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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.
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.
