How to avoid losing at poker
Poker is a rather complex game with many subtleties that every player should be aware of in order to increase their chances of winning the pot. Increasingly large numbers of people from all over the planet are playing poker, with the United Kingdom, Germany, USA and Russia leading having the highest the number of players.
Some people play poker just for fun or as an intellectual exercise, but for many, poker has become a source of income, a way to earn a living and improve their quality of life. Countless poker tournaments take place every year, various championships, poker series and challenges that quite often are broadcasted on TV. Every one of these participants wants to win and become a world famous poker pro. So what should a player do to avoid losing at poker? How can you win?
There are 10 basic guidelines player must follow to become a successful poker player. They are as follows:
• closely monitor your bankroll
• don’t talk while playing
• keep the track of ‘nuts’ you receive
• follow the game and be on your guard
• don’t play too many hands
• know your chances
• take into account your position at the table
• avoid bluffing
• make notes of your games
• talk poker with other players
1st rule – the bankroll is the money allocated for the game. Don’t grow too attached to it – this money is meant to be used for playing poker.
2nd rule – don’t ever discuss the current game, especially if you have some useful information about it. By breaking this rule you increase the chances of your opponents gaining advantage over you.
3rd rule – ‘nuts’ is the best possible hand for any arrangement of cards. To be able to use your hand in the most efficient manner, you should learn the poker hands first.
4th rule – you should be aware of everything that happens in the game. Observe your opponents, their behaviour, game decisions, conversations – awareness is the key to the victory.
5th rule – pick the hands you play carefully, make sure they are strong. The better your hand, the less you have to worry about. Among strong hands are AA, KK, QQ and others.
6th rule – to remain confident during all phases of game, you should possess sufficient information and be able to calculate some values, including:
• your equity
• opponent’s chances
• compare your equity to opponent’s chances
7th rule – by being aware of the advantages and disadvantages of your position at the table, this will allow you to:
• have more information than your opponents
• know your bluff equity
• be able to make more accurate bets
• control your bankroll better
8th rule – in the long run, bluffing will reduce your chances of winning.
9th rule – accurate statistics will allow you to analyse and improve your game.
10th rule – conversations with other poker players, especially those more experienced than you, will give you an insight into how poker pros think and some fresh ideas on how to improve your own skills. Remember that there’s plenty of literature on various aspects of poker.