Online Poker Secrets - Help Improve your Game
In this guide we open your eyes to a few of the top secrets of the online poker world. There is a well known saying amongst poker players which if having watched WPT or WSOP events live you may well be familiar with. "You can learn how to play poker in 15 minutes. Learning how to play poker well can take a lifetime".
If there is any saying that you remember, well this isn't a bad one. Poker really is a complex game for those looking to master it. There are an array of tips and suggestions that you can take on board to help your game, some obvious and some not so. This article is aimed at the no so obvious, the reason we can labeled the article 'Secrets'.
The truth of the matter is that a large number of players lose money online because they opt to rush in and be a part of the action before fully understand certain key concepts like bluffing, value betting and the use of odds to support their decisions. Yes, it is important to be confident, however there is a distinct difference between confidence, arrogance and stupidity.
Online poker requires a different approach to that of playing in Brick and Mortar games (live) and learning the secrets as to how to improve your game will only increase your potential to win.
Online Poker Secret # 1 - Preparation
Understanding the differences between online poker and playing live is key. First and foremost it is important to understand how your state of mind differs playing online. So, before we go any further, let's talk about state of mind before you sit down to play. Lets for a moment imagine that you are traveling to a tournament (land based). From the second you step out of your house all the way to the casino, you are mentally preparing for the contest. Even waiting in the lobby, talking to other players you are getting in the frame of mind needed to play your best game. By this time maybe a couple of hours have passed and having run certain play's over in your head and going over your strategy, you are ready for the challenge.
Let's now imagine the preparation you undergo before playing online. You make a cup of coffee, switch on the computer....the phone rings, it's a double glazing salesman who you finally manage to convince that you are not interested. Your PC loads and then you double click your site icon and open up your room...your ready. Now compare the preparation and state of mind between the 2 examples. You only have to look at how likely a scenario this is, to appreciate the difference. Many players do not appreciate that you will only play your best poker when your mind is in the state to do so. Go for a walk around the block, have 10 min's quiet time .....disconnect the phone. Maybe all this seems too much but it is hugely important to make sure that distractions are kept to an absolute minimum and that you are in comfortable surroundings.
Settings and surroundings whilst playing online poker
Next to preparation, it is highly advisable to should ensure that everything is set up to ensure distractions are kept to a minimum. This can be settings on your PC or something in your house. Do you want to hear the noise of virtual chips going into each pot? Well how about the phone running, or your friend typing messages to you on Skype? Do these things distract you? Over time you will develop your own set of preferences, the key reason they are called preferences. Additionally, some players are more easily distracted than others so whilst we can make intelligent suggestions, the onus is really on you to work out the optimal conditions that induce you to play your A game. Some things which you wouldn't think would annoy you actually do. As a suggestion, experiment with the settings and see which settings you prefer. Don't assume that you like the sound on or off...try it both ways.
Likewise most of the top poker rooms offer a chat box, a small window in which you or other players can chat to other players on the table. Most of the chat is limited to abbreviations like "nh" (nice hand) "ty " (thank you) or "yw" (your welcome) - and a few less polite ones but i won't go into that here.
Some players will use this chat box do induce bad play (tilt) as their strategy. It can seem an easy prospect to ignore players chat but at times when a player is upset by a run of cards you can see some belittling comments. Some players can ignore this and it has no effect, whilst others get upset or distracted which can adversely effect your judgment on an important decision. It is therefore a good idea to turn this option off to avoid the possibility of distraction.
Another key area to be aware of is that your computer is most probably located in a room common with many other activities that you undertake in that room on a day to day basis. Try (if possible) to move your PC or Laptop to an area that is associated with the least distractions that you can achieve. The common player does not put any thought into these distractions, but recognize that playing with distractions will not induce your best game. Minimizing distractions is key to having a winning frame of mind.
Online Secret 2 - At the table Pre-action buttons
Some pre-action buttons, in our opinion, should not be used unless you are tying to induce a bluff. Don't play down the importance of these buttons or the story on table that they tell about the cards that you have in your hand.
Muck Buttons
For instance...you have the option to muck lost or losing hands. It is also not uncommon for players not to use the 'Auto Muck' button even showing hands to their opponents from time to time. If you play a hand to the river, don't win and end up showing players that they went to the river with rags you will be attracting unwanted attention from the observant players on the table and you will lose both respect and your ability to bluff. Good players play to the river when the outs justify and showing your cards when you have called a number of bets when then the outs were not even close to justifying you will only look like a weak player. The ONLY way to avoid this - never show your cards.
Similarly never show that you bluff all the time (by showing your 2-3 off suit). Whilst you may feel like a legend on that hand having pushed a good player off the hand, the very fact that he is a good player does not bode well for your prospects. Having won the hand you commanded respect....show your 2 3 and all that was in vein. The power of the bluff requires that your opponent thinks you have a good hand. If they know you bet with any old two card, you lose this. Should a player on your table ask you to show, which they will from time to time, just muck your cards. You are under no obligation to show your cards and this will add to the anxiety of your opponent who will be deliberating whether they made a good lay down or not.
Players who have been pushed about and lost a few pots, that they thought they should have won, will from time to time begin betting irrationally (tilt). Inducing this irrational play from players can be very profitable as they will either play the wrong hands, play from the wrong spots or commit too many chips to situations that don't warrant.
To look at an example, let's imagine you hit your trips on the flop and you bet heavily all the way, with your opponent calling you to the river. You force one final bet and your opponent folds to a bulging pot. Your opponent now doesn't know whether he has been bluffed or not and will not be happy. What's more this will play on his mind and distract him from playing his best game. You show your trip Queens. Do you think your opponent feels better or worse? Your opponent likely had worse that trips or he would have called so the likelihood is that you have made him feel a whole lot better for making such a good lay down.
You are not there to make your opponents feel good about their game. You want to keep them guessing and try to infuriate them by mixing up your game. Don't show your cards!
Raise / Check Buttons
The raise and check buttons can equally give a huge amount of information about your hand. Do not use these buttons unless you are intend to mislead your opponents as they potentially give a lot away about your hand. Let's look at an example. You are last to act in a $20-$40 Holdem game and you hold pocket aces. You have raised pre flop and have got callers. The flop comes A-K-4 rainbow. You have the following choices in terms of pre-action buttons:
Check / Fold |
Check / Call |
Raise Any |
A little bit of a relief seeing the Ace, as Aces are very easily overturned up against four other players. You know that you have flopped a huge hand and you also know that you will likely raise any bet that comes your way. You check the pre-raise button which automatically raises any bet when the action get's to you. Observant opponents will realize that you could be sitting on a huge hand as you raised so quickly. They will now know that you were prepared to raise any bet (especially if you weren't first to act as you didn't know the first player wasn't going to raise), conclude that the hand is not worth playing and stay away from it which will mean that you win less money.
You can also use this to your advantage as you could use this same strategy when you have no hand and are trying to represent a monster hand.
Online Poker Secret #3 Game Selection
When you playing online poker for the first time, it is better to just focus on learning how to play and playing games that you are familiar with, at least until you develop certain skills. You are not going to be much competition for good players at that game, if you lack certain abilities in general as a poker player.
If you would like an introduction to all the different poker games, read our listings of all poker rules which illustrates the rules for each game and order of play.
Compare Poker Rooms for Online Poker Games
Online Poker Secret #4 - Virtual Chips
Playing with virtual chips can be a tricky one . They don't exist any any form other than on your computer screen as a graphic. Try to compare the two experiences, firstly sitting in a Casino you make a physical exchange, taking cash from your wallet that you got from the ATM, handing over the cash and receiving the chips which you in turn count to make sure you have the right starting number. While you are sitting at the table watching your stack fall or grow and you are fully aware of the relationship between the chips and the amount of money they represent. You therefore respect your chips, their value which in turn you base some of your decisions on this respect.
Online, this relationship is abstract. You cannot feel the chips, you didn't need to go to the bank, withdraw from an ATM or put your hand in your wallet to get cash so it can be deceptive however the virtual chips still represent real money. Many players, especially those fairly new to the scene will find it difficult exercising this control however it is essential to ensure you maintain control over your game.
Mood Management is the Key
Unlike playing poker in a Brick and Mortar game you have the perfect opportunity, playing online, to better manage your moods. Playing face to face when a player sees a chink in your armour you will likely be put to the test. Online, no-one will see any mood swings however it is still important to control as it will affect the way that you play.
This is however only part of it. We talked already about the importance of finding your A game and some tips in setting up this environment. If you are in a bad mood, you will not be playing your best game so it is advisable to stay away from the tables. You have an advantage playing online as you can get up and walk around or shout at the screen and no-one will be the wiser. Don't let your pride get in the way of your bankroll. When you feel like you should get up and leave a game, do it. You will probably never see half the players at the table again so no-one will be the wiser. What's more, leaving a table could be down to anything and does not necessarily mean you are being crushed or scared.
Take a look at your inner self
Well we have given you some secrets to playing online. You know yourself better than anyone and so are in the best situation to understand when you play well, what angers you, what disrupts your play and what distracts you. Make a list, write them down and have them somewhere that is visible (maybe next to your PC). If you can do this then you can then set yourself to play within an environment that helps you play the best poker that your abilities allow. It's often the little things that others overlook that makes the difference between a good player and a very good player.
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