Poker has the distinction of being one of the oldest card games around. A universal game that can be played anywhere and at anytime, poker transcends languages and locations, and not just confined to casinos or bars. Its burgeoning popularity has given rise to many different types of poker games such as Texas Holdem, Omaha, Seven Card Stud, Better High-Low Stud and various others. It is one of the most popular online gambling games around, as seen with the huge rise in the number of dedicated online poker rooms and poker clubs.



But before you wear your shades, strap on the green visor and throw down your life's savings, you are going to have to know when to hold'em and when to fold'em. It’s probably a good idea when learning the rudiments of the game, to have a firm grasp of the Poker hand rankings and the unique language that you'll hear at the poker table. Burn this information to memory; you'll be glad you did. After all, even though you might be new to this game, there is no need for the other players at the table to know.









Having a strategy going into this game is very important if you want to be taken seriously and convince other players you are the bees knees. So here are some of the basic points you need to keep in mind to keep you one step ahead of your fellow players. The best place to start is at some of the online poker rooms so that you can perfect those skills and variables before playing in the real world



Quick Reminders:



1. When you have a rubbish hand, fold fast.



2. Do not pretend that you are a big spender poker player unless you have the bankroll to back it up. A rule of thumb is that you should have at least 50 times the table limit to play with.



3. If you are lucky enough to hold an unbeatable hand, remember Nicholas Cage in Honeymoon in Vegas and make sure you make the players pay dearly to see it.



4. The first 5/7 cards you receive will be the foundation of your hand. Build your strategy around these. You're not likely to better your opening hand and the odds of improving your hand on the draw are about even.



5. You will soon discover who the strong players are at the table, but it is important that you focus on your own game rather than focusing on trying to beat them. You may risk losing big time if you're not lucky. If you're lucky enough to win, it'll hardly be worth the effort.



7. Commit this to memory: If you can't beat the other hands, don't join them, fold and live to play another day. The table will always be ready when you are. Above all else, try to have fun.



8. Unpredictability can be good. Most pros are able figure out a really loose player by waiting for the nuts and being patient. However, an even easier opponent is a tight player or “rock”, who plays only the Group 1 type hands. You need to change your game up, and let them see that you can run bluffs, and play some lower value starting hands as well. These changes should be subtle and shouldn’t dramatically affect the flop rate.



9. Always learn from others; never be complacent that you know it all. That just gives other players the chance to take advantage of your weakness.

By: Seema Shah

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Seema Shah has been writing articles since 2004, concentrating primarily within the Online Casino and Gaming Industry. She currently writes for InterPoker, part of InterCasino founded in 1996 and is one of the largest, most awarded and most respected online casino and online poker rooms offering Texas Holdem, Omaha and is the proud sponsorer of this year’s WSOP.