Key Lessons That Amateur Poker Players Must Learn

Last Updated on October 2, 2018 Author:Adrian Sterne

The global poker market is growing rapidly because there is a constant influx of new poker players from around the world.

Unlike playing slot machines which revolve around luck, there are many intricacies involved in playing poker and those who are new to the game should be aware of them.

Poker players need to constantly hone their skills if they plan on winning.

There are plenty of helpful resources out there that beginners should refer to so that they can feel more comfortable and start winning.

Six Important Poker Skills To Improve

We look at six key lessons below that amateur poker players must learn to improve their game.

1. Stakes

It is wise for beginners to play with “low stakes“. They are going to make mistakes but those errors won’t be as costly. Once a beginner has played a few games and feels more confident they can up the ante so to speak. Money management is important.

2. Bet Smart

How much you bet and when you choose to place a bet has to make sense. It should be done in a way that keeps your opponents guessing about the cards in your hand. Making the first bet can work to your advantage and raising pots can cause other players to fold even if they might have a better hand than you do.

3. Know Your Position

Where you are seated in relation to the dealer button defines your position. When you are “in position” you get to watch everyone else at the table act which should give you some information. Conversely, when you are “out of position” or in “early position”, the rest of the table gets to watch how you act. Beginners in early position are advised to only play premium hands.

4. Bet Size

The amount of your bet should depend on things like the size of the pot, the cards on the board, and the size of your opponents’ chip stacks among other things. As a rule, a pre-flop raise with a premium hand should be 3x the big blind. After the flop, bets are often two thirds to three fourths the size of the pot. Remember to change it up a bit so that you don’t give yourself away.

5. Bluff

Novice players should slowly integrate bluffing into their game as it is a crucial component to anyone’s poker game. It is a good idea to completely refrain from bluffing in your first few games and when you finally do give it a try it’s important that you don’t overdo it.

6. Getting Reads

It is a lot easier to read players in live games than it is to read them in online games. Keep a close eye on how they act in certain situations. This will help you gain insight into their style of play and betting patterns. On the other side of the coin, try to mix things up so that opponents have a hard time reading you. Perhaps the best piece of advice would be to know your limit and stay within it.

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