Tips and Strategies for online poker

Follow these tips to improve your chances - too many beginners wade straight onto the casinos and lose their money!

The choice is yours, do you want to dive straight in, or take a more sensible route and learn some of these basic strategies first?

1. This could be your best course of action:

This could be your course of action:

• Master the rules by playing at our free 'Practise Poker Table'.
• Sign up with one casino from our recommended 'Best Poker Rooms'.
• Enter a 'Free-roll' competition after studying the Tips and Strategies on these pages.
• Enter a low cost 'Sit and Go' tournament using our suggested strategies. More on Sit and Go Super Strategies...
• Before you finally 'graduate', read some of the 'Poker Strategy Books' that we have found for you. Poker Strategy Books...

Even more useful advice in our Free Poker Course...

2. Don't play every hand - fold more
One common mistake that beginners make is that they play too many hands because they want action. Playing more usually means losing more. Generally, fold about half of your first hands. Guide to a cautious approach with your two hole cards...

3. Don't play if tipsy or drunk - DO play when everyone else is!
Keep sober and time your game to catch the boozers. Try your best not to celebrate with more drink if you are winning.

4. Don't bluff just for bluffings sake
Bluffing is a part of poker, many players don't feel they've won unless they've 'tricked' the opposition. Bluffs work best in certain situations, against certain people. When starting out, it's better not to bluff. Further tips on bluffing strategies..

5. Don't stay in a hand just because you've made a bet
If you have put chips in the pot you don't have to stay in the game right to the end. There will always be times when the pot odds warrant a call, but if you're sure you're beaten, the best tip is to fold right away.

6. Don't call just to check they are not bluffing
If you really feel a player has the hand he's representing & you're beat, why give him another pile of your money?

7. In a mood, got a strop on? - then don't play
If you play emotionally, not rationally, you can never be at your best. If you lose a big hand, and feel depressed, then take a break until you calm down.

8. Watch the cards on the table
In Texas Holdem, the community cards help you to figure out what the best possible hands of your opponents could be. Are there any flush & straight possibilities? More on the odds of holding a winning hand....

9. Watch the other players
Watch your opponents - if a player always stays in the game then they may enjoy bluffing, if they quickly fold, then they will probably have a good hand when they stay in. A collection of online ‘tells’ are here.

10. Choose the safe casinos
The majority of casinos are totally safe and respectable or they would not have grown so large. There have been scams in the past though. A list of the recommended best online sites.