The Success Principles of Poker

Introduction

Many people believe poker is a game of luck, when in fact, it’s a game of skill. Because the cards are always random, the luck factor tends to even out with time. A superior strategy is bound to eventually win. In this article, you’ll read about how to build poker success and the main principles of poker.

From the Table to the Cloud

Poker is one of the oldest gambling games, but it has surely kept pace with technology. It’s easy to find both online and live versions of this casino staple. Even in countries with tricky legislation on online gambling, players can play it for free or for real money, like in Hungary.

If you live in Hungary, you can only play on government-licenced casinos. A quick search for bingo játékok should give you the best options available. In any case, follow our gambling expert Sultés Szilvia for the latest news of the gambling world.

This game manages to keep its thrill regardless of its platform. But the way players interact may change. Live poker comes as close as possible to the brick-and-mortar feeling. Simpler online versions of this game allow little interaction.

Anyway, a basic poker strategy requires you to observe how your opponents play their cards. Below, you’ll find the main principles to improve your game.

Four Keys to Strengthen Your Game

Apart from obviously knowing poker game rules by heart, there are other core abilities that a serious player should build. In this section, you’ll learn the principles of how to become a professional poker player.

Silence is Gold

Not everyone enjoys talking while playing. Some of the best players in the world find it disruptive. Patrik Antonius and Phil Galfond are examples of quiet and effective playing. Silent champions argue that talking causes distractions, claiming that it can cloud your judgment and impair your calculations.

Estimate the Odds

Calculating the odds for a game like poker may sound like something for supercomputers. But you don’t need mathematical superpowers to loosely estimate whether your hand is a try or if the pot is worth the hassle.

For example, consider the highest pairs in Texas Hold’Em: aces, kings, queens, jacks, ace and king, and tens. Those are hands you’re likely to get once every 29 rounds.

You can roughly calculate your odds using the concept of “outs”. An “out” is a card that you consider to be the winning one. Multiply the number of potential outs by two, and then you have an approximate likelihood of winning. For instance, if you need a five to make a straight and there can be still four in the pack, your chances stand around 8%.

Don’t Be Afraid to Fold

Many amateur players call bets far too often when there’s no winning chance. They go with the flow and tend to lose a lot of money with this behaviour. Experienced players maximise their winnings and reduce their losses, depending on the bet or when they fold. But calling is a passive action. A player who calls more often than raises, chances, or folds, is probably not making the most out of their opportunities in the game.

Understand Pot Odds

Here’s another tool to guide your decision: pot odds calculation. Pot odds is the ratio between the money on the table and the money you must bet to stay in the game. For instance, if you have a $10 pot but you have to $1 to keep playing, then the odds are 10 to 1.

It means you’re risking $1 for the chance of winning $10. But if you bet $10 and there’s $10 in the pot, you push your opponent to bet with odds of 2 to 1. This kind of bet makes your opponent lose money in the long run.

Conclusion

There are countless tips for better odds calculation, reading the players on the table, and different strategies. Still, the best way to improve your game is by practising. Luckily, there’s a generous supply of poker websites to play for free and for real.

Elizabeth Williams

A professional writer with over a decade of incessant writing skills. Her topics of interest and expertise range from health, nutrition and psychology.