Thu, 08/11/2011 – 23:54 – PokerPages Staff

When you start out as a beginner poker player, it’s especially important to know as much about your opponents as possible. Read on to find out the main types of player you’ll be betting against.

Loose/Aggressive players

These players play a lot of hands. After or before a flop, they’re more than willing to raise bets and it’s hard to bluff against them. They tend to win a lot of small pots but if your hand’s strong, they’ll generally lose.

Loose/Passive players

A loose, passive player is renowned for playing basically any hand. Whatever their two cards, they’ll call right up to the river and tend to lose out, due to overplaying half a hand. Nicknamed ‘calling stations’, it’s easy to win money off them due to their betting style.

Tight/Aggressive players

Regarded as the best type, they play with the best starting hand and will raise bets in order to make the most money from the hand they have. If the odds are not in their favor, they tend to simply fold. A good tip: don’t try and bluff against these players.

Tight/Passive players

A tight passive player only plays when they possess a good hand. They don’t tend to know what to do on or after a flop. They definitely don’t take any risks with their poker bets and will usually check, as opposed to raise. They can do well against weak players but not strong ones.

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Fri, 08/12/2011 – 13:03 – PokerPages Staff

Learning poker is a daunting process. Luckily, there is loads of poker information that will provide you with top tips to guide you as a beginner poker player.

Consider Your Strategy
When betting it’s important to be patient: be prepared to fold early and only play if you have a good hand. You should also play aggressively by raising when you have a good hand. Also, try to figure out your opponent to guess what they might have.

Pick Out Your Opponent
Beware of tight aggressive players as a beginner poker player. They’ll happily relieve you of your bankroll. Fast and loose players tend to win big and lose big, sometimes paying off huge bets.

Figure Your Opponent Out
If you are playing online poker then you will not have the advantage of reading your opponent’s physical gestures and facial expressions. Online, bet timing and betting patterns offer similar information. Hesitation can possibly mean weakness whereas rapid fire betting can mean strength, depending on the opponent.  

Avoid Over-Confidence
It is easy to bet more with your emotions rather than your head when you start to win big. Always proceed with caution and consider your bets carefully.

Always Keep a Low Profile
Don’t be tempted to tell anyone in a poker chat room how well or not well you’re doing. Don’t ever be tempted to give out personal information, especially where you live and what you’ve won.

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