How to play a good game
Playing a good game of poker is, to some extent, more about avoiding mistakes than anything else. Here are some do's and don'ts for you to follow, they will definitely prevent you from losing and will most probably help you with winning.
Don't be Afraid to Fold
One mistake that poker players do over and over again is staying in the game when their chances are low.
You'll be surprised at the frequency in which top poker players fold hands. A majority of players play too many hands.
Stay in a game, you will end up panicking because you have a weak hand and you will make rash decisions.
Fold often, and your chances of winning will be higher.
Remember, that a weak hand is a weak hand. Unless you believe that your hand is the highest, you should anticipate a loss.
True, you don't necessarily know that the other players are holding better hands, but still.
Holding on to a weak hand is probably the safest way to loose money in poker.
If you always fold with a bad hand and take chances with good hands, you'll be a good poker player.
True, you won't be playing in many pots, and sometimes even your good hands will still be beaten, but all in all you'll be a winning player.
This is true especially in casinos, because the more players at a poker table the better the hand must be in order to win the pot.
This rules applies also to stud poker games.
If you see that someone else has a stronger hand than you, get out of the game, even when you've already put money in the pot.
Though there's still a chance that in the next rounds your hand will improve - remember that chances go both ways and your opponent's hand might improve as well.
Drop out while your losses are still relatively small, don't jeopardize more money. Wait for a new hand and try again.
When You Win, Win Big
If you have the highest ranking hand in a poker game, make sure the other players add much to the pot before you collect it.
Wait a bit, and then raise the stakes.
Though sometimes this will amount to your opponents dropping out,
take that risk because there's also a god chance that they will stay in and make the pot bigger.
Bluff - But Within Reasons
Bluffing in poker games is usually an overrated tactic. People are wrong to assume that it is a crucial element in the game. Bluffing from time to time is good and healthy in poker, and a good poker player knows exactly when to bluff and when not to use this method. It would be unwise to try and bluff a heavy winner or a heavy loser. Bluffing a player who has little money is also not the way to go.
There are sophisticated ways to use bluffing, if you're into that sort of thing. One way is to make a bad bluff, which the other players will notice, and have them think that it was unintentionally discovered. Then, when you have a good hand and disguise it, they won't be able to tell. Make sure though that your bad bluff doesn't cost you much, it's not worth spending too much money on bluffs.
Remember to also expect some bluffing from the other poker players. However, don't expect bluffing to happen very often. Some people have the tendency to always call in a game, because they are sure that the other players are bluffing and don't really have a good hand. Call only when you think you have good chances of wining the pot.
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