I recently started playing free poker online after friends got me started playing after the World Series of Poker became such a hit on television. I could spend ages checking out how the players were playing and studying their play. Watching on the tv also taught me how to play poker. Im certainly not the best player in the world, but I am confident of being strong when I need to be
The first thing they taught me was how to bet and make my way into larger and larger pots. I was starting off slow; just checking when I could so that I could save my money for when I had a really big hand. But they taught me that it was ok to bet small with mediocre hands to try to turn those into big hands and therefore bigger pots.
The next thing I had to learn was bluffing. Poker is all about bluffing and is a big part of the the game. A person could have pocket jacks and you could have a 4 and a 9 off suit but you can bluff them into folding with the right plays of the money. And even easier if the right cards come up on the flop.
Bluffing in a casino where you can see the other players is very different to playing poker online. At a poker table in a casino, it is about watching the players faces, whereas online its about trying to get a player to play your hand.
The final step they wanted me to learn was how to read people. I learned how to read people by watching the guys on television and their facial expressions. I can tell when someone is bluffing and when someone has the hand of a lifetime. Not applicable online of course but very good for live games.
Earlier today I had pocket Aces going all-in against an 8 and 10 offsuit. The other guy gets lucky and catches a full house on the turn. It didn’t discourage me. Just made me a little wiser.
So apart from the broad free poker tips above what should you do? Watch poker pros play a lot is what and do one of the better online poker training courses, then mix it all up with free poker games online, paid games and if you can, some live face to face action. You’ll become a well rounded player and should earn some good money.