Everybody who plays poker wants to get better. Even the pros who have made millions of dollars from poker tournaments are constantly looking for ways to improve their strategy. In a way, that’s the beauty of poker – there’s always room for improvement.
Luckily, in today’s world, it’s easy to get good at anything you put your mind to. With poker, all you need to do is put the following 5 tips into action. With plenty of practice, you’ll soon become an expert:
- Play Poker Online
Currently, one of – if not the – best ways to take your poker game to the next level is by playing online.
Through the power of your smartphone, you can practice your poker skills at any time during the day. This makes a refreshing difference from having to travel to land-based casinos that are often packed out with people (anyone who has been to a land-based casino knows that the poker tables are always busy).
To practice online, you can use a variety of platforms, such as online poker USA. It’s recommended that you find time during the week to practice, whether it’s during the evenings or at weekends. The more you practice, the better you will become.
- Memorize the Poker Hand Rankings
If you haven’t already, you must memorize all the poker hands and their rankings. Let’s go through them now (from best to worst):
- Royal flush
- Straight flush
- Four of a kind
- Full house
- Flush
- Straight
- Three of a kind
- Two pairs
- One pair
- No pair
The last thing you want is to be playing a competitive game of poker and suddenly forget the value of a particular hand. This is why you should take some time to memorize the different hand rankings so that you can sit at the table with confidence, whether you play in a Las Vegas casino or an online one.
- As a Beginner, Play Low-Stakes Games
During your first few weeks of playing poker, make sure to only play low-stakes games (which means only wager lower amounts of money). When you do this, it automatically removes pressure from your shoulders and allows you to focus purely on the game sequences rather than the money at stake.
- Experiment with the Different Variations of Poker
Sometimes, the key is to find a variation of poker that suits your style the most.
Draw poker, stud poker, and community card poker are the main variations.
Draw poker (specifically, 5-card draw) is the most popular. If you visit any major casino in the US, they will almost always offer a 5-card draw.
- Don’t Be Afraid to ‘Fold’
Sometimes, there’s a misconception that ‘folding’ in poker is bad. However, you can’t win every hand – it’s simply not possible. Therefore, it’s often best to fold early when you feel like your hand is weak and won’t win the round. In the long run, this can save you from losing further money in the pot.
Good luck.