Welcome back for the second installment of my top tips for beginner poker players. Here are tips 6 to 10. I hope they offer simple, common sense advice for new players.
Tip #6: Don’t Bluff too much!
New players often make the cardinal mistake of bluffing for bluffing’s sake or thinking that good poker is all about elaborate deceptions and multi-stage bluffs of the ilk that the top professionals like to make. Bluffs work because they are executed in a particular context that makes a bluff a profitable play. This is usually a certain situation that arises or because we believe we can exploit a certain player’s style. They don’t magically show up ten times in a session or along other arbitrary lines. You aren’t a bad player because you haven’t ran an outrageous total bluff this session. It’s crucial that you remain patient and play solid ABC poker when you are starting out. Experience will tell you the correct spots to bluff and it will come in time.
Tip #7: Don’t Play if you’re tilting!
Even newer players will have seen the spectacular blow-ups of people such as Phil Helmuth or Mike “the Mouth” Matusow on the television. If you’re angry because of a bad beat, feel sad or aren’t able to think straight for whatever reason, just walk away. Being on tilt hugely affects your ability to make accurate assumptions and correct decisions, leaving you in a frame of mind that will have you lose money.
Tip #8: Don’t overrate suited cards
I’ve lost count of the times that I’ve seen new players go broke with garbage hands and then try to rationalise their play be saying “but they were suited. You never know, I might have made a flush”. The cold, hard fact is that suited cards are a paltry 2% better than the corresponding set of unsuited cards. Even if you do end up making a flush with weak suited cards, you may go broke anyway if someone has a higer flush. Just because a hand is suited doesn’t mean you should play it.
Tip #9: Have Confidence in Yourself
Irrespective of what your true standard of play is, I think it’s always important to think like a champ. Have faith in yourself and be prepared to take a few risks. When I am at the table, I always tell myself I am the best (usually I am) and I try my best not to be nervous and be relaxed. If I am struggling with my nerves, I will never be thinking straight so I keep a clear head and always try to be the best.
Tip #10: Play, Play, Play
This one is really important. When I first started playing against a few name players here in the UK (much better than me of course), the question I asked them was, “I’m a good player, how do I become a great player?” The inevitable answer is “experience is key. Play, play and play. Then, play some more!” For me, the best way to learn the game is to play. The more hours you put in at the table, the more interesting and difficult scenarios you’re going to get into and the more thought you can put into it. Be prepared to lose in the short term as in the long term that time you’ve spent will pay dividends. Remember to check back next week for more beginner poker articles, I’ll be talking about starting hand guidelines, managing tilt and much more!
This article was written by meshuganater.
Tags: Back to Basics, hold'em, new players, poker strategy, tactics