The $10K Kid reveals 18 Proven Profit Tricks for Online Texas Hold ‘em Poker
The best way to make money from Internet poker is the same as making money from any other kind of gambling : Have a strategy and stick to it!
Amateur poker players make some fatal strategic flaws. They gamble for fun, think they know better than the house, make rash decisions, rely on luck – and take big risks hoping for a ‘big win’. This is why they lose most of the time. Professional players are different: They play to win, recognise gambling is edged in favour of the house and work with that, use logic not luck and take only small, calculated risks.
This applies to both ‘real’ and online poker of course. But one of the reasons Internet poker is so attractive is that it is easier for the small, inexperienced gambler with limited resources to stick to a strategy. When playing from the comfort of home it is much easier to choose the most favourable games, plan your game and make sensible decisions. And above all, to avoid taking the big risks – common in real-life casinos – and which usually mean you lose.
I’m going to tell you about some of more of my own personal favourite strategies that I use every day, have proven to work, and which I know you’ll find invaluable and profitable too!
1. Keep Your Thoughts To Yourself
This is the simplest strategy you can deploy – but one which is very, very effective!
Most gaming sites allow you to chat with other players but, in my experience getting involved in player chat, is definitely not advised. If a player takes exception to how you play or to you winning chips off them, some players may start moaning or even insulting you. If you get involved in slanging matches the game can become a personal vendetta. When it becomes personal you’re no longer playing with your head – and that is not the way to win.
Luckily you can turn off the player chat so it doesn’t have to become an issue. I strongly suggest turning it off!
2. Know Your Enemy
Every poker website that I’ve played on has a facility where you can make notes on players. It is a good idea to take advantage of this facility as it can prove very beneficial. For instance, if a player is loose and erratic you should make notes of how they play – so when you play them in the future you can adjust your play for that specific player and earn off them. Or, on the other hand, if they are a good tight player make notes you will know not to get involved with them unless you have a monster hand!
3. Play Only When The Rake Is Sensible
The rake is what the gaming site charges for running the game. In my opinion the correct rake to be charged for a sit and go tourney is considered to be 10% of the buy in fee. In the case of a £5 sit and go this would be £0.50.
However, some sites charge you £1 for a £5 sit and go and I think this is extortionate. I know it doesn’t seem like a lot but consider this: you are just starting out at online poker and have made a deposit of £100. So you decide to play quite a lot of £5 sit and go tourneys with a rake fee of £1 over the course of say one month. After you have played a hundred of these tourneys with the extra £0.50 that seemed insignificant it would add up to £50! That’s enough for nine more sit & go tourneys! The £0.50s add up over a period of time – so make sure that you choose a site that has the correct rake of 10% for a £5 sit and go.
4. Managing Your Bankroll
I believe that the best strategy for beginner is always to play low stake sit and go tournaments. I’d say that a £5+.50 sit and go is ideal. And in my opinion your bankroll should be large enough to fund at least fifteen sit and go tourneys. So, if you were playing the £5+.50 tourneys then that would be at least £82.50 – and £100 would be perfect.
The reason I believe you need a big enough bankroll to fund at least fifteen sit and go tourneys is because it doesn’t matter how good a player is. They will go on a loosing streak. Everyone does – it is inevitable in poker. So if you want to start out the right way to earn money at poker, make sure you have a big enough bankroll to absorb the losses.
9. Pay Attention
Watch who’s playing in an aggressive or loose way and who’s playing tight. Try to play the loose players and avoid the tight players – unless you’ve got a strong hand.
10. Watch The Chips
Always be aware of everyone’s chip count. Know who has more chips than you and play more carefully against them – a mistake could knock you out. It’s usually better to play pots with players who have fewer chips than you.
And there’s more . . .
11. Be A Bettor, Not A Caller: Being aggressive is usually the best policy in Texas Hold’em.
12. No Match, No Contest: If your cards don’t match any of the community cards throw your hand away when someone else bets.
13. Ace In The Hand: Don’t play every time you have an ace in your hand. However, play an ace if it’s accompanied by a card of the same suit or by a 10 or higher.
14. Hands To Stay With Before The Flop: Play with pairs (7-7, 9-9), two face cards (K-Q, Q-J), or hands that can make both a straight and a flush (8-9, 6-7 of the same suit). Be patient and fold other hands, unless you’re in the blind.
15. Good Hand? Bet Strong: In no-limit Texas Hold’em players can bet all of their chips at any time, so bet aggressively when you have a good hand.
16. Watch And Wait: Play fewer hands when you’re one of the first players to act, because you’ll be out of position and vulnerable to raises from the remaining players.
17. Call Their Bluff: If someone raises in a late position (near/on the button), re-raise them with a good amount if you are on the blind. Chances are, they don’t have a big hand and are just trying to steal your blinds. (This style of play, known as going ‘over the top’, is probably the strongest play you can make in no-limit Texas Hold’em.)
Be Patient: Act promptly, but not rashly. When you’re making an important decision pause to think about how the betting has gone and what your opponent might have. Take your time.