How You Can Get Better at Online Poker

It would appear that online poker is as popular as ever. It had been steadily growing for some time as society generally continues to get “more online,” but the process was fast-forwarded during the pandemic –– when according to data out of the UK at least, online casino searches were at an all-time high. Many of those who found the game during lockdowns will have stuck with it, meaning there are now more people than ever playing poker virtually. Meanwhile, when you throw in the fact that the online game is also slowly but surely being legalized (again) from one U.S. state to the next, and it’s likely we’ll only continue to see growth.

Sure, without the feel of those green felt tables and the generally adrenaline-fueled ambiance, online poker is a little different. But ultimately, online poker rooms are pretty easy to get used to. In any case, the premise is the same: Put together the best hands, defeat your opponents, and collect your winnings. Of course, it takes some time to learn how to make that process work in your favor consistently, which is why we’re offering a few tips at how you can get better at online poker.

Begin in the micro stakes

First and foremost, you want to start with the lowest stake possible in online poker. Of course you want to make the big bucks, and you have a chance to make that happen with time if you work hard enough. But in the games with lower stakes, you’ll come up against amateurs still learning the ropes. It’s pivotal you gain experience trying to win against them, before moving up. If this means spending a lot of time lingering in the lower leagues, so to speak –– betting perhaps a fraction of a dollar on each hand –– then so be it. Similar to the strategy of investing small amounts in financial endeavors, these smaller games will help you to determine your “risk tolerance” and “risk capacity” –– basically allowing you to figure out how boldly or conservative you like to play in order to succeed. You’ll know when you find the right balance to win consistently, and can then progress to more competitive games.

Bluffing: quality not quantity

You likely know that bluffing is a big part of poker, whether online or otherwise. However, you don’t want to bluff too often, because people will begin to work you out –– particularly online, where you can’t be tricky with body language or banter. You have to keep your bluffing to a minimum versus the fish in particular, because lower-stakes poker is replete with players who “call” too much. To overcome this propensity to call in the lower leagues, go ahead and throw your weight around when you have good cards.

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Leave your ego aside when it comes to bluffs

One of the most important poker tip people tend to come across when working to improve their game is to check their egos at the door. And one of the biggest ego-killers in the game is getting bluffed. There’s no worse feeling in any type of poker than folding when you had a good hand, only to find your rival raking in a pot with inferior cards. But referring back to that most important of tips, the best advice we can give is to simply keep doing your thing. Take the game seriously, but don’t inject personal pride into the equation. By leaving your ego aside, you enhance your own ability to bounce back from disappointment and do better when the next hands are dealt.

Chat with other players

While working your way through online poker rooms, you’ll inevitably get to talking with some of your rivals and fellow players. It can’t hurt to set up a social group with some of these players, where you can exchange tips and work together to get a better understanding of how others think their way through games. It’s a simple idea, but one a lot of online players are taking advantage of. And ultimately it’s another good way to improve your game.

Set up the right atmosphere

As we mentioned before, online poker does away with the often-glorified atmosphere of the in-person variety. But while you may no longer have the touch of the cards and the sounds of the chips on your table, it can’t hurt to set a certain tone in your own room. It’s no good simply playing on your kitchen table, with family or roommates making noise all around you. It’s better to find your own space in your home, where you can get situated a at a cozy computer desk, throw on some headphones, and even set up lights and music in whatever way you need to establish the right mood. The more comfortable you are, the better you’ll be able to focus on the game.

Follow these tips, and you’ll quickly begin to climb above the beginner ranks in the ever-expanding world of online poker.