Poker is easy enough to learn and easy enough to get good at with enough practice. However, despite the boom in online poker, there’s more to the game than meets the eye. For one, online poker tends to have much faster gameplay compared to live poker. This can result in tougher opponents, different stakes, and of course, varying reads and tells.
For that reason, many consider online poker to be much more difficult. However, the best thing about poker is that it’s all about learning and experience. With our tips, you may soon find that the additional challenges that come with online poker are actually opportunities to have more fun at the virtual tables.
Here’s how you can elevate your online poker game.
Only play if you feel like it
The key driver of the online poker sector is accessibility, which was supplemented by the pandemic and the ongoing digital revolution. Online poker tables already average around 100 hands per hour, and when you factor in tracking tools, the whole playing field becomes much harder to beat.
But you must remember that poker should always be a fun experience, regardless of whether your motives are a hobby or a professional lifestyle. Performance is linked to welfare, meaning that you should only play poker when you really want to.
Finding balance through self-discipline can be an additional challenge with online poker. So, it is vitally important to remember that poker will always be there, but your time and money may not.
Study techniques
Bluffing is a naturally accepted tactic and strategy in poker. This is a great way of forcing better hands to fold, whether or not you hold a decent hand. It’s so crucial that people have developed AI systems to beat other players via bluffing.
The art of bluffing changes in online poker because opposing players don’t have your face to read or body language to study. Instead, actual play analysis is used to analyze players’ next plays.
For example, if you’ve generally folded on weaker hands but played strong ones, the other players may notice this as well, so it’s important to mix up your plays. Consider the semi-bluff instead. Erratic and high-risk bets are rampant in online poker, and the semi-bluff — compared to attempting a bluff with a poor hand — provides a better chance at emerging victorious, even if you may not have the winning hand.
Network with other players
Ultimately, the first thing any player should do before playing a game is assess who they’re competing against. This is where next level poker strategies like networking come into play. Understanding who’s in your playing circles — whether they’re passive players who constantly fold with pressure or players who take more risks — is crucial to developing your playing strategy.
It may be difficult to build connections through a screen, but going the extra effort to get to know your fellow poker players allows for a more productive and healthy community, especially if these are players you’re likely to play against on a regular basis. From here, you can bounce ideas off each other and acquire honest feedback on your game, and share tips for more competitive future matches.
Invest in equipment
When playing cash games online, you don’t want to be slowed down by certain limitations. Investing in a better laptop is a good idea for the serious players out there. Try looking for one with at least 8GB of RAM and Ultra HD 4K visuals to be able to handle the real-time gameplay on online poker platforms.
Additionally, you might want to check out Poker Tracking Software. Not all online poker sites allow it, but for those that do, they may be invaluable tools to help assess your opponents by overlaying your online poker table with real-time stats.
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