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10 Poker Techniques That You Should Try

Public Group active 2 years, 1 month ago

Poker can be a challenging game at the best of times. To become a successful poker player and win as many games as possible, there are a few things you must do. Aside from making time for lots of practice, you must also be completely focused and have a clear playing strategy.

Whether you’re playing in an online casino or from the comfort of your own home, you must try these 10 poker techniques to improve your playing capabilities. They might even help you to win your next game!

Only Play If You Want To

One of the most important techniques for any poker game is to only play when your mind is at its strongest. If it is, then you’re more likely to enjoy yourself.

Intense emotions can be your enemy at the poker table. If you haven’t brought your A-game, and are feeling tired or disinterested in playing, then it’s probably about time to call it quits.

Not only will this save you some money (because really, the last thing you’d want to think about is how much cash you’re spending) but it’ll also give you the tools to calm yourself down.

Play Fewer Hands But Aggressively

Play only the strongest hands to keep your voluntarily put money in the pot (VPIP) pre-flop stat as low as possible. You’ll play less often but far more aggressively when you take your hand into action.

Your low-game opponents will undoubtedly be playing random hands, so this poker technique will already give you an advantage. Effectively, you can familiarize yourself with poker strategy without the risk of losing money.

Raising and betting yourself during your play instead of just calling and putting maximum pressure on your opponents will work well. The knowledge that you will be holding much better hands pre-flop will enable you to win when set against your opponents’ range of cards.

Fold When You’re Unsure

This poker technique should be at the top of your priority list during every game you play. When your passive opponents who have been frequently calling start to raise out of the blue, then you should start folding and showing your strong hands.

Not all opponents are passive ones and if you are playing against a maniac or someone who is very aggressive and raising constantly you should not be folding your hands. You need to understand that there are different types of players, which means you really must play differently against them. The last part of my poker tips list will help you to deal with this.

Search For Opponent Weaknesses

Observing your opponents is an excellent way to identify a moment to strike. The key is anticipating their every move.

Consider their position, decision-making time, and the hands they could be opening and playing from that point for better post-flop decisions. Analyzing this can give you additional information about what they are up to.

Don’t Limp First

If you’re the first to enter a pot, do not limp (call the big blind pre-flop.)

The only situation where you should limp is after your opponent has already done it (“over-limping.”) This can be a useful playing technique as you are guaranteeing good pot odds which will help you join in on the action and hopefully hit something great on the flop.

Target the first player to limp as they are often the poorest players at a table. There will be a few weaknesses for you to observe.

Play Good Games

There is no place for ego in poker. If you stick to versing better players, you will end up losing. Yes, it really is as simple as that.

Selecting good games is a useful technique for poker players of all abilities because it will determine your win rate. You’ll also have smaller swings in better games which means you’ll likely move up the stakes much more efficiently.

Look for the best games for your format.
Research when you can find peak traffic and more recreational players.
Find the best option available in your country.

Fast-Play Your Strong Hands

Slow-playing is a frequent mistake. It is often made by players who hesitate to chase their opponent out of the pot – regardless of if they have strong poker hands.

You should try to bet a strong hand to protect your equity and build your pot. However, you shouldn’t always be the first one to raise strong hands post-flop!

If you’re unsure about your strong hands, just bet. It can be disappointing if your opponent chooses to fold, but it’s better than losing value or being outdrawn.

Semi-Bluff With Your Draws

If you want to master the game you’ll need to learn to bluff effectively, otherwise, you’ll be at risk of losing all of your money at the table.

The most effective way to bluff is to trust in your cards and let them dictate your next moves. This means you must bluff with hands that include an out (or two) so you can get the greatest hand on a later street. This includes straight draws, flush draws, or even a card or two to the board.

Don’t Overvalue Your Favorite Hand

Many players have a favorite hand that they often use. But there is definitely a time and a place to play them.

There’s nothing wrong with having a favorite starting hand. It’s actually a pretty common thing. However, you certainly shouldn’t give them preferential treatment as it could lead to you making bad (or predictable) plays.

After all, winning a game of poker is about logic and math, not superstition.

Play Solid Early In A Game

The start of a poker tournament really isn’t the time for stack preservation.

To finish the game in the money, you’ll likely need to have doubled or tripled your starting stack. So, instead of focusing on defensive playing, you should play solidly and aggressively early on to build up your stack.

But if you do find yourself near a pay jump (short-stacked), you should begin to adopt a more survivalist playing style.

Summary

As long as you take the time to practice and hone your poker skills, you should see significant improvements over some time. Hopefully implementing some of these techniques will enable you to become a more well-rounded poker player. Click Here