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| Five Key Tips for Beginner Poker Players |
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Poker is a casino
game that’s been around for years - it’s definitely one of the
classics. If you’ve heard good things about this game and want to give it
a try, then the good news is that poker is available to play at any good casino
near you, along with pretty much every online casino site or app out there.
Whether you want to play poker in a traditional setting against other players
or try it on your own from the comfort of your own home, the option is there.
And, if you want to practice before you start betting real money, you’ll
be glad to hear that poker game apps are in abundance - Zynga poker is a great
smartphone app that allows you to play for in-game chips without spending a
penny, or if you prefer console gaming then Prominence Poker is an ideal option
for the Xbox or PlayStation.
Whether you want to improve your game when
playing for virtual chips, real money online, or real money at the casino,
learning poker strategy and understanding the game is crucial. We’ve put
together some essential tips for poker beginners.
Poker Card Rankings
Naturally, this is
the first step that you want to take before you sit down to play. The good news
is that learning general Texas Hold’em poker rules is fairly easy, but
spend some time understanding the poker hand ranking - when playing, this will
help you determine what to bet depending on how strong the hand you’ve got
really is.
Poker
hand ranking consists of the following:
- 10. High card: Highest ranking card when no
players finish with any of the above
- 9. One pair: One pair of cards of the same
denomination
- 8. Two pairs: Two sets of any two cards of
the same denomination
- 7. Three of a kind: Three of a kind cards,
with any two other cards
- 6. Straight: Five cards in any suit, in
sequence
- 5. Flush: Five cards from a matching
suit
- 4. Full house: Three of a kind cards, plus
another pair
- 3. Four of a kind: Any four cards with the
same denomination
- 2. Straight flush: Five cards of the same
suit, in sequence
- 1. Royal flush: Court cards plus Ace and ten,
of the same suit
You should not begin
playing poker before you learn these rankings as they will help you determine
how to bet.
Positions
You shouldn’t start playing the
game before learning positions as this is very important in poker. Generally,
if you have a position on other players, this means that you are acting after
them, allowing you to see what they do before you make a decision to bet, check
or fold. You will know if they bet or check, and how long they take to make a
decision, which you can use to your advantage.
For example, seeing your
opponent check quickly could be a good way to determine that they have a weak
hand and you could use this information to decide to bluff. The hands that you
decide to play are affected by the position you’re in; the later position
you have, the more pressure you can put on your opponents.
Start at Low Stakes
Before
jumping into a game, take this tip into consideration. Many players with some
experience have no interest in playing low games, but when you’re just
starting out, they can be extremely valuable for learning poker strategy and
getting your head around the game. Starting at low stakes is beneficial
because:
- You’ll feel more comfortable and
confident knowing that you’re not risking much money, and therefore not
going to get burned if you lose a little at the beginning. It gives you a
chance to learn the game without breaking the bank in the process.
- Your skill level will increase when you move
up stakes, so starting at the bottom gives you a chance to play against players
on your level or lower, giving you a better chance to learn the game instead of
simply throwing money at more experienced players.
Keep Your Emotions in Check
Whether
you’re playing at your local bricks and mortar casino or at an online
casino site like High Stakes Internet Casino, emotions can be your biggest
enemy at the poker table. Of course, the way that the game goes could have an
effect on your emotions - it’s normal to feel sad or angry if you lose a
big bet on a hand that you thought would surely be the winner, but avoid making
it even worse when you feel bad. This is especially true if you’re playing
at highstakescasino.co.uk,
which offers massive upper limits for wagers and gives you the chance to really
win big once you’ve got poker strategy down and have gained more
experience in the game.
As a general rule of thumb, avoid playing poker
for money when you’re tired, angry or drunk - if you really can’t get
enough of the game or have the urge to play, a game where you can play for
virtual chips can be a good way to get your fix without having to worry about
making decisions with your money that you might regret later.
Learn Poker Odds
Finally,
learning poker odds gives you a better understanding of whether or not
you have a winning hand. Once you know this, it becomes easier to base your
decisions on odds rather than your emotions. Understanding the most common
Texas Hold’em hands, and how many outs you will have to improve a specific
hand is a good place to start. These include:
- Straight flush draw: 15 outs
- Flush draw and gut-shot: 12 outs
- Flush draw: 9 outs
- Open-ended straight draw: 8 outs
- Two over cards: 6 outs
- Gut-shot: 4 outs
Once you’ve got a
basic understanding of poker odds, it becomes easier to put your opponent on a
range. Understanding how many outs you actually have will allow you to make a
more educated decision. There are many factors to suggest the hands your
opponent could be playing, including their position, post-flop action of bet or
check, and their decision-making time.
Getting good at poker takes time
and practice, so start here and play the game as much as you can. |
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