The Basic Guide Lines of playing Poker. Start with this!

[The Loner]

ERIC123 (Erik Sagström)

* When you would like to join a game, make sure that you have enough time and nothing that disturbs you, or else you will easily lose your concentration.You should not play when you are upset, sad or hungry since this will certainly affect your game in a negative way.
So, don 't forget to eat breakfast before turning on your computer in the morning!

* Never chase losses through chasing cards. If you feel frustrated, your poker abilities will suffer. Understand that money you don't lose is exactly the same as you win. If you don't play your best game and you end up in a bad game, you should take a break and find a game when you are under better circumstances. You should regard all games as one big poker session, and do not fall into that trap, that you have to break even or win every single time. No one does. But if you lose, even though you play your best and the game is good, you have to have the mental strength to fight on.

* Never play on a too high limit and never with money you cannot afford to lose. Don't rush, make sure that you evolve slowly and steady and step up in limit when you have the money and knowledge to meet the tougher competition.

* Be aware of the pot odds and understand the mathematics of the game. Don't forget that poker is gambling, where you should have the odds in favor before betting. If you ignore this, you will never become a winner in the long run.

* Realize the importance of table selection, position and how to learn to read the betting patterns and psychology of the opponent.

* Bluff less, and avoid slowplaying and bet your strong holdings in a fast straight forward way.

* Poker should be joyful. Make sure to have fun, while playing, otherwise I advice you to do something else. Life is too short and too interesting to waste but I ensure you that playing poker is food fun.

* Focus on refining your game. Work on your self-knowledge, and understand your strengths and weaknesses. Read books on poker, discuss played hands with friends, evaluate sessions you played, get quantities of experiences at the tables and above all: Follow my poker school!

* When you start out playing Texas Hold'em, or any other form of poker, I definitely think that a full table, with nine or ten players, is best to begin with. The reason is that you get the chance to see and study more hands, and by that, faster learn how to master the game without too much of a cost. Out of the same cause, you should begin with limit hold'em, where a newbie mistake only cost a bet, meanwhile in no limit it may put all your money on risk.

* Sooner or later I am sure that would like to try out other forms of poker or contest tables with fewer opponents. And I recommend it; partly that you will have more fun, and partly that you will develop your poker skills, if you varying your games. But, when you move on it is very important that you find out, which hands that means money, and which hands that means problems.

* If you move on from poker on full table to shorthanded (maximum six players)it is vital, that you play more hands and gets far more aggressive. Obviously, you cannot loosen up to much, but you should play all hands with two cards higher than ten. If you are first in the pot, always come in with a raise.

* You have to understand that the games changes, depending on what limit you play. In general one can say, that in low limit you should play in a straight forward way, play good hands aggressive and muck the bad ones, without a second thought, Furthermore you should seldomly bluff(in limit almost never), only play your drawing hands if you get the correct pot odds. In high limit you should habitually semi bluff and you must focus even more to get in to the minds of your opponents, and exploit their weaknesses. (Rev!)

* If you want to become a good shorthanded player, you have to develop your aggression, studying the opponents, also when you are not participating in the hand, play a solid poker and respect your position. It is even more important to keep your focus. If you lose your concentration it may be costly, though you are forced to contest more pots in shorthanded.

* One of the inmost and well kept secrets of poker, is the value betting. It imply that you have to bet, when you have the best hand, even though the marginal’s are thin. This demands that you require experience - and have guts.

* Keep on playing within your comfort zone, both economically as mentally. Don't forget that is something great to grind in poker. Continue to study the game, and you will become a winner.