How to win at Poker

Poker is one of the most popular casino card games in the world. Whether you are playing in a glamorous casino, an online tournament, or just a social game with friends, it’s important that you know the rules, know how to bet, and (most importantly) know how to maximize your chances of winning. In this article we take a look at some of the factors that you need to be aware of to help you give you the best chance of winning at poker.

Identify weakness

In every poker game there will generally be someone who is less experienced than you. You need to quickly identify who are the weaker players and be prepared to take advantage of them. The bets you play will be different if you know that the cards that you are playing against are in the hands of a less experienced opponent.

Don’t bluff too much

A lot of people think that playing this game is all about having a good “poker face”, pretending that you have a really strong hand when actually your cards may not be that great, confidently placing big bets with the aim of frightening everyone else into folding. A good bluff is a great feeling, but if you bluff too often people will begin to suspect that you are always bluffing – this undermines your credibility in the game and will make any attempts to bluff ineffectual.

Know when to walk a way

Kenny Rogers had it right in his quintessential song about gambling, you have to know when to call it a night. If things aren’t going your way, if the cards aren’t being kind to you, if you are in a bad mood or have had too much to drink then don’t try to keep playing and win your money back. Just get up, call it a night, and go home. In many instances the same rules apply if you are on a winning streak – if you are having a great night and winning big, you have to remember that it won’t last. Take your winnings and go and enjoy them before the cards turn against you and you lose it all again.

Stick to your limits

An easy way to get into trouble when playing poker is if you spend more money than you can afford to lose. Before you sit down to a poker table, make sure that you have set yourself a clear limit – this is the amount of money that you are prepared to lose. Once you have reached that limit it is time to go home.

Poker is a fantastic game, it takes a bit of skill, a bit of confidence, and a lot of luck with the cards. There is no sure fire recipe on how to win at this game but with a few key strategies and a couple of self-imposed rules up your sleeve you will be able to approach the tables with confidence in your heart and chips in your pocket.