Mon, 08/15/2011 – 06:02 – PokerPages Staff

Every poker player bets with, and plays by, their own poker rules and strategies. However, as a beginner poker player there are a few points you should be aware of that are universal within this game.

Recklessness
Avoid playing recklessly. If you want to take the game seriously and bet with really money then this is important: you need to be disciplined and make good decisions.

Making mistakes
As a beginner poker player you’re bound to make mistakes. However, resist dwelling on them and move on. If you want to get better at poker then it’s good to make errors but then learn from them.

Playing like a fish
‘Fish’, or ‘calling stations’ as they’re otherwise known, are notorious for calling when they realize they’ve been beaten and, therefore, end up handing out a lot of money. Any money you lose adds up eventually. So, even though it might be cheap to stay in it doesn’t automatically mean that it’s the best move.

Rushed decisions
A great aspect about poker betting is that you can take your time: think over your decisions carefully, consider all the information and don’t be tempted to rush in.

Poor cards
A common mistake made by beginner poker players, especially online, is playing a poor hand. Occasionally they can work against your opponents. However, it makes more sense to stick with good hands.

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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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