Know the Traits of a Great Online Poker Player

online poker

Poker is known as a game of luck to many, but to those who play professionally, poker is most definitely a game of skill. While catching the right cards at the right time can make players a lot of money, hiding a potent tell or detecting another player’s bluff are just as important. The online poker players in the whole world all have several qualities in common, and most of those can be acquired through thousands of hours of study and practice.

Great ones start with low stakes

Great poker players typically start games with a group of friends, or maybe at a small casino table with low stakes. Chances are, best online poker players know that a pair of Aces or Kings is a great starting hand. However, most advanced poker players know the exact statistical chance that their particular hand can win the pot. This skill only comes with practice. Thankfully, the advent and increase in popularity of poker online make learning the chances a particular hand has quite easy. Some poker games on the computer have statistical tables that help beginners learn the chances of the game.

Recognize the cards of their opponents

One of the most useful poker online skills that great poker players all have is the ability to tell what cards their opponents have. The great ones do this primarily by looking for tells, which are little facial or personal tics that happen when a player is unable to control his or her excitement or disappointment. A player who knows his opponents tells is able to bluff them willingly, making their chances of winning drop greatly.

Another way the great poker players are able to tell what cards an opponent has is to watch their betting patterns. This ability is much easier to master, as it primarily involves playing many hours of online poker real money. Aggressive players typically bet and overbet when they have even minor hands. An experienced player can take advantage of this by slow playing his opponent. Slow playing is betting in a manner that makes other players think they are waiting for another card to hit, while they actually have a great hand in the hole already.

Great poker players can switch bet styles

In addition to reading the other players around the table, a great poker player is able to switch his betting styles on the fly. That means he is able to slow bet, on one hand, come out aggressive on another, and passively fold when he is beaten. Great players are unpredictable in this manner, which can be a large risk and reward strategy. The best players are able to maximize their winnings this way, while at the same time minimizing their loss.

Finally, a great poker player’s most important ability is one that takes a long time to master. They have to be able to put their ego aside and forget every single loss that happens during a game. Even the best players in the world have times where they get frustrated by an opponent, but emotions can make a great player take huge risks. The best players don’t become emotional during the game, and therefore are able to simply focus on the information at hand.

Happy playing!

 

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