Sat, 01/22/2011 – 03:14 – PokerPages Staff

Listen up beginner poker player here is one of the golden secrets of poker success.  Push your game beyond the basic poker rules and poker betting and play like the pros by learning to…Wait For it…FOLD.

It is super easy to play the best hands in poker.  Not much separates the best players and the worst players gain when playing the best hands.  True.

What DOES separate the best players from any random player is losing.  The best players understand that the goal of poker is to maximize profit.  In order to maximize profit, it is inherent that you minimize loss.

Quite simply, in order to minimize loss, you must learn to fold.  Many players who start with a premium hand cannot throw it away even when they know they are beat.  This is a losing strategy. 

Premium hands like pocket queens or pocket jacks are examples.  Often, the board will come with over cards and rarely will you hit trips.  You use your best betting techniques, but soon realize you are up against a better hand.  Cut your losses, FOLD.

Learning to fold when you are behind is a winning strategy.  Folding premium hands is never easy, but when you are beat you must toss them.

To learn more, check out PokerSchoolOnline, the best source on the internet for poker related learning.  Then put those skills to work by playing for free at PokerStars.net.  Also, check out the PokerPages sections Poker Information and Poker Articles for more poker tips and strategies.