Top 5 poker tips and tricks

No card game is played as tactically as poker. Unlike other games of chance, you can become successful in poker by focusing on the possible playing tactics and poker tricks. What does that mean? That you have to practice, practice, and more practice.

That in itself is a good starting point because it is nice to know that as a player you can also influence the outcome yourself and that you are not only dependent on fate. Novice players need to know where to start and that’s why poker tips are always welcome. With the online poker tips below I am happy to help you on your way. These are mainly poker tips for beginners, for advanced players this should be a piece of cake by now.

Know the value of your starting hand

This is perhaps the most valuable tip I can give you. You must know what your next move will be based on the first two cards received. A lot depends on that. Only play if you have two good cards. Playing with bad cards is of course also possible, but that is more reserved for the professional players.

What are good cards?

When your first pair consists of two Aces, you have the best possible poker hand. However, the value of your poker hand may decrease in value during the game. It may then be better to fold in some cases, such as when other players are betting high. Two cards of the same suit and that match, such as 6 of diamonds and 7 of diamonds, give you a good chance of making a Straight or a Flush.

• A Straight means that five consecutive cards do not all have to be of the same suit.
• A Flush means you have a poker hand with cards of the same suit.

In that case, the highest card decides. Two kings, queens, or jacks can also give you a profit, but that also depends on the cards that are presented face-up on the poker table and are dealt by the poker players. This is the case with the poker variant Texas Hold’em, for example. But at the same time, remember not to hold on to the first two cards. A lot can happen while playing. For the same money, you will receive a few bad cards the following rounds and you will lose the poker game.

Set your bet

It makes sense; the size of your bet determines how many chips you win or lose. It is important to think about this carefully to avoid losing a lot of money in a short time. What you also have to pay attention to is that you do not immediately bet the full whack with a good poker hand. This immediately betrays that you have a good hand so that the other players will not dare to bet more money. And that has a major impact on the size of the prize pool.

Betting in proportion to the pot

It is also important to remember that your bet is proportional to the pot. For example, betting $15 when there is $150 in the pot does not make sense. Your fellow players will most likely not choose to fold in that case. You will also win little if you have the winning hand. You, therefore, need to know what to bet to get other players to fold or to increase the value of the pot and bet in response.

Know when to bluff

On the other hand, there is also the option to bluff strongly, but even then you have to know what you are doing. The effect of a bluff can be great if done at the right time. By bluffing well it is even possible to take home the prize pool. However, it depends on the situation whether this is a wise thing to do. In any case, you must have a good poker face.

Don’t play with too many hands

A common pitfall of poker novices, in particular, is that they want to play every round. However, the trick is to be selective as not all hands are profitable. In fact, in the majority of cases, a game will make you lose. It is therefore important to play tactically and pass on time, which is called ‘fold’ in English. Since you will encounter most terms in English in the casino, I also often mention the English names in my poker tips for beginners and advanced players. If you have a weak hand, it is important not to endlessly strive for the perfect combination of cards. A more experienced player will quickly advise you not to do this. In fact, it’s one of the worst things you can do.

Thinking about your position at the poker table

Position at the poker table is very important. You gain the most advantage if you are the last person at the table to say what you want to do because you have already heard what the rest of the players have chosen. So based on that information, you can determine your next move and be successful. In some cases, the position you take at the table is just as important as the cards you receive.

Avoid the first position at the table

It’s more likely that if you’re sitting at a table where everyone has a bad hand, including yourself, you’ll take the win based on your position. This is the case, for example, when you play Texas Hold’em. What you should always avoid is sitting in the first position at the table. That means you have to do it without any information from the other players.

Count the ‘outs’ you need to get a winning hand

This tip is relatively simple. It’s about thinking ahead in the game. How many cards do you need to make a good winning hand, or an ‘out’? Are you dealing with an Open End straight draw? Then you have eight so-called ‘outs’. Do you have two cards with the same number but a different suit with which you can hit a set after a flop? Then you only need two ‘outs’. And so every hand has a certain number of outs. Immerse yourself in this matter and the poker game will become a lot easier for you.