Poker Tips and Tricks for Every Player Level

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All online poker players must know that three main variations of poker exist: draw poker, stud poker, and community card poker. Almost all poker games are following the rules of these three types.
 
Here's a basic breakdown of the three variations:
  • Draw Poker: This is the standard kind of poker, where the dealer draws three cards in the first round and then two more cards during the final round. The first round is where all initial bets are placed before players are able to check or place additional bets.
  • Stud Poker: A variation in which players are dealt a mixture of face-up or hole cards and the bet order changes each round.
  • Community Card Poker: Players are dealt hole cards and have to form the strongest combination with the "community cards" that are arranged face up on the table.

Top Online Poker Tips for Effective Play

Here are five poker tips and tricks for online gamers:

Memorize Poker Hand Rankings

The first online poker tip is the most significant one. For example, the objective in Texas Hold 'em is to have the most valuable set of five cards when betting comes to an end. So brand-new players have to know that a two-pair loses to three of a kind or that a full house beats a flush, and so on.

With that in mind, here’s a look at the poker hand rankings:

Follow or Create a Conservative but Aggressive Strategy

The next online poker tip would be to create a strategy that is airtight so you don't have a losing streak. This can't be completely avoided, of course. The first part of this online poker tip is to not be involved with too many poker boards at once.

Furthermore, create a strategy that is on the safer side of aggressive. One skill every poker player should have is their knowledge of hole cards. A hole card is the card that is dealt faced down during a poker game.

For example, here's a chart of typical hole card combinations that could be referenced when trying to "read" a virtual table. The "S" signifies suited cards while the "O" refers to off-suite cards.

Action Poker Hole Card Combinations

 

As you can see from the chart above, 1/4 of poker hands fall under the hands that are generated from the hole cards dealt on a poker table. Any poker player can take this into account and use this knowledge to their advantage when proceeding to place their bets.

Limit Bluff Attempts

Bluffing your opponent out of a hand may be a more satisfying feeling than winning an actual poker round. Just kidding.

On a serious note, tricking your opponent(s) into folding prematurely or placing a poor bet should not be attempted online as much as it is attempted in a live poker match.

Novice poker players love to stare at hole cards and be confident that their hand will make a straight flush during the flop. When that doesn't happen, which is more often than not, a player has no choice but to fold or bluff. Be assured that many other informed players at the table are also only playing top 20 hole cards.

The most effective option for a new player wanting to implement a bluff is to show cards on winning hands. Playing tight and showing Q♦️Q♣️ or A♦️K♣️ gives the impression that the player is tight.

When the button position and hole card combination is right, a poker player has the flexibility to get creative.

Understand the Dealer's Position

The dealer's position or the button, is critical to know when playing online poker. When playing home games, one person always deals and generally that person is last for action.

Poker is a game of information, and gathering as much information as possible is paramount to success. Initially, poker players are encouraged to play tight and manage the proper hole cards, but in the correct position, there can be flexibility.

Dealers position Poker

A typical poker table sits up to 10 players, thus dictating plenty of positions as the button orbits the table. Late position — also known as the button or cut off seats — has the most flexibility in play. If you are looking to play some of the lower percentage starting hole cards, late position allows time for opponents to give information on the strength of their hand.

At the blind position, players are expected to be tight with any bets larger than the big blind, but should defend reasonable hands given the inherent discount they receive to see a flop. Small and big blind will be the first action, and at a disadvantage from an information standpoint. Early and middle position strategy should include your chip stack size in relation to the big blind value. If a poker players chips dip below 20 times the current big blind, early and middle position should look to steal blinds before another orbit around the table.

Taking these quick lessons should help anyone who is a beginner to online poker.

Keep an eye out for more online poker strategy pieces in the coming weeks — we’ll further discuss the top 20 hole cards, different strategies for heads up and what to do when the button position is under the gun.

Stick to the online poker game type that works for you

It's imperative to recognize which variations of online poker that you are the most successful in. For example, if you aren't as skilled in Texas Hold 'Em but are producing excellent results in 5-Card Omaha, then it's advisable to place a majority of your wagers on that game type.

Here's a list of common online poker game types that you can choose from:

  • 5-Card Draw
  • 5-Card Omaha
  • 7-Card Stud
  • 2-7 Triple Draw
  • Badugi
  • Chinese Poker
  • HORSE
  • Omaha-Hi
  • Omaha Hi-Lo
  • Pineapple
  • Texas Hold 'em
  • Razz
  • Short Deck

Online Poker Resources

Confidence is key to be a successful poker player. Take advantage of the following poker guides to help boost your play:

Online poker is currently legal in MichiganNew JerseyPennsylvania, West Virginia, and Delaware. For more legal information regarding your state, take a look at our online casino legalization tracker.