Poker emerged in the United States in early 19th century and has since spread like wildfire throughout casinos in Europe and Asia. Poker has become one of the most popular games that gambling enthusiasts look forward to and in many cases players return home with handsome winnings.
Some quick poker facts before we reveal our top secrets: Modern day poker really took off in the 1970’s, when the first WSOP (World Series of Poker) tournaments began. Another historical surge in poker popularity occurred in the early 21st century, with the advent of Online Poker and hole-card cameras which exposed the sport to untapped cultures and enabled filming the sport with unprecedented detail.
Poker on the whole describes a set of card games that combine skill, strategy and gambling. All types of poker involve betting of some kind, where the winner is determined according to a combination of player cards and some cards remain hidden until the end of the hand. Popular poker game versions include Straight poker, Stud poker, Draw poker and community card poker, the latter of which includes the famous Omaha and Texas Hold’em poker game branches.
While the outcome of a poker game relies partly on chance, influencing decisions made by the poker player throughout the game include contributing factors such as psychology, positive expected value calculation outcomes, and game theory, the science of decision making.
Professional poker players are often portrayed as reckless, risk-taking gamblers, but the reality is that playing poker professionally requires discipline of heart and mind, quick thinking and nerves of steel that could rival any high roller or businessman.
People who are genuinely interested in playing poker have ample opportunities to satisfy their desires either by visiting a traditional casino or even by deciding to play poker online for free. In either of these cases, poker players are advised to learn some of the top poker secrets from professional players (keep reading below) as education can only make them better at playing the game.
The game of poker can draw an enthusiast in fast and people who have no previous knowledge about the game may very well begin losing money even before they have understood how to play the game. However, those who make an initial attempt to educate themselves may be encouraged by their initial successes and go on to become successful gamblers and even professional poker players.
What are the secrets we can learn from Professional Poker Players?
Professional players are enthusiasts of the game that have made it a means of their livelihood. These players are involved with the game day in and day out and know all the ins and outs of playing the game successfully. They not only have information about the kind of games they should or should not be involved in as well as how much money they should wager on any particular game, but know how to think in order to win. Learning the secrets from professionals will help the average player get a better grasp of the rules of the game, and perhaps make them a better player. Here are some tips and tricks from the professionals:
1) Remember to only risk what you can afford to lose. Players should select an amount for betting even before they begin playing poker. These games are exciting and can easily cause players to get carried away with enthusiasm and begin wagering large amounts which they cannot afford.
2) Beginner Poker Players are advised to begin betting with the minimum amount because it will give them the opportunity to play more games.
3) Before deciding which poker version to play, players are advised to visit online sites where they have the opportunity to try some of the games for free. The exposure will give them an idea of which version they tap into better, and give them hands-on experience at playing by the rules.
4) Playing with professionals for free if possible is another method which should be adopted because new players can learn the intricacies of playing poker with the experts and learn to increase their chances of winning on a larger scale.
5) Choosing weak opponents in poker in order to win money is considered an art among professional poker players. Although playing against top professionals for money is something players like to challenge themselves at occasionally, bringing home the money is always the number 1 priority.
6) Beginners are advised to choose 5 card draw because this version can teach them the ranking of hands as well as give them plenty of online poker games to choose from.
7) Playing poker online is recommended for beginners rather than playing poker in traditional casinos. There is less peer and environmental pressure and beginners can focus on learning the game, while playing multiple games at the same time and risking less money.
8) Stay in control of your emotions. Just like in business and in life, letting emotions take over when losing large sums of money is unwise. If you feel like you are losing control, take a break and think over your situation.
9) Even the experts lose sometimes. It is absolutely normal to lose sometimes at poker. Losing a hand at poker is part of the game but the key is to play smart, use the odds in your favor and stay focused and unflustered so you can continue on to win in future hands.
10) Keep the expected value (EV) poker math formula in mind. The value of the reward must be greater than the risk. If your chances of winning $1000 are less than 10%, the risk of betting and playing may not be worth it.
The game of poker is exciting and can pump plenty of adrenaline into the blood of a fresh player. However, unless they understand the nuances of playing the game appropriately by learning some of the secrets mentioned in this article, they are more than likely going to end up on the wrong side of the betting hand.
