|
Poker – Beginner Tips – Play Tight
Although poker is a relatively easy game to learn it takes a long time to master. Even people that have played for many years often get trapped into bad habits and actually stop learning the game.
The clever and player that will soon master any table they sit at realizes that the quest for knowledge is an unending pursuit. The lazy player that rests on their laurels will quickly become an easy mark and will find they are losing more and more each session.
One piece of very good advice for players just starting out, or for experienced players who find that they are having a hard time winning, is that they should play tight.
Playing tight means waiting for good starting hands and to be very patient when playing. Patience, patience, patience is the key. Stay clear of bluffing and trying to win every hand that is dealt. The loose player will tend to get deeper and deeper into trouble and not even realize it. When playing tight you will be more observant of other player’s moves and game playing personality. Conversely playing loose is more self-centred and tends to make a person introspective and unaware of other players as all their attention is focused on their own play.
An example of playing tight in Texas Hold’em is when dealt a suited Ace and a King as hold cards. These are great starting cards but should not make one obligated to stay in the hand waiting on the river card. If after the flop you do not have a hand developing you should fold your cards. Don’t lose focus on the entire hand and get locked on your fantastic starting pair.
When starting to play Texas Hold’em it is easy to get stuck staying in more hands than you should by being actually blind to the flop and turn thinking that your winning hand dealt will be saved by the river.
As you develop more and more poker skills you will learn which hands are likely to build into better hands and which hands should be folded on the outset. Remember patience and that often times the key to winning is to do nothing at all.
Bottom line is that playing tight is a great tool to centring yourself and learning other skills which will serve you later. When you find yourself in a rut revert back to the tight player until you can turn things around.
|
