10 Tips for Winning Online Poker

Making the transition to playing online poker can be difficult, even for those who are winners in their local card game. However, there are many different tools and techniques that will help ease the transition for live players that are new to playing online. With that in mind, here are the top ten online poker tips to assist beginners that are new to online poker or want to improve their game to consistently win at poker.

1. Begin by playing at the low-stakes poker.

Even for a person used to playing high-stakes cash games, starting with lower-stakes online is advisable. The goal of these first sessions, other than playing solid poker, should be to familiarize one’s self with the nuances of playing online.

Starting out at lower stakes also enables the novice to begin playing online with a smaller smaller bankroll. This can alleviate undue stress about losing sessions, and allow the player to focus on the long-term goal of becoming a successful online player.

Generally speaking, when comparing the fields of the same stakes online and live, the online game will tend to contain more difficult opposition. A player that jumped into the same stakes online as he was playing live might start his foray into online poker feeling overwhelmed by the competition. Therefore, gradually progressing through the stakes should assist a novice in becoming acquainted with, and eventually fully understanding, these differences and thus learning how to win at online poker.

2. Become familiar with the new aspects of playing online.

Hurdles to overcome on the first few sessions include aspects unique to online poker, such as using the time-bank feature. For some online novices, having a set amount of time to act can be a significant adjustment from the live cash world where a player generally has a least a few minutes to act before being in danger of having the clock called. Additional aspects that the novice should take time familiarizing himself with include: the layout and lobby of the site, betting features, the cashier page, rake-back offers, and other bonuses.

Easing into online poker instead of diving in head-first will help acquaint the novice with many of the unique aspects of online poker. One such aspect that differs from live poker is the large number of hands one sees per hour. In general, this number will be over double the amount of hands that would be played in an hour at a brick-and-mortar casino, even if playing only at a single table. The speed can be overwhelming to novices, and may take a bit of getting used to.

3. Start out by playing a single table.

It can be tempting to jump right into multi-tabling, as one of the many benefits of playing online is the ability to play more than one table at a time (though recently, some players have been spotted multi-tabling in live tournaments too). However, a great understanding of the technical aspects of online poker will assist the player in the weeks to come. Learn to win online poker consistently on one table. Then, once the player feels confident maneuvering a single table, he can begin adding one table at a time as dictated by his comfort level.

4. Create a distraction-free zone for playing.

Without the constraints of sitting at a physical table in a casino, many online players fall into the trap of finding ways to fill the time in between hands. Typically, this involves diversions such as watching television, talking on the phone, or surfing the web. These distractions will often cause a player to make a mistake, either by playing a hand poorly or missing out on information that could assist them in future situations.

Developing an unprofessional attitude towards playing could translate into the person not taking poker seriously enough and thereby could keep him from becoming a great online player. Constructing and environment that is free from distractions is a crucial part of becoming a successful online poker player. If a player has reached the point that they can comfortably handle one table with time to spare, it is often a good time to consider adding another table to their normal routine.

5. Consider making key hardware updates.

Creating an ideal environment for playing online poker is also an issue of hardware. Playing on a laptop while sitting on the couch in the family room is a situation bound to create distractions. Playing at a desk , ideally in an office that can be closed off from the rest of the living space, sets one up to maintain a professional attitude while playing online poker. For those looking to play a lot online, investing in an ergonomic chair can reduce issues with back pain.

As the beginner further transitions to playing online poker, other upgrades can be of assistance towards to goal of maximizing one’s profits online. A large, high resolution monitor can reduce eye-strain and make multi-tabling a less arduous process. A high quality mouse can reduce wrist strain, as well as the time it takes to complete action. For tournament players that will likely have a short break every hour, having a bathroom close by can be very convenient.