There are plenty of poker tips saying what you should and
shouldn’t do. If you are new to the game, this information overload can be
confusing. You may also find a lot of conflicting information depending on who
you listen to. We have written this article to clear it up once and for
all.
If you have experience with the game, this isn’t going to
help you very much. If you are starting out, it will save you a lot of time and
money.
For reference, we will be focusing on No Limit Texas Hold’em
as it’s the most played poker variant.
So with this in mind, here are 7 poker tips for beginners.
1. Learn The Basics
The first step to the game of poker is to understand the
rules and terminology. It’s important to know the strength of your hand before
you start playing too. The last thing you want to be doing is thinking your
three of a kind beats a straight.
It’s also vital that you know the position of each player.
Position plays a very important role in poker. In-position players have an
advantage in the hand as they are the last to act so ensure that you have this
nailed.
When you’re in position, you will know if they want to check
or bet and the size of the bets too. This information can help you decide what
to do next.
In poker, it’s a lot better to receive information than to
give it to your opponents.
Position also affects the hands you play too. When you’re in
early position, you should be playing fewer hands as you have other people to
act behind you. On the other hand, when you’re in late position, you can be a
bit looser as you’ll be the last to act after the community cards are dealt.
2. Start Small
Most players want to make it to the highest stakes and play
in the biggest casinos (great list here) as quickly as possible. But if you’re
new and you have the money to jump right into the biggest games, you will lose
- and quickly! High stakes regulars are quick to jump into games with weak/new
players and will jump on any mistakes you make.
For this reason, you should start small. Not only will your
mistakes not cost you as much as money, but the players around you will also be
weaker.
It’s a lot better to learn the game and lose a small amount
than still figuring it out and losing a lot! The more you play, the more you’ll
understand the positions, the actions people tend to take on certain cards and
see the big picture.
3. Play Tight
There is a saying in poker that “tight is right”. Lucian
Marinescu, partner at OnlineCasinoGems, agrees and thinks beginners should
stick to this style of play:
“A lot of poker beginners play far too many hands. As a
result, they lose a lot more money than they should be at their level. It’s
important that while you’re learning how to play poker that you play only the
strong hands (guide, here) to avoid making awkward decisions after the flop.
Sure, you’ll be playing fewer hands than you’d like but it’s all about making
money. This will ensure you make money with your good hands and avoid paying
someone else off with a weaker holding.”
You will find that many players at low stakes do play a lot
of random hands. Don’t do what they do.
4. Play One Table
This poker tip for beginners is for online players. When
you’re first starting out, stick to playing at a single table only. The most
important thing at this stage is that you are constantly learning and absorbing
as much information as you can.
Reserve the multitabling for when you have a more in-depth
knowledge of the game.
Study your opponents and the hands they have at showdown.
Being tight and playing in position on a single table is the best approach when
you first start playing.
5. Learn The Odds
Poker odds are important for calling an opponent’s bet ie
pot odds and knowing the chances of hitting your draws. You can then make a
decision based on the odds.
Pot odds help understand if you are getting the right price
to continue with your hand.
To help, here are the number of outs that will improve your
hand:
Gut-shot: 4 outs
Two over cards: 6 outs
Open-ended straight draw: 8 outs
Flush draw: 9 outs
From here, multiply the number of outs by 2 for an
approximate probability of making your hand on the next card, or by 4 for an
approximate probability of making your hand from flop to river.
6. Think About What Your Opponent Can Have
It’s well and good thinking about your own hand, but you
must also have an idea about what your opponent can have too. But instead of
putting them one exact hand, think about all the possible hands they can have.
Here are some factors to consider:
Your opponent’s position: what could they be playing?
Action after the flop: if they check, are they weak as they
always bet when they’re strong?
The board texture: if there are lots of possible straight
and flush draws, this creates an opportunity for more bluffs.
Bet size: how much are they betting?
These are just a few but there is a lot to think about.
If you struggle with this concept at the start, don’t worry.
It’s an advanced topic but you will understand it more as you play.
7. Don’t Be Afraid To Fold
This poker tip for beginners shouldn’t be taken lightly.
If you are playing with someone that hasn’t played many
hands but starts making lots of bets in one hand, chances are they have
something good.