Are you comfortable with online poker? Then it’s probably time you seriously considered learning Texas Holdem, one of the most popular versions of poker, whether online or live.
However, as with all versions of poker, you need to beat your opponents, and so you need to have your Texas Holdem strategy well in place before you enter the world of online Texas Holdem games.
Here is a checklist to get you started:
– Before you enter an online Texas Holdem poker room, you must know what amount of money you feel comfortable wagering.
To paraphrase a standard warning to all online poker buffs: never put more money into your online account than you can afford to lose
– Don’t chase your losses. If you do, you’ll find yourself making bad moves, such as raising when you should actually fold
– Play small tournaments before you participate in the larger ones. Obviously, large Texas Holdem tournaments are more likely to be dominated by experts, and there is more money at stake, which means there is more to lose
– Always study the players you’re playing with. The roster that you prepare of their habits and playing and betting patterns will come in handy when you meet them again.
Remember that a successful Texas Holdem strategy does not merely consist of formulating your own, but studying and beating your opponents
– Do not ever play multiple online Texas Holdem games. When you are at a table, always give it your undivided attention
– Do not make the mistake of thinking that the best hand will always win.
– Do not play too many hands or bluff needlessly. Experienced players will easily see through you and call your bluff
– Although there are numerous rooms that offer free Texas Holdem games, and though these are good places to learn and hone your skills, do not confine yourself to them if you want to improve your game.
Until you actually lose money, you will not feel the need to sharpen your approach
– For obvious reasons, start small and move up to higher stakes as your skills improve
– Never be in a hurry to win. Patience is the key in Texas Holdem, and you can’t develop your skills without plenty of practice
– Remember that online Texas Holdem is as much a psychological battle as it is one of skills. You have to constantly out-think and out-maneuver your opponents
– Practice as much and as hard as you can. While reading books on Texas Holdem and online guides is a good move, remember that these will get you nowhere without the right amount of practice. Once again, the best practice you will gain will not be in free games.
– Do not allow yourself to be distracted by several tactics that online Texas Holdem veterans use, such as chatting with you online and trying to provoke you into making an error
– Allocate a separate Texas Holdem fund so you needn’t worry about possible losses eating into your expenses.
