The origins of the game poker are uncertain but could date back more than 1000 years. The game has crossed many cultures and continents, some believe it is derived from the Persian game As Nas, while others have traced it back to a domino type game played by the Chinese emperor in the 10th century.
Something that we can agree about poker is that it is a highly popular game around the world, enjoyed in casino venues, private events and more recently – on the internet. Online poker is entertaining, fast paced and there is a great variety of games offered by top casino sites to enjoy.
Poker is a game of both luck and skill, this card game requires effort and a good amount of patience to master. For those that are completely new to the game, playing against already experienced players can feel intimidating.
Whether you are new to poker or just looking to improve your results, these five top tips provide a useful guide for improving your poker skills:
Learn the basics
This first tip may seem a little obvious but plenty of new players jump into playing poker without taking the time to understand how the game works and what they need to look out for. A good place to start is to learn some of the basic rules of the game and the different variants you can play.
For example, there is the most popular variant, Texas Hold’em, which is relatively straightforward to learn. There is then Omaha Hi where you are dealt more hole cards and Omaha Hi-Lo, which is similar but at showdown the pot is divided between the highest and the lowest ranked five card hands.
You will also come across stud games where some cards are dealt face up. You may wish to start by learning Texas Hold’em as there are many online resources such as blog and video tutorials to walk you through the game, then branch out to other variants as your confidence grows.
Learning poker terminology early on is also helpful but if playing online, many games will have an explanation of the basic terms during gameplay.
Network with experienced players
Embedding yourself within the poker community is an excellent way to learn from poker players that have already developed their winning strategy. More experienced players may be willing to mentor you or at least share advice for developing your own game strategy.
You can meet other poker players at casino and poker venues or online on forums and site chat rooms. It’s also worth sharing your new hobby with your current circle of friends, you might find that you already know some poker pros that you can practise with.
Practice is key when trying to improve your poker skills, learning from your mistakes, and picking up good tactics from other players will help you to develop. Playing with experienced players may lower your chances of winning and be frustrating but it can be a useful way to pick up good poker tips.
Fold when you are unsure
As a developing player, one piece of advice to remember is to always fold if you are unsure of your next move. It is natural to be curious and want to satisfy our curiosity about the opponent’s cards, however professional players know when to quit.
Calling in the wrong situation or calling too often is a very common way of losing quickly at poker, so if you are feeling stuck between calling, raising, or folding then you may want to take the cautious approach and fold this time.
Learn to manage your bankroll effectively
Poor bankroll management is a surefire way to quickly lose at any casino type game, and poker is no exception to this. Have a very clear budget in mind and do not, in any circumstances, go over this budget – even if you believe you have hit a winning streak.
You should never play with more money than you are easily able to afford to lose. If you are feeling frustrated or stressed for any reason, opt-out of playing as this may impact your ability to make sensible decisions in cash games.
