In the words of James Altucher, “Poker is skill game pretending to be chance game.”
Hence, your ability to make the most of your cards and “play” your opponents determines the outcome of the game.
Top poker players have mastered various techniques of success at the poker table. Read on get all details.
How to Make Playing Online Poker
Have you ever wondered how some poker players continue to dominate different poker competitions? Well, here are their proven techniques for success.
- Play Low Stakes Cash Games
This is first step to building a bankroll. It is like making small deposits into your bank account until you have enough to invest in real assets.
We are talking micro-limits low as $0.01/$0.02 or $0.02/$0.05. This way you can hone your poker skills without exhausting your budget. The variance in poker can be brutal for newbies; however, with low stakes, you will safely learn the ropes.
The player pools at these levels are often easier. This is because your opponents are probably newbies like yourself or playing for entertainment.
- Play at Least NL10, Probably NL25
Now, here’s where we nudge the stakes up a bit. NL10 ($0.05/$0.10) and NL25 ($0.10/$0.25) no-limit hold’em is a sweet spot. It’s still affordable, so most decent sites let you buy in for $10 or $25 max; however, the competition gets a lot tougher here.
At NL2 or NL5, you’re wading through too many wild cards who’ll call anything with a pulse. By NL10, you’ll see more predictable patterns, and by NL25, you will be facing players who at least know what a position is, even if they don’t always use it. The key to surviving here is to manage your bankroll with like 100 buy-ins (for example $2,500 for NL25) and ride out the inevitable downswings.
- Play a Tight and Aggressive Strategy
Tight-aggressive (TAG) is golden ticket beating low-to-mid stakes online poker. It’s simple: play fewer hands, but when you do, come in swinging. Focus on premium hands with big pairs (AA-JJ), strong aces (AK, AQ), and suited connectors like 10Js from late position.
Be aggressive and raise the pre-flop to thin the field. Keep the pressure on post-flop with continuation bets when you’ve got the initiative. You will win with the TAG because most low-stakes players overplay weak hands and fold to aggression.
- Find the Tables With the Fish on Them
Table selection another powerful weapon in online poker. “Fish” is term used to refer loose, passive players who call too much or bluff too little. You can always tell by their exaggerated tones.
To find such tables, look for tables with high average pot sizes and a high percentage of players seeing the flop (over 40% is ideal). Some poker sites still show stats in the lobby so use those. Avoid tables stacked with nitty regulars like low flop percentages and small pots.
If you’re on a site with anonymous tables, watch a few orbits and allow the fish to reveal themselves. Look out for their wild calls and showdowns of hands. After this, hop in, take their chips, and bounce when the table tightens up.
This method may seem predatory, sure, but poker’s a food chain, and you’re not here to be chum.
According Paul Newman, “If you are playing poker game or you look around the table and can not tell who sucker is, it’s you.”
Let these words guide you.
- Try Playing Tournaments or Sit and Gos
Cash games are steady, safe wins, but tournaments and sit-and-gos (SNGs) are a different ball game.
Tournaments, especially those with low buy-ins and large fields, can turn small amounts into significant winnings, which creates a similarity to the machines offering progressive jackpots. However, participation in these tournaments requires a more serious bankroll (200+ buy-ins) to deal with variance and unpredictable periods.
Slots provide players with an exciting opportunity to try their luck and enjoy the element of chance. The chances of winning big can be very tempting, and each spin of the slot offers new prospects. It is important to remember that every spin is a unique experience, and by playing responsibly, you can enjoy the process!
Start $1-$5 multi-table tournaments (MTTs) get a feel for the game. This should be an easy ride because of the tons of “fishes” you will find here. The prize pools will also snowball.
If you want quick hits, go for SNGs. A $5 or $10 single-table SNG is like a mini cash game with a turbo twist. The trick here is to play TAG early, then loosen up as blinds climb and short stacks shove. Both techniques will reward your patience.
Or, if you’re in the mood for something different, explore over 7,000+ free slots to mix up the action and keep things exciting between games.
Conclusion
With these expert tips, any newbie will become a pro at the poker table in no time. Before you hop on the next poker game, please find a casino that meets the following criteria:
- licensed by reputable regulators.
- Partners with reputable software providers.
- Positive player reviews.
Always gamble responsibly!
