You are here: Online Poker (Home) > Poker Tips

Top Poker Tips for live and Online Poker Games

Poker tips are essential reading for anyone learning the game not only because they often provide some good pointers but also because they are usually given from people who have made all the mistakes already. They give you insight into the pitfalls that other players have made and the lessons that they have learned in playing winning poker (see our guide to making money at online poker). In truth, amongst all the thousands of different view points, if you read enough material you always find some real gems that you can really relate to. The top tip we can offer you is an obvious one and maybe the most important - don't wear yourself out.

An important part of every poker players life must be life away from the tables to get a break from the hype and reflect on your game. Professionals from all other sports take time away from the game and poker is no different. It is well known that some of the key poker tips that will make the biggest difference are usually the ones that you dismiss as insignificant. As you will read in this guide, many play a bigger part in the outcome than you think. The tips on this page are particularly important when playing online poker but are also relevant in brick and mortar games. The difference between those that win and those that lose is that dedicated players that pay enough attention to their game to know when a tip will improve their game whilst others continue in their bubble thinking that they already have enough to walk away from the tables in profit. Sometimes the best thing to do to stop a losing streak (which happens to us all) is to take some time away from the tables, reflect and then start afresh.

Keep it simple - when you are at the tables here is a recommended guide and some top tips to playing poker which will help maximize your profits and keep you on top of your game.

Poker Tips On the Flop

Tip #1 - Abandon Bad Flops

If the flop doesn't provide potential, abandon it. It is very expensive to hope that you make something on the Turn or River. Don't feel obliged to play every hand. You must be patient and keep in mind that if you continually force chips in the pot when you have no real potential on the flop, it is highly probable that you will lose your chips in the long run. Get your chips in the pot when you hit something on the flop.

Tip #2 - Inside Straight Draws

Don't waste chips betting inside straight draws. They are not ideal to bet with unless the pot is of a substantial amount or there is little chance that you will be raised.

Tip #3 - Flush & Straight Draws

A flush or outside straight draw on the flop provides plenty of potential. If there are others in the pot, try to raise. If it doesn't scare people off don't be scared to get your money in the pot, as you will win your fair share of these hands (the odds are very often on your side).

Tip #4 - Don't Overplay Straight Draws

With the exception of the later stages in tournament play (see our guide on the structure of poker tournaments), players often overplay these cards. There are 2 ways to look at this. Either you can raise and try to scare players out of the pot in the hope that you will win the pot OR you can try to make your straight or flush as cheaply as possible and then raise. Which makes more sense? Remember that in a session you will get dealt an awful lot of flush draws, pocket pairs pre flop, straight draws, suited connectors, you name it. It therefore makes sense that you wait for these hands (that provide potential) and get in cheap. Trying to catch cards costs money, don't overdo it.

Top #5 - Playing Pocket Pairs

Pocket pairs with over cards that haven't made trips on the flop are not good hands to sit on. The chance of improving on the turn and river is very small. As long as you are not committing a large proportion of your stack to see the flop (with a small pocket pair), get your money in in the pot and see the flop (see quite to seeing a cheap flop). If you have a pair of deuces, for example, and you hit a 2 on the flop you have a very good chance of doing some damage to players who have made top pair or two pairs. The trick here is to see the flop, if you miss, be prepared to fold with a raise (unless you have good reason to think you are ahead).

Tip #6 - Scare Cards

It is important to identify scare cards. What we mean here is cards that can make your opponents a strong hand. Think of it like this: Three consecutive or close cards might very well give someone a straight draw. Two consecutive cards may give two pair. A two flush on the board significantly reduces the potential of a straight draw you may hold. One in four of the cards you are waiting for could possibly give someone a flush.

When playing online poker knowing your scare cards will keep you sharp and reduce the 'Married to' effect. What we mean here is that you could hold an ace high straight draw on the turn. Now if there were 4 different suits on the board and no paired cards that would be real potential however if there were 4 of any one suit on the board it is more than likely that someone will have made a flush. The fourth club would have been a real scare card as a player would only need one of that suit in their hand to made the flush. So even if there was 10, J, Q and you held AK of a different suit you would not want to call a big raise. Getting married to your cards affects many players who wouldn't want to fold because they already have their straight. A good player would know that a flush beats any straight (except a straight flush), and would fold to a sizeable raise.

Learn to identify scare cards as this will help protect your bankroll.

Poker Tips on the Turn

On to the Turn, the stakes increase and very often the round of betting sees more cash bet in attempts to win the pot.

Tip #1 - The Check Raise

When you have a scorcher of a hand, try to check raise at times as you're often checking less good hands on the turn anyway. This way, your opponent will not be able to read your hand effectively. When you check, your opponent raises thinking you have nothing (fishing), and you raise his/her bet thus maximizing your pot revenue. If you had bet to start with he/she may not have committed more money to the pot. You have therefore forced your opponent to part with more of their money by good solid play. This is one of the most common plays in Poker. A good player however will not bust out to this as the bet they make will only be enough to see if you have a good hand. Playing loose players this is extremely profitable as you will win 5 pots to every one that he/she actually hits. This is a key tip to winning at poker. Use this move.

Tip #2 - Acknowledge Bets and Raises

In Low Limit games the quality of players often means that bluffing is not so common (or easy), largely due to low skill at the table. From this you can then safely assume that:

If a player raises on the turn, it is more likely than not that they have a premium hand (or enough to beat you). This is especially true when there are more than just the 2 of you in the pot. However, there is always an opportunity here as if you have trips, a straight or a flush, your opponent will often find it difficult to lay down top pair. Don't raise too much as several small bets here could maximize your winnings.

Tip # 3 - Don't Over bet on Draws

On the turn, the probability for making your hand is substantially lower than on the flop (less cards left in the deck and less cards to come). Don't commit too many chips here as you will have more chance scaring off your opponent than hitting one of your outs. Remember it is more profitable to put money to the pot after you have made your hand. Get in cheap, make your hand and then raise it up.

Poker Tips on the River

Tip #1 - Checking a Weak Hand

If you have a pair and you have been called every bet you have made, you should probably check on the River. The reason for this is that it is unlikely that your opponent would have called more than one bet with a hand worse than yours and you take the risk that someone has made a better hand on the river and will raise you (to which you won't be able to call). Again it is down to judgment. An exception here is when your intention is to bluff your opponent out of the pot on the river. Don't try this in lower limit games as the players are not skilled enough to know when they are beat so don't be surprised when you get called. Our advice here is that you shouldn't call a big bet with little or no hand. Your opponent will likely try this again and again (if he tries it once). Catch him when you have a hand. Be patient, your hand will come. If you are playing online, fold a couple of hands (that you were going to fold anyway) fast to begin to get into your opponents head that they have you dominated. This will encourage them to try it again and again until the point you catch them out and take down a big pot.

Tip #2 - Seeing it Through

Here is a useful poker tip. Frequently on the river there is enough money in the pots to make it worthwhile calling a bet, even if you are unsure if you have the best hand. It may be that you know you are behind. Remember if your opponent makes a small bet on the river and bet the flop and turn aggressively, this may indicate that he/she is trying to steal the pot with an undersized bet, which indicates weakness (although often means they are looking for a raise..be careful).

A Top Poker Tip

Money management is key to your success. Get silly and you run the risk of wiping out your bankroll. You may be good and in the space of a year win lots of money BUT, poker is such that luck does play a factor and whilst you win in the long run (being better than your opponents), opponents will get lucky. My point is that there are "swings and roundabouts" ...you will lose no matter how good you are, and that is a fact. No amount of poker tips can prevent this as it is part of the game we love. Sometimes you will lose to what seems the luckiest player in the world and be cursing your luck, but face the fact that it is part of the game and make sure you have the bank balance to support your losses. If you are playing no limit poker, don't take your whole bankroll to the table. All you can do is get your money in with the best hand. Often players will call you way behind and get lucky. What if you bet your entire stack? What if you get a full house and go all in in a very strong position, only to learn that your opponent has made a bigger full house! These things happen. Look after your bankroll. Lose it and you are out of the game.

Remember your bankroll is everything. It is the only thing that will keep you in the game. Employ these poker tips to your game and i wish you good luck.

For more guides see our all our poker guides.