to win online poker tournaments regularly.

9 Explore free software

Some of the best internet poker software (for use while studying) is actually free.

  • PokerStove , and similar programs, allow you to calculate your equity versus a range.
  • HoldemResources.net has many features useful for tournament players, including a Nash Equilibrium calculator (a mathematical tool aimed at producing game theory optimized play).
  • The App Store and Google Play Store offer many free downloadable apps to improve your game, including DTO Poker which evaluates your decision making at a granular level.

10 Explore efficiency software

Other poker software is available to assist more established online players with multi-tabling. If you’re making the transition to intermediate level play and beyond, this type of software can be very useful.

Programs such as Table Ninja and Auto Hot Key can help to maximize efficiency, for example by setting up hotkey shortcuts to make certain actions (e.g. raise 1.5x the big blind) faster, automating tournament registration or setting up custom layouts for multi-tabling.

For both the experienced live player and the poker virgin, there are plenty of tips to follow to make your introduction to online poker as pleasant and profitable as it can be. Sticking to the tips in this guide should help you become a more successful player when it comes to playing poker!

If you like this article you may also like our Poker Odds for Dummies and Expected Value guides.

6 Texas Hold'em Tips

Newcomers to the world of poker are eager to learn the game and frequently turn to experienced players to get advice. While each poker professional seems to have his own personal playing style, based on having faced countless hands at the table, we’ve compiled a list of the tips for Texas Hold'em Poker to help you improve your game. There are tips for poker beginners and Texas Hold'em poker tips for advanced players. Some of these Texas Hold'em tips may be obvious to you from the start, while other poker game tips will give you new ideas how to play winning poker. Consider this collection of valuable poker tips a starting point for your poker endeavors.

Helpful Poker Tips
Beginners Poker Tips Online Poker Tips
Advanced Poker Tips Tips for Winning Multi-Table Tournaments
Tips for Winning in Heads-Up Play

Top Ten Texas Hold'em Poker Tips

1) Don’t Play Every Hand = As a beginner you will probably be eager to play as many hands as possible, but you’ll end up losing your stack very quickly. Make sure to know the best starting hands and take your time deciding what hand to play. Folding is not a sign of inexperience.

2) Don’t Stay in a Hand Just Because You’re in It = You can’t win a pot just by throwing money in it, and if you have the losing hand, getting out will end up saving you money. Just because you’ve already bet doesn’t mean that you’re permanently committed to a hand. Fold if you can’t win.

3) Observe Your Opponents = Even when you’re not involved in a hand you should carefully watch your opponents. Their actions, tells and gameplay will serve as a valuable teacher. Even as a new player you’ll be able to pick up the signs when your opponents are bluffing, or when they really hold the winning hand.

4) Don’t Play above Your Limits = You’re not going to get rich in your first game of poker, but you can definitely get poor. Only join tables which your bankroll can afford, and only take to the table an amount of cash that will not break you. As a beginning player, you have to know not only what the table limits are, but what your financial limitations are as well.

5) Know When to Call It a Night = You shouldn’t play poker when you’re drunk, or in a bad mood, or after you’ve just had a fight with your girlfriend. Sometimes the best decision you can ever make about playing poker is knowing when to stop playing poker. If you’re on a winning streak, you can stop while you’re ahead, and if things are going badly, you should just stop.

6) Start at a Single Table = You may be envious of online poker players who are capable of turning a profit while multi-tabling all over their computer screens, but as a beginner, it’s best to start at a single table. Join a table at low stakes and build up your confidence. You can always add a second table at a later stage.

7) Muck, Don’t Show = Playing online poker gives you the simple option of mucking your cards and you should take advantage of this. There’s no need to show your cards when you win, or when you lose a hand. It doesn’t really improve things for you; instead it will open a door to your opponents and that will leave you at a disadvantage.

8) Keep Bluffing to a Minimum = Yes, bluffing in poker is a major part of the game, but as a beginner you don’t have the track record to be a good bluffer. You should concentrate, instead, on making the best and most appropriate bets with your cards, and from there you need to work on reading your opponents and learning how they act. Bluffing is a skill you should plan to employ at a later stage.

9) Learn the Importance of Position = You need to realize that your position with regards to the blinds is a key factor in winning the hand, and you should make your bets accordingly. Make sure you understand the strength of your opponents’ hands if they act in front of you. In some cases, having excellent position is more important than having excellent cards. Take advantage of your position when you can.

10) Take Advantage of Weak Opponents = As you play you will quickly learn which of the players at your table is experienced, and which of your opponents is weak. Take this into consideration when placing your bets, as the weakness of your opponents will give additional strength to your hands.

Beginners Poker Tips

1) Not every hand is action-packed in poker = If you watch poker tournaments on television you will notice that there is a lot of action in most hands during the program with exciting all-in moves and massive pots being contested. Televised poker is edited, so the less interesting hands are not shown. Winning Texas Hold'em involves folding while you wait for strong hands. Phil Ivey has said in many interviews that he finds the early stages of a poker tournament very boring because he folds so often.

2) Take a long term view = Luck plays a part in poker. We all hate taking a bad beat but remember that bad players keep coming back to play because they think they are just being unlucky when they lose. Luck therefore gives you more chances to win. In the long term the more skills you have at the poker table the more money you can earn. Over time everyone gets dealt the same cards, it is how you play them that dictates your success or failure at playing poker.

3) Observe your opponents = Poker is a game of incomplete information. You will never be shown what your opponent's cards are during a hand so you must use educated guesswork to put your opponents on a range of potential hands and make your decision on how to proceed from there. Their betting patterns, previous play, their table talk and physical tells in live poker give you clues to their hole cards.

4) Always play within your bankroll = Before you go to sleep, repeat the title of this tip as a mantra. It is critical to Poker. Playing sensibly allows you to remain part of the game and gives you time to learn the optimal poker strategy you need to win. Never bet more than you can afford to lose.

5) Before you check your hole cards, watch = Most players check their hole cards as soon as they are dealt, but you should wait. Watch your opponents check their hole cards as many give a reaction as they look that gives you a clue whether their hand is strong or not. Remember not to react to your own cards when you look at them!

6) Watch for players trying to fool you = When a poker player tries too hard to look weak, professional players sense that they may not be giving out the true strength of their hand. Most players try and disguise their actions, so be suspicious if one player suddenly starts shaking their head, saying how unlucky they are and openly looking glum. Could they be acting and trying to trap you?

Are these poker tips helpful? Download Titan Poker and take your newly acquired skills to the tables!

Online Poker Tips

1) Choose a good online poker site

Your poker site should have excellent software, good bonuses and a solid VIP program. You also need satellites into large live events, plenty of variety in what games you can play and good traffic. In short, you should play your online poker at Titan Poker, Europe’s leading poker room.

2) Sit down in a comfortable seat

Make sure you are sitting in comfort before beginning an online poker session. Try sitting for four to five hours in an uncomfortable seat. You get sore, irritable and this is not optimal for playing poker and winning money. This attention to detail really does make a difference.

3) Do not get distracted

The chat box is a temptation to many players. Some players can type fast and draw you into a conversation. Remember to focus on the play, if you get distracted by the chat box either change the tab or disable the chat. Winning poker, not chatting, is the reason we play.

4) Hunt for Internet gold

There is a wealth of free information on blogs, YouTube, random videos and e-books. Do your research online and search for information that helps things resonate in your mind. Wherever you can find it, search for that “eureka!” moment that will make you a better poker player.

5) Review your hand histories

Session reviews allow you to check that hands you won and hands you lost were played correctly. Winning poker is about making the right decisions as often as possible so reviewing and critically analysing past hands teaches you what you need to gain from each hand. It is a vital part of obtaining relevant and useful experience.

6) Control your chat

If you are prone to writing abuse into the chat box after a bad beat or when you've gone on poker tilt, why not simply turn off your chat facility. Not responding to a bad beat is actually quite empowering and can make you feel totally in control of your emotions, an important element of winning online poker.

7) Check website offers

Keep your eyes peeled for satellite tournaments on the poker room schedule including various special tournaments you may be eligible for. Titan Poker rewards depositors and regular players in a variety of fun ways so always check to see what the current offers are.

8) Adjust the settings

Titan Poker offers many different ways of setting up your table. Go through the settings and pick what you like best. We spend a long time staring at the screen playing online poker so liking what you see will keep the enjoyment levels high for longer.

Advanced Poker Tips

1) Read plenty of poker articles

There is a massive amount of free poker content around the Internet, so use it! Read different articles as the authors have differing views on how to play. Anything that improves your game is worth considering. Article reading should be part of more extensive research that you do to improve the standard of your play.

2) Do not play too tricky!

Many articles and videos discuss some of the more creative plays used by high stakes pros like Tom Durrrr Dwan or Patrik Antonius. Remember to practice and use your ABC poker game more often than your fancy plays. Fancy plays are good, but it is your solid game that will reap you the most reward at the online poker tables.

3) Make friends with poker players

Texas Dolly Doyle Brunson said that he learned more from discussing poker strategy with his friends than he did at the poker tables. Discuss hands and how you played with poker friends and you will all benefit from the discussions regarding your poker ideas with away from the table.

4) Get more from your bankroll

Titan Poker gives you the chance to play with someone else’s money but keep all of the profits for yourself! When you deposit check your account, you will have a tournament ticket into the Weekly Depositors Freeroll. With a $1,200 prize pool this tournament could give your bankroll the boost it needs, without risking your own cash to begin with.

5) Read the pros' advice

Players like Daniel Negreanu, Doyle Brunson and Lou Krieger are prominent poker theorists and writers and update their personal blogs regularly. You should check their latest work and pick up as many tips as you can. These blogs posts do not appear in poker magazines so their pearls of wisdom are secret to much of the poker community, but not to you!

6) Keep stats

Ask most sports bettors if they are winning and the normal answer is, I'm about even. This means they are probably losing! Use a piece poker tracking software like Poker Tracker to keep very accurate stats so you always know how your game is progressing. You should also review your good and bad hands to ensure that no matter what the outcome of the hand was, you made the right play.

7) Stop playing when you're ahead

We all love playing online poker and we have all played and played when really we are struggling with tiredness or even boredom. When risking money, you should only do so if you are playing your best and trying your best. If this becomes a problem, for whatever reason, you should stop playing.

8) Watch the pros

Pokertube, YouTube, videos from poker bloggers and Television offer you coverage of hands played by professional players with commentary from experts. Listen closely to the commentary and try and implement the thinking and strategy into your own play at the poker tables.

9) Be flexible when classifying opponents

Opponents may play a hand in a strange way on purpose in the hope the rest of the table classify them as a certain style of player only to play differently later. Every hand you see an opponent play ask yourself if this changes your view of their style. Be flexible and do not classify an opponent early in a session and then never consider if you are correct.

10) Try out different games

Poker comes in various forms online with games like Razz, Stud, Omaha and Draw Poker available for you to try out. By learning the different games this will help refine various aspects of what you need to learn in order to win at Texas Hold'em, the most widely played poker variation.

11) Re-raise only with strong hands

Especially when out of position in poker, re-raise the raiser with premium hands only. You should always know what you will do if he shoves after you re-raise before you act. Re-raising with very strong hands means in a flip situation you have a good chance of being ahead, presuming your opponent also has a strong hand.

12) Post your results on a forum

Going through statistics is definitely not as fun as playing poker at Titan Poker but here is a good tip: go to a big Internet poker forum and ask for advice on improving your game. People like doing this sort of thing and then you can send them your stats and get free advice. You can mask your username if you want to remain anonymous.

13) Cash out when you win

Make sure you take a bit of money and enjoy it if you get a big win. Money is the reason we play even though we enjoy it and enjoying the money makes it all feel worthwhile. You will feel positive about online poker and keener to work to improve and earn more money. You also get to buy cool things!

14) Practice your chip tricks

If you enjoy live poker make sure you practice your chip tricks before you use them in a live setting. As well as looking impressive if you can do nifty chip tricks you look equally bad if you attempt a chip trick and it goes wrong spraying chips everywhere.

15) Find a mentor

Professional footballers are highly skilled yet constantly coached. Find a poker mentor that you can discuss hands and take advice from who can help take your poker game to the next level. You can only go so far on your own and this gives you the best chance of poker success.

16) Ask friends for their tips

Challenge your friends to give you one piece of poker advice and see what they say. Write down all of their answers. Ten friends will give ten different pieces of advice and all will be useful in some way. Keeping the tips brief removes the confusion that comes with elongated suggestions.

17) Play to win

If you are playing only to scrape into the money in a poker tournament you are not playing correctly. Aim for the win at all times. You may bust out where you could hold on for a few more dollars but do not worry. When you win a tournament it will be down to risking it all instead of coasting. The big wins make this strategy worthwhile.

Are these poker tips helpful? Download Titan Poker and take your newly acquired skills to the tables!

Tips for Winning in Heads Up Play

If you’re a multi-table tournament player, your goal is to win the tourney and to achieve that you must be successful in the end game, when you’re face-to-face with only one final opponent. Perhaps you prefer heads-up sit ‘n’ go tournaments, or maybe you relish the action in heads-up cash games. In any case, heads-up poker utilizes a different set of tools. Strategy must be adapted to this special type of poker action. The tips listed below will give you an advantage over your sole opponent in heads-up poker online play.


(Photo credit: CC-BY-2.0 MartialArtsNomad.com /Jdcollins13, Wikimedia Commons)

1) Be aggressive

In one-on-one play, you must control the action. This means that you need to keep your opponent cornered, following your leads, and folding to your cards. In heads-up poker you can’t afford to be passive. You should move on marginal hands, bluff more often, and stay on the offensive. If you do not raise, you haven’t given your opponent a chance to fold.

2) Don’t be afraid to bluff

Bluffing in poker is more common, and quite often more successful, in heads-up play. Remember that against only one opponent, you are not usually up against a strong hand. You, however, should bet as if you’re holding a strong hand.

3) Use your position to your advantage

If you’re in position, there’s almost no such thing as an “unplayable” hand. When you’re out of position, you need to make up for your disadvantage with strong play. Steal the blinds when you can. If you’re first to act, make a big raise, as this can sometimes throw your opponent out of the hand. On the other hand, if your opponent raises and you don’t have a hand, you need to get out of the way quickly with an immediate fold.

4) Choose your all-ins wisely

Don’t go all-in on every hand, as your opponent may elect to call you when you’re bluffing. In heads-up play you can increase the range of your starting hands, but don’t go overboard with all-in moves.

5) Pocket pairs are good

While receiving pocket threes might not seem so good in the early stages of a tournament, in heads-up play against only one opponent, they serve as a very good hand. Take advantage of your good cards when you get them.

6) Read your opponent

In live play you can carefully observe the person across the table from you and look for the slightest signs of poker tells. In online play you should take note of your opponent’s betting patterns and adjust your play accordingly.

7) Keep your opponent guessing

Don’t give your opponent the chance to read you like an open book. This means, don’t raise every time you’re in position, and don’t fold every time you’re in the big blind if you don’t have a good hand. Occasionally you need to switch gears and play differently than you normally would.

10 Tips for Winning Multi-Table Tournaments

Players flock to multi-table tournaments but not everyone knows how to win them. Finishing in the money is quite an accomplishment, but how does one go about guaranteeing a big cash-out? We’ve collected ten tips that will get you to the final table of every multi-table tournament you play.

1) Don't play too many hands

Be selective about the hands you play, taking into consideration your position in the deal. A hand that can be played in late position may not be a playable hand if you're sitting in early position.

2) Take into consideration your stack

As you play a tournament, compare your chips to the average stack. You should also consider your stack in relation to the blinds. The more chips you have (in comparison to the average and the blinds), the more you can make risky plays. On the other hand, if you’re far below the average and the blinds are going to deplete your stack momentarily, you will need to move quickly to stay alive.

3) Play as many tournaments as you can

You’re not going to become a better online poker player just by reading strategy articles. You need to play. The more tournaments you play, the better you can perfect your skills.

4) Make sure you can afford re-buy tournaments

When you play a re-buy tournament, you need to have the bankroll to make re-buys. It’s as simple as that. Otherwise you’ll find yourself at a huge disadvantage to the other players. Players with big bankrolls may play in a wild manner, knowing that they can always re-buy if their taking chances don’t succeed. You need to be on an even playing field with them. If you can’t afford re-buys, play only freezeouts.

5) Play to survive the early stage

Make sure to play to survive the early stage of a tournament and go into the middle stage with an above average chip stack. With the blinds so low in the early stage, attempts to steal them won’t increase your stack that much. In the early stage, you’ll best benefit from tight-aggressive play.

6) Don’t wait around for good hands in middle stage

In the middle stage of a poker tournament you need to be more aggressive. Stealing blinds is encouraged as their value has increased. Make sure to protect your chips as well, as your goal is to survive and make your way into the money.

7) Don’t overbluff

You need to know how and when to bluff, but do it wisely. Never bluff more than two players and make sure your bluffs are believable. Consider bluffing a tool in your repertoire, one that you don’t want to overuse.

8) Sometimes you need to take coin flips

Yes, there is an element of luck in the game of poker, and what better time to experience this than in a poker hand where the result could go either way. Conservative players can save up their chips, but at some stage, they’re going to have to commit to an iffy pot. Make the best decisions you can, but sometimes you’re just going to have to go out on a limb to win a hand.

9) Be aggressive on the bubble

When the tournament reaches the bubble stage, players are going to become extremely tight with hopes of surviving just one more hand and making it into the money. If your chip stack will allow it, you can take advantage of this situation and steal blinds and antes with little opposition.

10) Play to win money

Your goal in every online poker tournament you play should be to finish in the money. While winning the tournament outright is the best possible outcome, it should not be your goal. You’ll have a better chance at tournament success if your goal is to win money.

Are these poker tips helpful? Download Titan Poker and take your newly acquired skills to the tables!

The Strategies Used To Win At Texas Holdem

In a standard deck of playing cards there are twenty-two face cards. These face cards are called face cards in probability because they act and react differently to circumstances than other cards in the deck. For example, aces (positive) are worth more than kings (negative), queens (triple strike) are worth more than kings, and the ace (the best card) is worth one for each of the twenty-two face cards. If you have an all-king hand, your odds of winning with that hand are one in every four combinations. For this reason, the value of a face card varies from one hand to the next.

In a standard deck of playing cards the word face card or royal card is usually used to describe either the

highest card the second highest card, the third highest card, or tenth highest card in the deck. They are sometimes called jokers, or pre-dice, or royal cards since the British monarchs started using them as money in casinos around the world. They are also sometimes referred to as royal flush, due to their unusually high value compared to other regular cards in a deck.

Regular decks usually have four suits: clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades. Royal wedding deck, which is part of a bridal set, uses hearts as its trump suit, diamonds as its second suit, and spades as the third suit. Royal court cards have a unique set of suits, called the cartomancy suits. These include the ace, king, queen, knight, and councilor.

A standard deck of playing cards is usually made up of a total of fourteen suit cards plus two jokers. Most commonly played with a two-handed game. Jokers are not actually part of the face cards, they are placed in pairs so that it appears that the face cards actually have an extra suit. A joker will often times change the face cards to give them a different suit.

Some decks of playing cards have special Queen cards and King cards. Queen cards are considered to be the most important cards in a deck, since they govern the amount of betting that can take place. On a full deck of face cards, a total of fourteen Queen cards are present. Queen cards always have a face value of one to ten.

A king is the most valuable playing card in the standard deck. Kings are usually worth more than queens, which is why they make up the largest part of a standard deck. A king serves as the face card for the last betting round before the match begins. Unlike the other cards that are part of a playing group, the king card does not change hands in a normal game of poker. This means that a king is the most important card in the game and should always be owned by the winning player.

One trick many people use to win is to kneel on the ground with their face cards and pretend to pick them up with their bare hands. This is called knaving, and it has become a well-known betting strategy. Knaving is done by using either the left or right hand to pick up the face cards and push them to one side. The real action is done with the left or right knave when it is turned face up.

As you can see, there are many ways to win at Texas Holdem, and no matter how you do it, always try not to blindfold yourself. Blinding your opponents is usually considered not to be a good idea because it will give them the opportunity to see what cards you have, and will make them think that you might have more cards than you actually do. When bluffing, it is best to rely on your knowledge and experience rather than on your skills and tactics. Once you have learned how to play Texas Holdem, you will be able to easily defeat any other player.

Five Easy Steps to Winning at Online Texas Holdem Poker

Are you tired of losing while playing Texas Holdem Poker online? When we play online poker we all expect to be big winners. We have all read the stories and have seen the online players go on to become big time money winners in the biggest event of all - The World Series of Poker. Unfortunately, when most beginners start out they end up losing money. Then in an effort to win back what they have lost, they end up losing even more. So, how do you avoid becoming like most beginners? If you are in the midst of a big losing streak, how do you get to playing winning poker? Well.

The first thing that I would do is to completely analyze my game to find out what I am doing wrong. Ask yourself questions such as:

Am I playing way too many hands?

Am I paying attention to how the others at the table are betting?

Do I play aggressively? Passively?

Does my position at the table influence what I do at the poker table?

Am I playing at the correct limits for my skill level?

We are going to take a look at these questions one at a time. But beware; the answer to winning is in all of these. Don't just take one of the suggestions and incorporate it. Use all of it. Why? Because it will work for you.

Am I playing way too many hands?

Simply put, you may be playing too many hands. Start by tightening up and playing only the absolute best hands. I would recommend that you only play AA, KK, A-K, QQ. Then when you start to win with these hands slowly introduce other hands into your game. Add JJ first. When you are successful with JJ then add 10-10 and so on.

Am I paying attention to how the others at the table are betting?

The answer here is simple. Pay attention. Does your opponent in seat #1 always bet no matter what they have? Are they super tight and only play the best hands? Do they just call? A lot can be learned about what types of players are at the table and what type of hands they may have just by simple observation.

Do I play aggressively? Passively?

Aggression is rewarded in Texas Holdem Poker. Being a passive player and only calling bets usually means that you are being a generous donor to the others at the table. Playing aggressively does not mean playing every hand and betting. It means playing the best hands and playing them aggressively. Typically a bet will force opponents with weak hands to fold. You don't want players hanging around to see a flop for free. Don't give them the opportunity to connect with it and beat your hand. The fewer the number of players in the hand the greater the value of your already powerful hand.

Does my position at the table influence what I do at the poker table?

Beware of your position at the table. When you are seated in late position you have the advantage of seeing how the others act. If you are seated in early position you have no information on how your opponent has acted and how strong their hand may be. I'd recommend playing hands cautiously in early position.

Am I playing at the correct limits for my skill level?

The higher the limits, the better the competition tends to be. There is nothing wrong with dropping down from say, playing $1/$2 blinds to .50/$1 or even less and then working your way up when you feel comfortable. If you feel the need, then play at the free tables a little. Remember though, you'll have a tendency to play differently for free than when real money is at stake.

So to recap our strategy to get you on the winning path:

1 - Play only the best hands and then add other hands as you begin to win.

2 - Pay attention and learn about your opponents.

3 - Play the hands that you do play aggressively.

4 - Use your position at the table to your advantage as well as assessing hand strength.

5 - Drop down in the limits that you are currently playing and if necessary spend some time at the free tables.

These are all simple steps that you can immediately incorporate into your game to get you on the winning path. Follow them and you can be a successful Texas Holdem Poker player.

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