Since its explosive growth in the early 2000s, online poker has established itself as the cornerstone of the digital gaming industry. Even after the 2011 ‘Black Friday” crackdown that temporarily disrupted the US market, the US state and federal government have in recent years expressed their willingness to integrate poker into regulated online casino games.
Suffice it to say, live poker continues to be one of the most popular and accessible forms of online gambling, serving as an easy-to-access alternative to traditional gambling.
In today’s article, we plan to dish out battle-tested tips and strategies to crush this game and maintain a solid win-rate.
Essential Online Poker Fundamentals
Before we look at any online poker strategy, let’s master the core elements of playing an online poker game. Remember, poker in itself isn’t a complicated game. The basics are easy to soak up.
The problem comes with mastering how you play the game, and, most importantly, how to turn poker into a consistent money-making machine. It can take a lifetime to achieve the much-needed mastery.
So, for new players just starting out, we suggest you strike a balance between the fun and excitement that comes with playing the game and the hefty losses you’ll quickly rack up if you’re not sure of what you’re doing.
Technical Skills for Online Play
With online poker, you’ll be learning from both your losses and wins.
However, while you learn a lot from your wins and losses, your learning doesn’t just start and end at the table. You’ll also learn a lot by reading books and digging through blogs.
Also, the more you play the game, the more your skill level and knowledge of the game improves. You only have to make sure you’ve chosen the right table.
Play money might look like a viable option, but they tend to attract amaetur players that aren’t exactly serious about playing the game. We suggest you stick with lower-stakes tournaments, with buy-ins that don’t exceed $5.
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Position is Power
Use the dealer button to dictate position. You can do this by moving it clockwise around the poker table after each hand. Let’s take a look at all the nine positions you can take in a online poker game:
- The Button (BTN): This is considered the best position on the table. That’s because it gives you a sneak peak of what everyone else on the table is doing before you can make your own decision.
- Cutoff (CO): This is considered the second best position in class. You can find it on the right-hand side of the button.
- Hijack (HJ): This is the third-best seat on the table. It’s pretty decent because it allows you to see what lots of the players are doing before you make a decision.
- Lojack (LJ): Not the best spot, but not exactly terrible.
- Middle Position (MP1): This seat can be found right in the middle of the table.
- UTG+1: This is where the seats get tougher.
- Under the Sun (UTG): The UTG is like presenting first. You have no idea what’s on everyone else’s card.
- Small Blinds: Small forced bets
- Bing Blinds:Big forced bets
Mathematical Concepts Made Simple
Most people aren’t exactly strong in math. That’s because math can be tough, confusing, and can get really complex.
However, with poker, you don’t have to be a math genius to excel at the game: but you’ll need some basic addition and multiplication. Here are four math concept you’ll need to grasp really well:
- Pot odds calculation
- Equity understanding
- Expected value (EV)
- ICM basics
- Break-even requirements
Common Online Poker Mistakes
Now let’s highlight seven common mistakes people make while playing online poker:
- Playing too Many Hands: A common mistake amateurs make while playing poker online is playing too many hands. The idea is to try and not play every hand, lest you end up losing more money. Know when to quit, like which hand to play and which one to fold. In other words, patience is key here.
- Playing Your Premium Holdings: With experience, you’ll gradually begin to understand how to exploit your opponents’ hands without having to dig into your superior cards.
- Lack of Practice and Observation: One way to win at the game of poker is to pay attention to your opponent’s game plan. Learn to monitor their moves closely, analyzing their betting patterns, and practicing on the possible counter moves.
- Poor Bankroll Management: How you manage your bankroll can either make or break you. Remember you have an unlimited amount to play at the table, and the last thing you want to do is to play a poker game you can’t afford.
Advanced Tips and Strategies
| Tips | Key Points |
| Start with Micro Stakes | It’s best practise to start with lower stakesYou also want to master the fundamentals before moving up |
| Re-Raise Pre-flop | Steep clear of limpingLearn to raise three-times the size of big blindsAdd one big blind per limper |
| Avoid Out-of-Position 3 Bets | Learn to fold second-tier hands(KQ, AJ, and Small Pairs)How you position your hand will determine your profitability |
Conclusion
This is a comprehensive guide on how to win online poker. But if we sum up everything, winning at the game of poker is for the most part about consistently applying the fundamentals and adjusting your strategies along the way.
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