Top 12 Fundamental Online Poker Tips
Because there are much fewer tells in online poker than in live, you are left to focus mostly on the cards and the betting. You have nothing on your fellow players except how they bet and what's on the board. Here are some tips for good online poker.
1. Always check instead of folding. Even if your cards look dreadful, you never know what the next cards can give you. So stay and always check if you can.
2. Play low pairs but carefully. Online players are often loose. You can beat them with your low pair so long as you can improve it to a trip, two pair, etc. But if there is a lot of action going on, fold as somebody else may have a better hand.
3. Make plenty of notes. Don't jump into the game right away, but sit out and observe. Judge who is tight, maniac, fish, etc. Play at the same tables with the same players if you can.
4. Pay attention at every showdown. Was that aggressive bettor only bluffing, or did they really have a winner? What quality of hands do they play?
5. Be tight in a loose table. Do many players fold preflop? Or are you the only one? If you are the only one, the table is right for you.
6. Look at who's chatting and who isn't. If they chat, you can tell if they take the game seriously or not. Socializing may be their priority, not winning. Use this to your advantage.
7. Play aggressively preflop. This is to take out as many players as you can who might otherwise make a hand later on. This tip, like some here, apply to live poker too.
8. Think carefully on the flop. You now have 3/5 of the community cards. Judge by the odds if it's worth continuing or not, if you missed your hand on the flop. For example, if you are 3 cards to a diamond flush, you would need 2 diamonds in a row on the turn and river. Not likely. Is it worth staying in for?
9. Look for quick checks after a card is dealt. This almost always means the new card(s) didn't help their hand. Automatic habits online are easy tells.
10. Be nice. Say "NH" (nice hand) once in a while. But don't get chatty. Focus on the game.
11. Use a poker calculator. An online poker calculator computes the odds for you while playing. If you're new, this helps when deciding whether to play on or not. It's not unlike blackjack software that have odds of bust, draw, etc. Other software also let you track hands and other info.
12. Last tip: Watch the pros! Go to higher stake tables and watch the players there. You'll notice the difference in the quality of play as well as the overall tightness/looseness of the game. Pay attention!
Online poker is fun, fast-paced and addictive. Before you jump in, make sure you've got the bankroll for it. But we are sure once you try online poker, you'll fall in love with it! It is not easy to apply certain traditional poker knowledge such as reading tells. Yet the convenience and fun that go with online poker more than make up for these. Have a good time and keep on playing! Practice makes perfect!