Poker Tips for the New Player

Poker is one of the more popular card games. Played almost everywhere, it is fun to play but harder to master. Here are a few easy tips that can propel an average poker player into a much better one.

Know When to Fold

There are a lot of misconceptions that come along with poker. One is that by playing every hand there are more chances to win. This couldn’t be more wrong, and in fact flags the player as being inexperienced. New players want to just play, but part of poker is knowing the hands and understanding which ones to use and which to drop. By focusing on this more and folding more often, players will see an immediate change in their game.

Focus

In conjunction with this, it is always important to focus when playing poker. Be it focusing on the cards or watching other players, the new player must be alert. This is next to impossible if the player is drunk, mad or sad. A bad mood will affect the game to the player’s detriment; play in a good mood or don’t play at all.

Learn When to Bluff

Bluffing is such an iconic part of poker that many newcomers to the game assume (wrongly I might add), that this is the best way to play. Bluffing is not only poor technique but is generally obvious to experienced players, and instead of covering up an intended move, will actually be telegraphing it. New players are likely to be taken to the cleaners. When learning it is far simpler to play it straight, bluffs only work in particular situations anyway.

Pick Your Game Wisely

Picking a game and players that match the new player’s skill, with limits that are not too high, and paying attention to the overall game as a whole, are also important aspects to bear in mind and will potentially help a new player to avoid losing all their money in their first outing.