What are some good tips when playing poker?

Question

What are some good tips when playing poker?

Answer 1

don't play,keep the money in your pocket

Answer 2

These are the ones most important to me in the order I learned them:

1. Learn the starting hand rankings. I used to think I was playing tight when I played k7 suited. In actuality, I was a maniac-agressive-fish-donk-whatever. Now I finally know why Ax/22 aren't good starting hands, and situations where I have to fold aq and 77. Before you can adopt a playing style or understand pot odds, you have to learn the hand rankings. This knowledge is vital for everything else related to strategy.

2. Pot odds: you need to know when it's time to fold, call or raise. pot odds, while not an exact science, will generally tell you what you need to know. Also, since most other players are also using them, it gives you great information about their hands. I've won many hands where I did not want to stay in the hand but drew out because pot odds told me to stay in. I've also caught a ton of people bluffing with garbage when they tried to  overbet the pot. I've also won a ton of hands by not giving the proper pot odds to call.

3. M theory: I went from 18% ROI to 200% ROI immediately. What I found out is that I was playing aggressive too late. When I started getting aggressive with the proper M, I won a lot of blinds/antes when I needed to, which kept me alive to the money far more often. Also, this knowledge, when combined with starting hand rankings, helped me a lot. Also, when you hear the advice "switching styles," M theory will tell you when it's the best time to switch.

4. Playing the people: This is the least helpful, imho, since people are the least predictable. Also, the worst player in the world can often get the winning cards or the lucky draw, and since they're the worst player, they don't know they should fold them to your bluff. Imho, you're better off playing your cards, betting using pot odds and predicting their cards rather than trying to bluff them off any hand, even bottom pair. Also, paradoxically, the other people have to be pretty good for a bluff to work. Playing people also seems best suited for the manic-aggressive style.

5. Position play: Like playing the people, position play depends on other people knowing what's going on. However, overplaying position will often result in trappers getting the upper hand. Imho, the odds of taking down the pot solely from position (without a hand) are lower than the odds of somebody else trapping with good cards. The only exception is when you and the blinds are the only ones in the hand. Stealing the blinds is a high percentage position play.

6. Everything else: of everything else I've learned, they're much less effective than the others listed above, e.g. Gap Theory, The Sandwich Effect, Q theory, etc. They're good for the occassional play, but for consistent, winning poker, you can't depend on these.

In summary: the basics (as listed above) will keep you from losing your shirt, but in the end, it pretty much just comes down to the cards, and all the knowledge in the world won't help you win lost hands against bad players.

Answer 3

Poker is like everything else in life, practice, learn from your mistakes, and always strive to be better.  I can't tell you what style to use, styles are extensions of people's personalities, you have to figure that one out on your own.  Read everything you can on poker, play every chance you get.  Above all be patient, without that, you are not going to be a winner...IN THE LONG TERM, and long term is what it is all about, making the right move at the right time, and because you make a bad play and win a big pot, don't confuse that with good play.

Answer 4

Apart from the obvious, read, study, learn, practice etc.

I'd say the best advice is to concentrate.  Even when you are not in the hand.  Observe the other players.  What hand do you put them on.  What hands do they show down?  Are they tight or aggressive.  Do they have any tells.  How do they put their chips in the pot.  What do they bet in what situations.

There is a wealth of free information out there.  But for most players, if they are not directly involved in a hand, they are gazing around the room, listening to an iPod, texting their friends.  Pay attention.  That's my advice.

Answer 5

Read the tips at http://bettingwise.hit.bg/Pokertips.html

Answer 6

I recommend the poker tips library at Doyles Room, they are very helpful and easy to understand!

http://www.doylesroom.com/education

Answer 7

Theres only one tip needed that will help you the most...

PATIENCE.

Don't ever change your game if your confident in it.

And be patient and pick your spots.

Answer 8

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