Besides being available in many offshore casinos, today, online poker is fully licensed and available in more than twenty American states. Online gamblers and poker lovers have their choice of standalone video poker games like Deuces and Eights and Jacks or Better, or they can compete in multi-million dollar poker tournaments like the World Series of Poker in states like New Jersey and Michigan. Whatever your cup of tea, take your online poker skills to the next level with these seven tips used by poker pros.
1. Think Micro
The initial online poker tip may not be the most popular one. However, it is strongly recommend starting at the micro stakes. The term "micro stakes" in online poker refers to the blind games with stakes ranging from 1 cent / 2 cents up to 25 cents / 50 cents. Basically, if you’re new to online poker, the best poker players would advise you to start small to get your feet wet so to speak and learn the poker basics.
2. Don’t Forget to Raise the Preflop
One of the top recommendations for successful online poker play is to consistently raise when entering the pot before the flop. While this may seem unconventional, particularly if you are accustomed to live poker games where simply calling the blind before the flop (known as limping) is more prevalent. However, in online poker, limping is not as common. In fact, if you frequently choose to limp, it is highly probable that skilled opponents will frequently isolate you and create challenging situations for you after the flop.
To maximize your chances, consider raising the bet to three times the size of the big blind. Additionally, it is recommended to add one extra big blind for each player who has called the big blind. Furthermore, if you find yourself in a position where you are at a disadvantage, it is advisable to add an additional big blind for each player who has called the big blind.
3. Keep Raising the Preflop
Another valuable online poker tip I have is to incorporate re-raising into your preflop strategy. This technique, commonly referred to as a "3-bet," increases our chances of winning the pot. By re-raising before the flop, we can achieve multiple outcomes: either take the pot immediately, improve our hand during the subsequent rounds, or compel our opponents to fold by maintaining an aggressive approach through continued betting or raising.
An excellent demonstration of professional poker players raising the preflop and blinds is the iconic film, The Cincinnati Kid, with the late Steve McQueen. However, it is important to exercise restraint and avoid excessive 3-betting in low stakes games, as it may result in frequent calls from opponents.
4. Get into Position before Calling Bets
It is imperative to note that one of the most crucial online poker tips is to refrain from calling excessive 3-bets preflop when you find yourself out of position. Many individuals tend to make the mistake of calling a re-raise preflop when they will be the first to act after the flop on every street. This puts them at a severe disadvantage in poker. This is an essential rule in poker that cannot be overlooked, regardless of how skilled you perceive yourself to be. Position plays a vital role in poker.
5. Don’t Be So Quick to Call Bluffs
To excel in lower stakes games, it is imperative to limit bluffing, particularly when facing less experienced players. Lower stakes games often attract individuals who tend to call bets frequently. Therefore, excessive bluffing can lead to unfavorable outcomes when playing against opponents of this nature.
The optimal approach to triumph over a table populated with such "calling stations" is to prioritize value betting. This strategy involves placing bets exclusively when holding the strongest hand or a favorable draw.
6. Mind the Turns and The Rivers Bets
Sadly many poker beginners have problems when it comes to the “turns” and “nuts.” In poker, “nuts” refer to raising the nuts for micro bets which involves the best poker hand you can assemble. The “rivers,” always raising the nuts for the micro bets. Keeping these in mind can help encourage more aggressive bets and avoid limping into the loser’s column.
7. Bad Beats Come with the Territory
In comparison to a live poker table in a casino, a regular online poker table operates at a rate three times faster, while an online Zoom game operates at an astounding ten times faster pace. As a result, players should anticipate experiencing between three and ten times more occurrences of unfavorable outcomes, commonly known as "bad beats," than what they are accustomed to in offline poker. It is important to note that this pertains solely to a single online poker table.