It is a proven fact that online poker is, in fact, a game of skill; however, it must not be denied that it is also a game of chance (or luck if you want to look at it that way). The chance factor in poker comes from the randomly shuffled and distributed deck of cards. In poker, variance describes the effect of chance, which can be applied to the short-term and the long-term of your game. The skilled poker player knows that variance can be his worst nemesis, while at the same time, he understands the concept and uses it to his advantage.
In poker online India, the variance is the average of a player’s individual results over a prolonged series of hands or sessions, also the shifts of positive and negative cash flow. A player with high variance will have significant shifts, while a player with low variance will be more likely to produce hand or session results that are closer to his overall average results over time.
The risk is taken by tight players
Tight online poker real money players who seldom take risks may tend to be steady winners, and their play is likely to show low variance. Aggressive players, on the other hand, who take risks more frequently, may win more in the long run, but they show high variance in their play. Thus, if you are a high variance player, you’ll need a fatter bankroll.
Playing tight and by the book is an effective strategy for many players. These types of players play only the strongest hands, especially at the lower limit levels. This strategy, which is characterized by very little deviation from the overall average result, or low variance, will, in fact, show consistent results, but at a lower hourly average. However, playing more aggressively on more hands, even the weak ones, while risky and less safe, may produce a greater win average. But this is all relative to the player. What works for one guy may not work for another.
Wise strategy
A high variance player will raise on the last betting round on a pure bluff when he believes his opponent is betting on a weak hand. If this works in his favour, the opponent will fold. When things are going well, the bluffer will win more pots than the player who would never take such a risk. However, the high variance player will end up losing many pots, as well, on the same hands that a low variance player wouldn’t have even thought twice about before folding.
Another way of looking at it is to comprehend that you must lose in order to win in the long term. This will help you understand and cope with bad beats. Winning is about application and reapplication of advantages over time and learning to take the good with the bad, as one doesn’t exist without the other. If you expect to win at poker every hour or every session, you will be sadly disappointed. Poker income is not linear; it deviates between lucky and unlucky while you add the skill. If you let bad luck destroy you, it will. The best way to win is to focus on playing at your best level no matter what happens, so that you play poker good enough poker to win enough to cover your losses.
Happy playing!
Read more:
Know All About Online Poker Bankroll to Avoid Confusion
Right Online Poker Pace to Win Poker Tournaments