Tag: poker tournaments

Play Poker tournaments online at PokerLion

Playing Against a Preflop Raiser in Play Poker Online

When you play against a preflop raiser during a play poker online game, there are two things to consider. Chip stack will dictate how the game will be played since most small stacks will be forced to bet the best they can after a large raiser while stack leaders will fold after missing the flop.

Another important thing to consider while playing poker online game is having the right position in the table.

Playing Early Position

If you are in a big or small blind position you have the opportunity to put some pressure on the best online poker raiser. You can call a small raise in case you have on hand suited cards, small pockets, or connectors. This will give the other poker players the impression that you got something on the flop. In case someone goes over the top, then decide if you have to fold what you have.

There might also be situations where your opponents will have monsters at hand when ace or face cards come out of the flop. Poker game online can be check and fold.

Game to Play in the Late Position

When you have a late position you can call raises to pairs of cards above 9s; A paired with a 10, J, Q, K; or a K with a J or Q. Watch out for flops like 4,5, J or a 6,7, Q if you have a KJ or KQ since most preflop raisers might be playing AJ or AQ. If the preflop raiser checks, then you can make a move and bet on the flop.

You and your opponent can also end up missing your hands. When you have a rainbow on the board and the opponent checks, then bet your way to his mind. Playing over the top is also another option. This strategy might not work for small stacks which may decide to go all in.

Happy playing!

 

Read more:
10 Reasons to Play Poker Online
More Tip and Tricks to Play Online Poker

Big Pot Play Poker Online Bluffing

The skill to bluff big pots in poker online effectively is something that’s needed. This separates good players from great players. It is no accident that the games played at the highest stakes feature some of the most daring bluffs: big bluffs are a central part of the game.

For small bets, the majority of best online poker players mix up their play very well. They’ll bet out or raise with nothing on the flop with about the right frequency – but a lot of players don’t mix up their play well on big bets. Some players never fool around when they put in really big money on the turn or river. Your opponents can never resist the big bluff when they see a lot of money/chips in the middle. Timing to strike the right balance between value bets and bluffs when you raising the ante in the pot is crucial to playing top-level poker.

When you are playing against world-class pros, bluffing too often is a bigger mistake than not bluffing enough. You will get called very often and you will look to everyone like you are carelessly spewing online poker chips. You’ll question yourself why they are calling you so often, but it’s easy to see why: your opponents will be getting 2:1 odds on a call (if you are betting the size of the pot) and they will infer based on your betting habit that you’re bluffing more often than that.

How can they determine that you are bluffing too often?

In a manner of speaking, if you are balancing your online poker real money big bluffs properly, you will be betting for value about two-thirds of the time. And you will be betting as a bluff about one-third of the time. Hands that you will bet big for value on the turn or river come up quite rarely. It’s not often that you make a straight, a flush, a set, or some other huge hand that earns a big bet on the river for value. If you’re betting big on the river and turn very often, your opponents will figure out that you’re bluffing too often.

Bluffing too often can be a huge misjudgment in an online play poker game. But not bluffing often enough in the truly big spots is one thing that prevents great players from becoming world-class. You’ll probably never hear someone say of famous poker players “he’s never messing around in that spot.” They can be bluffing in any spot. As the pot gets very huge, their bluffs will be less frequent, as they will be trying to represent very thin ranges, but their bluffing frequency will never be zero in any sport, other than some trivial ones where it’s only appropriate to raise with the unorthodox.

Have the edge on an opponent

Most of the time your big bluffs will occur when you have an edge on an opponent. This is most true for big moves on the river. If a player checks to you on the river, it’s likely not a check of strength. With one pair of hands, people will often call on the flop and turn, but not always on the river. Their “check-call, check-call, check” line often tells you that they have a big pair but no better. Some novice players will fold to a pot-sized bluff way too often in this spot, and will not adjust oneself behaviour even when they begin to suspect that you are bluffing them often. Against these players, you are obligated to keep pilfering (stealing) until they adjust.

Definitively, the ability to pull off a big bluff is a crucial element in poker. Highly do so with the correct frequency, and you’ll raise your game to the next level.

Happy playing!

 

Read more:
A Look at Poker online Tournament Strategy
Poker Online – The Seven Types of Tilt

A Look at Poker online Tournament Strategy

To begin formulating a poker online tournament strategy, you first have to be aware of the different phases that occur and are relevant to gameplay. The easiest way to approach tournament strategy is to divide the process into four parts, starting with Pre-Tournament decision-making. Also, looking at the beginning and middle stages, and ending with the final stage.

1. Before the Tournament: Pre-Tournament Decision Making

There are many different types of online poker tournaments, so the first step is to be very clear on what type of tournament you’re entering.

Major Tournaments:

Large tournaments lasting for an extended period of time, like one week up to one month with larger buy-in fees.

Minor Tournaments:

Much smaller tournaments that usually last for three days. Buy-ins are cheaper than in major tournaments.

Free Roll Tournaments:

There is no buy-in fee required for entry into the tournament.

Re-buy Tournaments:

Players are given the option during a certain period to purchase more chips. Usually for the same price as the original buy-in. Each tournament has different re-buy rules regarding how many chips a player must have in order to purchase more. And another issue is whether or not the tournament allows for multiple re-buys or a one-optional re-buy. When the period for re-buys ends, the tournament becomes a Freezeout.

Guaranteed Tournaments:

Guarantees from the start that a certain amount of money will be in the prize pool, regardless of how many players buy-in to the play poker online tournament.

Satellite Tournaments:

A one-table tournament that’s used for the purpose of awarding winners with buy-ins to major tournaments.

Shootout: A player must defeat all players at his table before advancing to the final round. All finalists play against each other in a freeze-out format until only one player remains.

Freezeout: Players who run out of chips are eliminated. As seats open up, tables are combined together until there is only one player remaining. Players in the top remaining positions receive a percentage of the prize pool on a predetermined scale.

2. Beginning Stages of the Tournament

Depending on type of tournament, players will have a general tendency either to play more aggressively in early stages or very tight.

Re-buy tournaments, due to the fact that players can purchase more chips during re-buy periods, are played much more loosely and aggressively. The cost of blinds towards the beginning of the tournament is fairly low, which allows players much more leeway when deciding which hands to play poker. Again, factoring your cost allowance versus aggressive playing is important for finding the proper balance somewhere in-between both. It may be worth the risk to invest up to five per cent of your stack to see the flop on marginal hands for the chance of doubling what you have. This is only toward the beginning of the tournament when blinds are still affordable and you know that you won’t let yourself put in more than 5% of what you have on a small pair.

Keep in mind that your main focus in the beginning stages of a tournament should be to keep a decent stack of chips so that you’ll be in a secure position for the upcoming rounds.

3. Middle Stages of the Tournament

Towards the middle of the tournament, significant changes in the blinds need to be taken into account. Blinds will be raised and you’ll be required to invest a larger chunk of your chip stack as the rounds continue. This affects your playing strategy because the general tendency here is to try to win the blind by raising immediately. In order to call, you will have to invest a significant amount of money, which is not a smart move to make if your hand is weak. Smart players will fold immediately if they have nothing to go on. Remember that tournaments are a matter of survival, and if you’re wasting your chips on weak hands at this stage, you probably won’t last long.

To recap, your best bet if you’re in early position is to aggressively make the first raise, but if another player makes the raise, play tight and fold immediately if you have a weak hand.

4. The Final Stage

In order to make it to the final round, you should shoot for winning the blinds at least once per round. If you succeed, you’ll be in a position where the increasingly high blinds leave you in a critical position with your chips and require skilful short-hand play. The best online poker real money strategy at this stage is to take stock of where you stand with your chips and how close you are to the prize money according to the tournament’s prize structure. If you have a decent amount of chips, your focus should be on eliminating the other players by playing aggressively. If not, play conservatively and call only if you have a strong hand. It’s important at this stage to know realistically what’s possible and to adjust your strategy to aim for that goal.

Happy playing!

 

Read more:
Playing against a Pre-flop Raiser in Poker Online
Poker Online – Poker Chips Value

Online Poker – Don’t Be a Loser with Card AA

While some players light up with joy when looking down at “pocket rockets” in an online poker game of no limit Texas Hold’em, others become filled with dread. Why?

More than one online poker real money player has seen his pair of aces go down in flames, taking his entire stack with it. If you’re a no limit Hold’em player, how can you avoid being a loser with pocket aces?

Raise Pre-Flop

Some best online poker player like to get sneaky and limp with aces. In most cases, this is a big mistake. If you are in a very early position and think you can get another player to raise so you can re-raise, or as a very rare change from your usual tactics, you may consider a limp.

However, in most situations, it is very important that you raise pre-flop with aces. Firstly, you want to get money into the pot. If the pot is unraised, it will be very easy for opponents to get away on the flop if your aces are still best.

Secondly, you want to thin the field. The more players there are out against you, the better chance there is that one will catch something to beat you.

Most importantly, you need to find out where you are. If you raise pre-flop, you are likely to get called only by people with premium hands, meaning mostly big cards. On a flop of Q 8 7, you can be fairly sure that your aces are still best. However, if you fail to raise before the flop, your opponents could hold anything, from 56 to Q7, and when you bet, you will only get called by one of these well disguised hands that beats you.

Know When You Are Beat

There’s no law that says you have to put all your money in with aces. If you get two callers pre flop with two black aces and the flop comes T J Q all hearts, it’s okay to check fold. It’s great to get aces, but if they’re beat, they’re beat.

Don’t Go on Tilt

From time to time, you will lose with aces no matter what you do. In these cases, it is very important to keep a level head. It is just one hand and if you do the right thing consistently, you should come out ahead. Continue to play your best game and if you can’t, get up and play another day. There’s always another free poker bonus around the corner to get your bankroll back in shape.

Happy playing!

Read More:

  1. Online Poker Tips that Work Fruitfully
  2. Steps to Break Out of Your Comfort Zone in Online Poker

Online Poker Can Make You a Better Investor

The game of online poker goes beyond depending on luck. It is also the game of calculative skills and strategic thinking, artful dodging and mysterious expressions.

Take a look how you can be a better investor playing the online poker game. Read on:

Planned risks

Poker is all about taking calculated risks. Depending on your hand that you have been dealt, the level of tournament, your bankroll you take planned risks in hope of winning more. Same skill can be applied to investing as well. Every investment you make has some risk attached to it. The key to a successful investment is taking planned risks to gain maximum profits and minimum losses.  Big gains be it investment or online poker real money come from well-timed planned risks.

Lasting thinking

A successful poker player is the one who is focused on long term goals and is patient. In short term, luck may play a role but in the long term, skill plays an important role. But the key to success is to stick around and persevere.

Like in a game of best online poker, investment too requires patience and can take years to yield any tangible results.

Knowing your numbers

Knowing your numbers is important in both poker and investing. Good poker players know the odds, outs and are good at number crunching. Same can be applied to investing as well. A good investor knows the fundamental analysis and technical analysis for their stocks.

Keep emotions in check

Keeping emotions in control is important in both investing and a game of poker. A lot of poker players get angry or frustrated when they are losing in short term and it ends up costing them dearly. In the same way, keeping emotions in check is important while investing to maximize ROI.

Ability to read opponents/market

A successful poker player is one who knows his opponents and his playing strategies. He is able to read opponents’ actions, cards that might be drawn and strategy the players will employ.

Similarly, a successful investor is the one who is knowledgeable about the market and gauging trends of the market

Studying the game/markets

Players make time and effort to study the game when they are not playing.  Similarly, investors too need to invest time in studying the market when they are not investing.

Maintaining discipline

Discipline is important whether in game or stock market. Good players/investors are disciplined and play within their means.

Perhaps the most important investment lesson a game of poker teaches is knowing when to quit.

Happy playing!

Read More:

  1. 5 Ways Poker Can Reduce Stress
  2. 6 Habits of Successful Poker Player

A Guide to an Online Poker Newbie

Starting off playing online poker can be fun, but it can also be stressful if you’re unprepared for the challenge. Once you start playing, you will not only compete with other beginners, but professional players as well. Keep in mind that some of these people are playing online poker for a living. Spending up to 10 hours a day playing it. So don’t feel down if you realize that you’re not doing as great as you expected. Defeating your friends in a home game is one thing. But the world of online poker is a completely different thing. To make things easier for you, we’ve got you some cool tips and tricks that can improve your games. But be prepared for days and days of practice and nerve wrecking games until you see some real results.

Keep your emotions at bay

It’s fairly easy to get over emotional while playing online poker India. Who could blame you? There’s the heat of the game, your ego (especially the “macho” moment if you’re a guy playing against other guys), money at the stake. That’s why most beginners make this mistake and lose their head in the middle of the game. Remember that getting emotional will lead you nowhere. And there’s no place for passion if you’re serious about winning some cash. You need a cool head and the ability to focus and analyze your opponents. Waiting for crucial signs and playing smart. If you catch yourself getting irritated or still thinking about the previous game. Take a break and cool down.

You need to learn and practice

If there’s one thing we keep hearing from fresh players, it’s “I’m a natural”, and there’s nothing more annoying than this statement. Although you might be talented for best online poker, that makes just one tiny bit of the whole picture. Even the most talented of athletes have to sweat their way to success with hard practice, and online poker is no different than any other sport. There is a whole lot of literature on online poker as well as online sources and forums where you can learn a lot of useful stuff. Of course, pro players will always keep their little secrets to themselves, but getting informed and learning about poker strategy is essential.

Focus on the players, not cards

There’s an old online poker real money saying that goes something like “play the players, not the cards”, and it’s one wise piece of advice you should stick to. Many beginners’ focus on their hand too much, missing the whole picture and their opponents’ moves. Carefully observe your opponents, try to find a pattern in their behavior and predict their moves, attacking them when they least expect it. Even if you don’t get a great hand, you can bluff your way out of it if you break the pattern in your opponent’s moves and predict whether they would fall for the bluff or not. Remember that it’s all about the right moves as you’ll rarely get a winning hand that guarantees you 100% success.

Happy playing!

Read More:

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  2. Online Poker: The Journey from Beginner to Pro

Online Poker Tips that Work Fruitfully

Poker is not a game of chance; hence it is not fair to blame your luck whenever you lose a game. You just need certain skills and need to follow the rules of the poker game. Many people now want to be an expert when it comes to online poker after discovering its promising future. Some of the players found that they can earn a living from this game and it can be perfect job for them.

Now, you might be wondering how to be an expert in poker online. Here are some tips that you can try on how to be the best in this game:

Study the Game

It is essential to study the game of poker if you wish to be a successful online poker gamer. When you think that you have known all things about poker, it is the time that you will have to research even more. As a matter of fact, you must not stop learning online poker real money. This is because standing still in the game will make you left out.

As such, you can read the articles or books, join a site, or hire a poker coach. Any discoveries that you learn for the day will lead you closer to gaining more profits.

Prove that You’re the Best Player

It is not a good idea to jump straight into the game. You must prove to yourself first that you are a profitable online poker player.

Indeed, there are some people that join in a tournament and win a cash prize which is equivalent to two months of salary. Then, they start thinking that this game is an easy way to earn a living. But this is actually all wrong.

In reality, you need thousands of money and multiple games to join to prove that you are the best online poker player. If you don’t become the best player that you hoped for, you will soon find yourself heading back to the old employment that you are praying to get rid of.

Be Realistic

When you have proved to yourself that you are the best online poker player, it’s time to think about how many tournament or games you can join. With this, you can determine if the new life you choose to have can match your previous employment. This is where many online poker India players fail.

When you are working fulltime, you receive your salary on the same date each month. This is regardless of how productive your day, week, or month is. Sometimes, you are paid even on vacation or if you’re sick. The idea that you have to work five days a week is enough to make you wake up early each morning and report for duty. However, what if none of these things are true?

How many online poker gamers are there to wake up at 12 midnight, play poker for two to three hours, and go have some fun for the rest of the day? The answer is only a few online poker players. And for those who don’t do this will generally don’t succeed as online poker players in due time.

Give it Some Try

Lastly, you should have a trial in playing poker games online. With this, you can experience how to play professionally. Take a five-day leave from your job and spend it playing poker. You will be surprised by how challenging it is to convince yourself to play poker non-stop. Thus, it is best to find out first if you are into this game before taking the plunge.

Happy playing!

Read more:

  1. Poker Bluffing – A Brilliant Guide to Winning
  2. 5 Great Techniques Making Online Poker Game Much Easier

Online Poker Basic: Learn to Glance Around

When you play poker and a rumored good player joins the poker table with you do not be pressured to show off. Continue to observe all players for their style and tell signs. This good player might be losing small bets in the early part of the game to check on the other players’ abilities. That means you have to be careful for other players at the table might be doing some observing too. In this article, you will understand why it important to observe how online poker players react.

It is really important to not get too excited on showing that you have talent too when playing against a good player. If you are one of those good players too, this game could be a battle of talent and luck. Initially, you may say the rumors were bad. The looks of this guy just don’t fit the image of those winner guys you see on international or national poker tournaments. It could be true you play better than he does, no one can tell until the games begin.

And so when the cards are being dealt, you feel the pressure of winning the game and proving yourself. You may have the tendency to stare at your cards without even glancing at the other players. The result of your analysis was wonderful: you are raking in pot after pot. Then you wonder what is so good about this other good player. It seems like he is not so good after all.

Tackle the presumed good opponent

Then after several games it became established in your mind that the good player was just not up to your level of proficiency. So when he called for a raise in bet, you were thinking that there was nothing he was worthy of showing. You shoved in part of your stack. He raised again, you raised with him.

But after that you were slowly losing and losing pot after pot. The stack of chips you had on table is leaving you piece by piece. The thing to do would be to quit game or else lose all chips you previously own. You wonder what went wrong.

One reason could be that you failed to observe tell signs. Certain people make certain reactions when given a set of cards and/or when community cards are revealed. You may find a smirk on their face that could mean a good online poker real money hand. When a frown is observed, then it could mean the player’s hand missed cards on table to make a good hand.

When you just stared at your card all throughout game, you are missing out tell signs. And if you don’t want to let other people read your position, you may either bluff or maintain a constant face with no reactions when community cards are laid down or when cards are distributed.

So when you play poker online this weekend, don’t keep staring at your cards. Keep that stoic face and be observant of other players’ reactions. This talent cannot be learned overnight, it will take some time. Try to play as many kind of players as possible, take note of how they reaction to certain situations in game.

Happy playing!

Read more:

  1. 10 Reasons to Play Poker Online
  2. Online Poker – The Tricky Double Barrel

Perfect Reads of Online Poker Tells through these Signs

A tell is any habit, behaviour, or physical reaction, that gives other players more information about your hand. The following are tips supplied to online poker fans by the pros, and can apply against novice or advanced players. Remember, that in poker there are many contradictions and exceptions to the rule. Also, experienced pros will give out false tells to fool players.

Watch the Eyes

This is why many pros wear sunglasses or visors/caps when playing; they know that the eyes rarely lie. For example, many players can’t help but stare at big hole cards, so their length of time peeking is longer. Conversely, if a poker online player is looking to steal the pot, he may look to his left to see if the remaining players, who haven’t yet acted, have quickly glanced at their cards and are likely to fold. Another e.g., a player may try to ask you questions about your hand, knowing that people rarely can “look someone straight in the eyes” while being dishonest.

Facial Expression

Again, many pros try to disguise their entire face by wearing a cap and looking downward. This is to avoid the classic stare down that best online poker pros are famous for. They may try to study your face for nervousness (detecting a weak hand), or even look for repetitive characteristics like a body “tic”. You may have obvious unhappiness in your face when your hand is weak, and conversely, you may show a contrasting show of confidence when your hand is strong.

Trembling Hands

Also, a by-product of anxiety, beware of an online poker real money player whose hands are shaking, this nervousness can represent a big hand.

Glance at Chips

Again, relating to the eyes. It is common for players to quickly glance at their chips if they connect with the board after a Flop for example. This may be a subconscious reaction, but the player is already planning his attack.

Repetitive Betting Patterns

Usually the most revealing tells are based on the way an online poker India player habitually bets during particular situations. For example, maybe the player always checks when he has made the nuts, or a player may regularly fold after being re-raised.

Chip Stacking

When you first sit down at a table, study the way the players stack their chips. Although it is a generalization, loose aggressive players typically maintain unorganized/sloppy stacks, while tight conservative players keep well organized/neat stacks.

Happy playing!

Read more:

  1. 3 Online Poker Mistakes – Worst Blunders to Avoid
  2. When You Need to Stop Playing Online Poker Freeroll Games

Poker Bluffing – A Brilliant Guide to Winning

A well-timed bluff is the mark of the successful online poker player, but most novices do not know how to do it correctly. 

Bluffing is one of the most important skills you can learn when you play poker and adds that touch of excitement that makes best online poker famous, but you need to know when to do it correctly and that’s what this post is all about. 

Whenever you see poker in films the players always seem to bluff and win big and this makes many novice players think they can win by bluffing all the time and they can’t. 

Poker bluffing is a skill and should be used sparingly. 

If everyone at the table can “read” you, you will never win at all as your bluffing is obvious and you will be hit. 

When do you bluff then? 

Online poker real money bluffing is an art not a science and you need to read the other players and the chances of success your bluff could bring. 

A pro also will know if a bluff is profitable by calculating the odds and the pot size and will also calculate the possibility of his opponent will folding. 

Factors you need to consider when bluffing in poker are: 

  • Knowing your opponents playing style 
  • How the others “see” you and your style 
  • The pot size 

  1. Knowing your opponent:

You have to know your opponent and their style of play. 

Can bluff a strong player and he may fold, but a weak player can call you at any time and ruin your bluff. 

You need to calculate how successful your bluffing is likely to be in relation to how your opponent plays to calculate the odds of success. 

  1. How the others see you:

Determine your overall image. How do others see you? 

If you are planning to bluff, appear serious. It has a better chance of success. You may have been shown to be bluffing recently, and you can also use this to your advantage. 

The other players will be thinking you are bluffing when you are not – Bluffing is all about wrong footing your opponents so always keep this in mind. 

How you “read” the other players: 

Of all the skills you need for online poker India, and especially bluffing, you must know how to “read” the other players, and also the flow of the game 

It will not be easy, but without it you will not know when and how much to bluff. It takes practice and skill, but once learned, you will find yourself winning.. 

  1. Pot Size:

The pot size is also crucial in bluffing. 

You must remember that if the pot is large, the others will call it more often as the odds are better. Where you are sitting (your “position”): 

When bluffing also keep these points in mind as general rules to abide by: 

  1. Bluff tight tables only

Bluffs have a far better chance of success when playing tight tables. On loose tables unless all the “loose players” have already folded and are out of the game, chances are lower. 

  1. Bluff high limit tables only

In low limit games, there’s really no advantage in bluffing at all and you get called so frequently, your chances of success make it not worth it. 

High limits, and of course no limit games, are when bluffing becomes very effective when a player knows how to bluff correctly. 

  1. Bluff from late position only

If everyone is checking, calling or folding in front of you before you play, it’s a good time to go for the pot. It’s not a good idea to bluff from an early position, as you have no idea what potential hands your opponents have. 

Remember poker online bluffing is all about deception. If you are predictable in your bluffing you will lose and if you don’t study your opponent and the pot size and know whether it’s worth bluffing you will lose again. 

However if you can bluff sparingly and when the odds are in your favour you can win and win big pots and it is very satisfying! 

Practice makes perfect 

To become good at poker bluffing is not something you can learn overnight it takes a lot of practice. 

You will find in time you can use it to your advantage and it is an essential tool for any player to master who takes their poker seriously. 

Happy playing!