Online poker may seem like a niche market, it is actually one of the fastest growing segments of the gaming industry. In fact, the online poker industry generates over $3 billion in annual revenue.
However, despite its popularity and profitability, most players tend to have a negative perception of this game. Why? Because they think it’s more about luck than skill; that anyone can win at it; that it’s just a silly card game – something only nerds would play; or that they can’t get good advice on how to win at it.
The truth is that these people are right in some ways -it IS more about luck than skill, there ARE so many variance elements that almost anyone can win at it, IT IS just a silly card game and there ARE no good places to find advice on how to win at it! But if you know where to look and what strategies to use, you can definitely WIN at online poker.
Here’s our expert guide on how you can win in online poker with ease.
Strategy 1: Know The Basics
The first step to winning at online poker is to understand the basics – namely the types of poker tournaments and cash games available on WPTglobal. Here are the basics:
Poker Tournaments
This is a popular game format for gamblers and for recreational players. In poker tournaments, players compete for a prize pool by accumulating as many points or chips as possible.
The player with the most points at the end of the tournament wins the prize pool. However, points are not just earned by being lucky with your cards – there are strategic ways to get these, which are discussed later in the article.
Poker Cash Games
This is where gamers compete for a pot (or pot) by accumulating the most chips. In this format, the goal is not to win the tournament, but to win the most chips by outplaying your opponent(s) throughout the game.
The difference between poker tournaments and cash games is that in tournaments points are awarded and taken away in relation to the number of players remaining in the tournament, while in cash games points are awarded and taken away according-to a set scale.
Strategy 2: Research Different Poker Games Available Online
There are tons of articles online that offer advice on how to win at online poker, but most of them are written by people who don’t know what they are talking about and just regurgitate the same old “don’t play too many hands, try to get lucky, play tight, and use the magic formula”, which doesn’t help you win at all.
You have to research the different poker games so you can find one that suits your skill set. Here are the most popular poker types you should look into:
- Texas Hold’em: This is the most popular poker game available online, so it is a good place to start your research. It’s a game of skill, has a low variance, and can be played in many different variations.
- Omaha/8: Some would argue that Omaha is a game of skill, with a low variance. Unfortunately, this game is very difficult to win for new players, even for those with a good understanding of Texas Hold’em.
- Triple Texas Hold’em: Trips Hold’em is the same as Texas Hold’em, except that you get three hole cards instead of two. This game is usually played with a high buy-in, but can also be found at low stakes.
Strategy 3: Find A Game That Suits Your Skill Set
If you want to win at online poker, then you have to play the game that suits your skill set. Before you jump into any game, you should study the rules, strategy, and player types in that game to find out if it is one that suits your skill set.
Here are some strategies you could use to help you find a game that suits your skill set:
Study the Rules
This should come first in your strategy, because you cannot win a game if you don’t know how to play it. You have to know what a winning hand looks like, what constitutes a showdown, how the blinds work, etc. You also have to know when it is correct or incorrect to act or fold.
Study Strategy
This is an important aspect of finding a game that suits your skill set. You have to understand the basic strategy for each game. You also have to understand how your opponents could exploit your weaknesses while you try to exploit theirs. For example, if you are a tight player, then you are at a major advantage against loose players, but at a disadvantage against tight players.
Study the Player Types
This is also an important aspect of finding a game that suits your skill set. Many people play against their own type at the table, but there are also many different types at the table, and you have to understand how to beat each of them.
For example, loose players are easy to beat because their loose play allows you to win pots from their mistakes. Tight players are difficult to beat because they don’t make many mistakes.
Strategy 4: Choose the Hand You Play Carefully
Although having a good hand is important when you play online poker, your ability to play it correctly is even more important. It is not always a good idea to try to win with a hand that you have a good chance to win with.
Here are some things you should consider when you choose the hand you play:
Your Position
The position in which you sit at the table can affect your decision on how to play a good hand. For example, if you are the first player to act after the flop, then you have the luxury of seeing how everyone else at the table plays their hand before you have to make a decision.
However, if you are the last player to act, then you do not have this luxury. You have to make your decision based on the actions of your opponents before you have seen their cards.
Your Opponent’s Possible Hands
You also have to consider the possible hands that your opponents could have. This is important because you want to play your hand in a way that protects you from opponents that could have a better hand than you. This is also known as playing a “trap”.
In Summary
Online poker is a highly competitive and fast-paced game; one in which savvy competitors can come out on top. To do this, you need to have a solid strategy since it could mean all the difference between winning and losing. This not only applies to the cards themselves but also the way in which you approach the game itself.
