My Best Online Poker Strategy: Play Patiently At The Table
A typical error made by numerous novice (along with a shockingly high quantity of
those that should know better) players is feeling the need to participate on each and every hand dealt. A successful player only plays 20-30% of dealt hands. Much like a professional baseball player who is able to sign a multimillion dollar contract by maintaining a batting average of .300, the profitable poker player knows that the majority of the time another player will walk away with the pot.
With that in mind it really is essential to play aggressively once you get a hand that you are confident in. Keep in mind, 70% of the time other players are ready to fold in search of a hand that they believe favors them! Be ready to force the weak players out with your aggressive bets. If you are confident you might have the strongest hand within the game, raise the bet! The primary reason for being aggressive would be to have those with weak hands fold early on, as some tend to hang on trying to find the miracle draw to win the hand. By forcing their hand early you are lowering the chance of those miracle hands and also ensuring you win the pot. It really is always better to win a smaller pot than take a chance that yet another players draws that miracle hand late in the game.
Your table image is also really important. Develop a strong table image by not bluffing early inside your play. Bluffing early marks you as a bluffer and men and women will call your bluff 100% of the time. Play great cards and throw away junk cards, have the other players at the table see you are only playing strong hands. This sets up the chance for you to make use of a good bluff later inside the game as you've got conditioned the other people players into thinking that when you raise you've the cards to win the hand.
Studying other players and their betting behavior is equally as critical. It is too easy to get wrapped up in your own game and miss the tells the other players may possibly be exhibiting. Knowing if they bet aggressively or typically call with a strong hand empowers you and your betting decisions.
Most important of all is know when to quit! You should constantly be sharp and focused when at the betting table. Fatigue leads to mental errors and ends up costing you money. Frustration is yet another sign that you might be ready to call it a night, or a minimum of take a break. Play smart and you will win smart.