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 Although poker has been popularised since the first cowboy strolled into the local saloon, it's growth in recent years has been phenomenal. TV poker shows, online gambling, local tournaments and friendly get togethers have all combined to make poker easily accessible to anybody with just a few dollars to spare. The most popular version of the game is Texas-Hold-Em with three communal cards on the table and two being dealt to each player. From these five cards you try to have the highest hand. To avoid ending up some homeless, broke bum, try follow thug's tips and avoid the most common mistakes made.
1. Gambling - As always, do not gamble what you cannot afford to lose. Even if you’re winning, it may just be a lucky streak. When you bring money to the table, make sure it's not money you need to pay bills. If this is the case, you’re already losing.
2. Avoid drink if you are gambling. Casinos can often give complimentary drinks to those at the tables or it's easy to break open a few bottles if you're online. Resist the temptation as alcohol impairs your judgement.
 3. Bluffing - Tricky one this. Obviously, the point is to win hands without actually having a good hand. Yet an established trick of poker is to call your opponent at least once to check what cards they're playing with. If you’re not good at bluffing, don’t bother. You’ll be caught out and learn an expensive lesson. 4. Fishing - People with a good hand often go fishing - raising by small amounts to entice those with mediocre hands to stay in. At the end, they'll slam a large raise into the pot which those with poor hands obviously won't follow. Unless you have a serious chance of winning a round, be careful about calling bets no matter how small. They all add up you know! 5.Large raise - Even before the three card flop is dealt, some raise the pot by a huge amount. This is because they might have a straight pair already. However, some bluffers use it to make others fold and claim the starting pot. 6. Watch they WAY people play. Many stay in for the first and second flops, hoping to acquire a hand. Others fold the second they're dealt a pair of duds. Others make aggressive bets on the flimsiest of hands knowing others are wary of loosing. Knowing what type of player you’re opponent is can help you when you're deciding to slam dunk that pot with a raise or to go fishing. To win in poker, it’s not only necessary to know your cards, it’s necessary to know your opponents too. 7. The flop. Many beginners pay the blind just to see the flop, regardless of what hand they have been dealt. If you don’t have a good hand to begin with, just fold. You’ll probably miss out on a good hand the odd occasion but you’ll make it back by saving on the blinds. 8. Folding - In reality, you should be folding more than you are playing. We are not dealt playable hands every time so it’s no use entering the pot just to see the flop. Even if you have called or raised, do not be afraid to fold if the cards are not going your way. This is the sign of a good poker player.
9. Calling / Raising - Every player has their own style, based on their own judgement. At times, we call bets hoping for a better card to hit the deck. Other times, we raise only to be caught out by a bad card appearing in the flop. Just like folding, calling and raising bets is a skill based on calculated risk. Be careful about raising bets on the hope that the cards will go your way. Unless you are attempting to bluff, bet based on what you currently have, not on what you hope to have. 10. Yes, poker is about randomness and luck but good judgement also plays it’s part. Learn to read the cards. In a two player game, a pair of two’s can be a winning hand. In an eight player game, it’s a kamikaze hand. If there’s two kings on the table, chances are someone has the third. If you’re waiting for the final card on the table with four already suited, you have a 25% chance of success - presuming you have the best hand however. If you are serious about winning at poker, you need to know what hands to play and odds to call. |
