If you thought playing online poker was simply about turning on the PC or Mac, loading up a table or three of $0.10/0.20 NLHE and fitting a few hands in between episodes of Breaking Bad, think again.
While the poker itself is pretty straight forward, the bankroll management and constant readjusting of your strategy based on the size of your stack can be a lot for some people. The swings are what's said to get people as the simple variance of the game and the no-limit nature of the betting can lead to some bad losses, very fast. Defined as experiencing difficulty having an erection at least 50 percent of the time, about 30 million men in the U.S. Suffer from erectile dysfunction (ED), according to the National Institutes of Health. So, if odds are pretty good you'll experience a failure to launch at some point in your life, take solace in this.
It will not be easy when dating a who is playing hard to get. Some women will be making out with you after the first date. Some women will gladly want to see you every day after your first date. But a woman who plays hard to get will want to take it slow, and you have to be in it for the long haul if you want to win her over.
Playing successful online poker requires dedication, an attention to detail, and some careful forward planning.
So, if you're looking to get your online poker career off to the perfect start, what things should you be looking at? Let's take a look at 10 ways to stave off the monkey tilt just a little longer.
Whether you're a novice starting out at the micro-stakes cash games or a seasoned pro at the upper limits, you'll need to employ sensible bankroll management if you're to prevail over the long term. Make sure you can afford about 50 maximum buy-ins at a single cash table, and about 20 buy-ins at the tourneys/Sit ‘n' Gos. Handling your online bankroll well will mean you never go broke.
While messing with the big boys on the ballers' tables might seem mighty tempting straight from the off, you probably won't learn a great deal, other than how to lose a tonne of cash quick. So pick your limits according to your skill level – start off at the micro-stakes, and if you can comfortably and consistently crush them, consider moving up.
If you're a Sit n Go player you'll find the standard doesn't change much from about $5 - $50 buy-ins, so if you have the cash you can probably look at chancing your arm at slightly higher stakes. If you find the heat too great – whatever your discipline - simply move back down to a more comfortable level.
Sensible hand selection is one of the first things you'll learn when you start playing poker – whatever your discipline. Most, if not all, online players begin playing Texas Hold'em just playing every single hand – even rubbish like 9-2 off-suit – just to be involved in every hand. But players soon learn that folding most hands – or playing marginal hands in the right situations – is the key to a healthy poker life.
What recreational players wanting to make money at the tables will soon learn is that betting or raising with a limited set of hands is the way to go. As you improve over time you can comfortably incorporate more marginal hands into your repertoire depending on your opponents, the stage of a tournament, whether you're playing cash or tourneys, your chip stack, table situation, and so on.
Finding the best computer kit is almost as important as finding the right online poker site. Getting the best Internet connection is a given, of course, but so is getting your hands on the best monitor you can afford. A widescreen monitor at least 24' is essential as it means you can fit many tables on-screen at once. Learning to multi-table is key to improving your volume and ultimately, improving your ROI (Return on Investment).
'Poker takes minutes to learn but a lifetime to master,' goes the rather over-worked saying. And if you are serious about improving as a player over the long-term reviewing your play is vitally important.
Taking notes on key hands you've been involved in is the first thing to do – just take a note of the Hand # in the corner of the game screen of any interesting hands you get involved in and you'll be able to visit the Hand History to see the betting details (pre-flop, post-flop, showdown etc) or watch the hand from start to finish in the site's Re-player.
By watching hands over and over with the benefit of hindsight you can spot mistakes in your play or take time to assess your opponents' play. Then, when you come up against the same opponents again you'll be better equipped.
Improving your play doesn't stop at note-taking, of course: there are countless training videos and strategy articles on the web – many of them free – where you can pick and choose those relevant to your discipline. There's really no excuse these days to be left wanting when it comes to improving at poker.
There's no doubt that online poker players in 2020 are much better than they were 6 or 7 years ago – particularly at the upper levels – and the number of novices coming through at the bottom levels isn't as high as it used to be.
Hunting out the fish is certainly much harder than is used to be, but that doesn't mean there aren't poker sites that have their fair share of bad players. New poker rooms which advertise heavily for business, poker sites attached to big sports betting sites and rooms that focus their lobbies on the micro-stakes games – all of these places are ideal for finding fishy players who are just dying to donate their bankrolls to you.
And while we're on the subject of utilizing the web to improve your play, consider investing in some invaluable tracking software. Buying a dedicated piece of HUD (Heads-up Display) kit will set you back around $100 but over the long-term you can easily make that back in extra profits.
HUDs like PokerTracker or Hold'em Manager 'sit' on top of your poker table and give you information on your opponents' play, tracking stats like the percentage of hands they fold pre-flop, how much they bet pre-flop, and so on.Some sites, like Bovada, have anonymous players so it's harder to a) take notes, and b) use tracking software, while other sites have banned the use of these devices altogether, so if you're thinking of investing in a program, make sure your favorite site allows it.
One rule that applies just as well to live poker as it does the online game is to lay off the alcohol - completely. With a crate of Bud in the fridge at home it can be too easy just to crack open another can while grinding the cash tables.
But even after a couple of drinks your judgment can be severely impaired and you can feel invincible. Going for a two-outer to send that chump on life-tilt? Why the hell not; trying out a few gamble moves when you should be playing sensible, ABC poker? It can be too easy, especially when you start to get bored of the oftentimes monotonous nature of playing online poker for hours on end.
If you think poker begins and ends with No Limit Texas Hold'em, think again. While most land-based casinos are likely to offer NLHE at a few stakes – both in cash games and tournaments – online sites boast games in everything from Pot Limit, No Limit or straight Limit Hold'em, Omaha, Stud, Razz, and more unusual variants like 2-7 Triple Draw and Badugi.
Not only do these fringe variations give you the chance to try something new, they give you the chance to fleece the fish who are trying out new forms of the game themselves. If you can learn a few simple strategies at the lesser-known games, it will put you in a much better position to make an easy profit.
The beauty of online poker is that you can start your real-money poker journey with absolutely no bankroll at all. Most big sites will hold daily freerolls that cost nothing to enter and usually offer a couple of thousand dollars as prize money.
The play is usually fast and loose – they cost nothing to enter, remember – but freerolls are a good way of trying out a few plays and bumping up your balance. Check out poker forums online and some of the bigger poker magazines – they normally run exclusive freerolls which give away cash or live tournament seats.
i used to win a lot but not so much anymore. are the games harder than they used to be or is it just me?
Comments
Yes definitely! Internet poker and all the training sites and software that people use (see recent post below about HUDs) have raised the bar so high. It sucks
I think the games are harder than they used to be, because not as many recreational players are interested in poker due to the lessening of its popularity after the Moneymaker and internet poker days. However, I think a repeat of the game's popularity is coming soon as online poker starts to come back in various states, which will make the games easier again.
I think players at lower limits especially learned not to stack-off in No-Limit. Remember that the poker boom saw a quick transition from Limit poker being dominant, to No-Limit. Too many people were simply unprepared for NL play, and some of them would get all-in pre with almost any pocket pair or high ace. That, plus the fact that many weak players could end up check/calling through their whole stack on weak draws against properly sized bets from stronger players. And crazy-overplaying top-pair on the flop.
Those are a few really really juicy behaviors that I don't see to the same degree, either live or online, anymore. It was probably unsustainable for the poker economy to have too many of those folks kicking around for too long; they either learn or go broke.
In any event, I'm looking forward to the legal return of US online poker as well. Might capture whole new demographics that weren't interested when online poker was a legal gray-area in the US...
I do think the games are harder. My opinion is that this is especially true in Las Vegas. But having played in very soft games in Colorado, Florida, and Arizona over the last year, I would say that good games do exist out there. My own opinion/experience is that the games in Las Vegas have gotten harder. More hardcore/experienced players seem to play in Las Vegas, even at the $1/$2 no limit level. There are less clueless fish than there used to be. Even the bad players tend to be very aggressive, which makes them very dangerous (you may have to stack off to them in situations simply because they bluff often enough to make certain situations really difficult). However, I do find fishier players as local regulars in the smaller card rooms all around the country. Even still, I'd agree that the game is not as good as it was during its heyday. But beatable games exist. They are harder to find in Vegas, but they exist in Vegas. And they are even more common elsewhere. I'd not say I am recommending against Vegas. Where else do you have all the food options, beautiful women, cheap hotels, variety of promotions, and table hoping options you have on the Las Vegas Strip. I still love Las Vegas, I just think the games are tougher.
Interestingly, I used to think Vegas was the world's largest fishtank five years ago, which meant I believed it was the most profitable place on the earth to play poker. Now I'd call it harder than average. But, if you are selective on your tables (and you run average or better luckwise), there is still money to be made in Vegas. But I suspect more money can be made outside of Vegas, if you are willing to sacrifice all the other things that make Vegas the best city on earth.
Strategy & Advice Posted in TableTalk
Online Poker Getting Harder To Play
Blackjack at sahara hotel
I put down 200 and lost every hand but y'all call they a good timebest way to play Jack/Jack
What's the best way to play Jack/Jack? Seems like everytime I play it theres a King or Ace I'm the flop or turn.First time here just checking in
active
Recent TableTalk Posts
Online Poker Getting Harder Game
So, if you're looking to get your online poker career off to the perfect start, what things should you be looking at? Let's take a look at 10 ways to stave off the monkey tilt just a little longer.
Whether you're a novice starting out at the micro-stakes cash games or a seasoned pro at the upper limits, you'll need to employ sensible bankroll management if you're to prevail over the long term. Make sure you can afford about 50 maximum buy-ins at a single cash table, and about 20 buy-ins at the tourneys/Sit ‘n' Gos. Handling your online bankroll well will mean you never go broke.
While messing with the big boys on the ballers' tables might seem mighty tempting straight from the off, you probably won't learn a great deal, other than how to lose a tonne of cash quick. So pick your limits according to your skill level – start off at the micro-stakes, and if you can comfortably and consistently crush them, consider moving up.
If you're a Sit n Go player you'll find the standard doesn't change much from about $5 - $50 buy-ins, so if you have the cash you can probably look at chancing your arm at slightly higher stakes. If you find the heat too great – whatever your discipline - simply move back down to a more comfortable level.
Sensible hand selection is one of the first things you'll learn when you start playing poker – whatever your discipline. Most, if not all, online players begin playing Texas Hold'em just playing every single hand – even rubbish like 9-2 off-suit – just to be involved in every hand. But players soon learn that folding most hands – or playing marginal hands in the right situations – is the key to a healthy poker life.
What recreational players wanting to make money at the tables will soon learn is that betting or raising with a limited set of hands is the way to go. As you improve over time you can comfortably incorporate more marginal hands into your repertoire depending on your opponents, the stage of a tournament, whether you're playing cash or tourneys, your chip stack, table situation, and so on.
Finding the best computer kit is almost as important as finding the right online poker site. Getting the best Internet connection is a given, of course, but so is getting your hands on the best monitor you can afford. A widescreen monitor at least 24' is essential as it means you can fit many tables on-screen at once. Learning to multi-table is key to improving your volume and ultimately, improving your ROI (Return on Investment).
'Poker takes minutes to learn but a lifetime to master,' goes the rather over-worked saying. And if you are serious about improving as a player over the long-term reviewing your play is vitally important.
Taking notes on key hands you've been involved in is the first thing to do – just take a note of the Hand # in the corner of the game screen of any interesting hands you get involved in and you'll be able to visit the Hand History to see the betting details (pre-flop, post-flop, showdown etc) or watch the hand from start to finish in the site's Re-player.
By watching hands over and over with the benefit of hindsight you can spot mistakes in your play or take time to assess your opponents' play. Then, when you come up against the same opponents again you'll be better equipped.
Improving your play doesn't stop at note-taking, of course: there are countless training videos and strategy articles on the web – many of them free – where you can pick and choose those relevant to your discipline. There's really no excuse these days to be left wanting when it comes to improving at poker.
There's no doubt that online poker players in 2020 are much better than they were 6 or 7 years ago – particularly at the upper levels – and the number of novices coming through at the bottom levels isn't as high as it used to be.
Hunting out the fish is certainly much harder than is used to be, but that doesn't mean there aren't poker sites that have their fair share of bad players. New poker rooms which advertise heavily for business, poker sites attached to big sports betting sites and rooms that focus their lobbies on the micro-stakes games – all of these places are ideal for finding fishy players who are just dying to donate their bankrolls to you.
And while we're on the subject of utilizing the web to improve your play, consider investing in some invaluable tracking software. Buying a dedicated piece of HUD (Heads-up Display) kit will set you back around $100 but over the long-term you can easily make that back in extra profits.
HUDs like PokerTracker or Hold'em Manager 'sit' on top of your poker table and give you information on your opponents' play, tracking stats like the percentage of hands they fold pre-flop, how much they bet pre-flop, and so on.Some sites, like Bovada, have anonymous players so it's harder to a) take notes, and b) use tracking software, while other sites have banned the use of these devices altogether, so if you're thinking of investing in a program, make sure your favorite site allows it.
One rule that applies just as well to live poker as it does the online game is to lay off the alcohol - completely. With a crate of Bud in the fridge at home it can be too easy just to crack open another can while grinding the cash tables.
But even after a couple of drinks your judgment can be severely impaired and you can feel invincible. Going for a two-outer to send that chump on life-tilt? Why the hell not; trying out a few gamble moves when you should be playing sensible, ABC poker? It can be too easy, especially when you start to get bored of the oftentimes monotonous nature of playing online poker for hours on end.
If you think poker begins and ends with No Limit Texas Hold'em, think again. While most land-based casinos are likely to offer NLHE at a few stakes – both in cash games and tournaments – online sites boast games in everything from Pot Limit, No Limit or straight Limit Hold'em, Omaha, Stud, Razz, and more unusual variants like 2-7 Triple Draw and Badugi.
Not only do these fringe variations give you the chance to try something new, they give you the chance to fleece the fish who are trying out new forms of the game themselves. If you can learn a few simple strategies at the lesser-known games, it will put you in a much better position to make an easy profit.
The beauty of online poker is that you can start your real-money poker journey with absolutely no bankroll at all. Most big sites will hold daily freerolls that cost nothing to enter and usually offer a couple of thousand dollars as prize money.
The play is usually fast and loose – they cost nothing to enter, remember – but freerolls are a good way of trying out a few plays and bumping up your balance. Check out poker forums online and some of the bigger poker magazines – they normally run exclusive freerolls which give away cash or live tournament seats.
i used to win a lot but not so much anymore. are the games harder than they used to be or is it just me?
Comments
Yes definitely! Internet poker and all the training sites and software that people use (see recent post below about HUDs) have raised the bar so high. It sucks
I think the games are harder than they used to be, because not as many recreational players are interested in poker due to the lessening of its popularity after the Moneymaker and internet poker days. However, I think a repeat of the game's popularity is coming soon as online poker starts to come back in various states, which will make the games easier again.
I think players at lower limits especially learned not to stack-off in No-Limit. Remember that the poker boom saw a quick transition from Limit poker being dominant, to No-Limit. Too many people were simply unprepared for NL play, and some of them would get all-in pre with almost any pocket pair or high ace. That, plus the fact that many weak players could end up check/calling through their whole stack on weak draws against properly sized bets from stronger players. And crazy-overplaying top-pair on the flop.
Those are a few really really juicy behaviors that I don't see to the same degree, either live or online, anymore. It was probably unsustainable for the poker economy to have too many of those folks kicking around for too long; they either learn or go broke.
In any event, I'm looking forward to the legal return of US online poker as well. Might capture whole new demographics that weren't interested when online poker was a legal gray-area in the US...
I do think the games are harder. My opinion is that this is especially true in Las Vegas. But having played in very soft games in Colorado, Florida, and Arizona over the last year, I would say that good games do exist out there. My own opinion/experience is that the games in Las Vegas have gotten harder. More hardcore/experienced players seem to play in Las Vegas, even at the $1/$2 no limit level. There are less clueless fish than there used to be. Even the bad players tend to be very aggressive, which makes them very dangerous (you may have to stack off to them in situations simply because they bluff often enough to make certain situations really difficult). However, I do find fishier players as local regulars in the smaller card rooms all around the country. Even still, I'd agree that the game is not as good as it was during its heyday. But beatable games exist. They are harder to find in Vegas, but they exist in Vegas. And they are even more common elsewhere. I'd not say I am recommending against Vegas. Where else do you have all the food options, beautiful women, cheap hotels, variety of promotions, and table hoping options you have on the Las Vegas Strip. I still love Las Vegas, I just think the games are tougher.
Interestingly, I used to think Vegas was the world's largest fishtank five years ago, which meant I believed it was the most profitable place on the earth to play poker. Now I'd call it harder than average. But, if you are selective on your tables (and you run average or better luckwise), there is still money to be made in Vegas. But I suspect more money can be made outside of Vegas, if you are willing to sacrifice all the other things that make Vegas the best city on earth.
Strategy & Advice Posted in TableTalk
Online Poker Getting Harder To Play
Blackjack at sahara hotel
I put down 200 and lost every hand but y'all call they a good timebest way to play Jack/Jack
What's the best way to play Jack/Jack? Seems like everytime I play it theres a King or Ace I'm the flop or turn.First time here just checking in
active
Recent TableTalk Posts
Online Poker Getting Harder Game
Online Poker Getting Harder Hard
Poker Rooms in East Texas??
Hi. I live in Palestine Texas, and was wondering if any other Texans knew of a place to play poker up in the north east Texas area.. near...North Hollywood 1/2 Home Game anyone?
Friendly game with free drinks and good action. Text me for info 818-299-2029$400 NLH free row 1/2/5 CG Dallas tx
Monday game starts with a $400.00 free roll NLH tournament. $10 dealer toke and one $20 add on and one rebuy in till break. Must play cas...
