So you’ve learned the rules of your favourite poker game, you’ve splashed around in a few games at the local casino and now you fancy a crack at making some money out of the game. Here are three key pieces of advice that are absolutely essential when it comes to developing your skills and making the step up from a novice playing for fun, to a serious poker player.
Lose The Ego: It is crucial that you are able to keep your emotions in check at the poker table, be it online or live. It isn’t simply a question of trying not to be affected by a bad beat, you need to keep all of your emotions under control in order to win long term. If you take a pot with a bluff, don’t get cocky and try again when the time isn’t right. If you lose a pot and the winners shows a bluff, don’t try and get even with them personally.
On a broader scale, be honest with yourself. A common mistake amongst less experienced poker players is to focus on the winning sessions, but to forget or even deliberately keep secret the losses.
Keep Records: Managing your bankroll well is arguably the most important factor in becoming a long term winning poker player. It is vital to keep your poker playing money separate from other finances, particularly money spent on other forms of gambling. Constantly monitor the state of your bankroll to ensure you are playing at the correct limits, thus avoiding the risk of going broke.
As with the issue of ego, it is important not to kid yourself about successes and losses; keeping organised, up to date records will show where you perform badly, allowing you to maximise profits by cutting out the weaker games. There are plenty of professionals that are great at tournaments, but terrible at cash games. It’s nothing to be ashamed of, play to your strengths.
Talk Poker: There is only so much experience to be gained from books and time spent at the felt. Discuss poker hands with fellow players and try to get a different perspective on things. You may have felt that you played a hand perfectly, but a friend might have seen a way to get an extra bet that you would never have considered. Discuss bad plays as well as good, to improve your all round game. Mix with better players and you will pick up new analytical skills. There are plenty of internet messageboards where hands can be discussed, make sure to utilise them.
Good luck at the tables!
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