Nearly everyone who has ever played poker is willing to give tips and advice to newbies. Like everything else, one man's treasure is another man's junk and what works for one player may not work for you.
If you only read one section on this page then make sure it's our top ten internet poker tips, it's advice given by some of the best players in the world.
Avoid Alcohol
Try to avoid drinking alcohol when you're playing internet poker. Drinking will give you false sense of confidence and you will start making bad calls and playing emotionally rather than playing with your head.
Learn From Bad Beats
Bad beats can be hard for any player to take but try and learn from them. Look back at the hand and ask yourself could you have played it any better? If you played it perfectly and still got beat then chances are that you were unlucky. Remember that bad players get lucky as often as good ones.
If you are having a series of bad beats then walk away from the game for a while, don't try and chase your loses or prove a point to other players.
Don't stretch Your Wins
Always be happy with any profit you show from playing poker. Before the game started you would have been happy with a $50/£50 profit but now you're looking to make $100 and to make this happen you start to force the cards a little. This leads to you overplaying and now you are giving back some of your profit cheaply. Take the wins, however small and bank them.
Nurse a Win
This tip applies to all forms of gambling. Whenever you hit a big win sit back for a while and enjoy it. Don't jump into the next hand just because you have enough chips, sit out a couple of hands and protect those new found chips.
Top Ten Internet Poker Tips
- Pump or Dump It – if it’s not good enough to raise, then how can it be good enough to play?
- Don't play too many hands, 15% - 25% is about the max.
- Understand and learn the power of your table position.
- Bluffing looks good in the movies but don't try it too often.
- Don't play when you're tired, drunk or distracted.
- Play the player not the cards.
- Know your level, only play in games that you can win.
- Mix up your style of play - getting caught with your hand in the cookie jar occasionally is a good thing.
- Don't fall in love with your hand, always be willing to lay it down.
- Poker is not a game for the curious, never pay to see another players cards out of curiosity.
