Top Ten Poker Tips

1. Know when to hold’em, and know when to fold’em

Most beginners play way too many starting hands; in fact top players typically play between 20-30% of their starting hands. When you're just starting out playing poker, you want to play poker, and that means staying in hands that aren't very good just to be part of the action. But playing more doesn't mean winning more – in fact it usually means losing more! Concentrate on higher value starting hands and help remove the luck element of the game.

2. Choose less skilful opponents

If you want to win money choose your opponents wisely. Although this sounds obvious you should play at the betting limits where you stand a better chance of beating the majority of players. Move down in limits if you are having difficulty winning money. Don’t be greedy and always leave your ego at the door.

3. Understand player position

Not only is it important to play strong hands, it is also important in what position you play them. For example, the ideal position is the Button - as you are last to act, and have the advantage of watching all of the betting action before you need to make a decision.
If the action before you consists of a bet, a raise, and then a re-raise, and you, say, hold a pair of Tens, you might think that folding is the right decision.

4. Be unpredictable

Variation and unpredictability can be advantageous. Most good players/professionals can spot a really loose player by waiting for the nuts and being patient. However, an even easier opponent is a tight player or “rock”, who plays only the Group 1 type hands. You need to change your game up, and let them see that you can run bluffs, and can play some lower value starting hands.

5. Don't bluff just for bluffing's sake

Although most poker novices understand that bluffing is a part of poker, they are unsure exactly how. There's is no set rule saying that one must bluff a certain amount of times - or at all during a game, but many players don't feel like they've won unless they've tried a poker bluff that’s worked. Bluffs only work in certain situations and against certain people, and if you know a player always calls to the showdown, it is literally impossible to bluff that player. It's better never to bluff than to bluff just for the hell of it.

6. Don't play when in the wrong frame of mind.

When you play poker, you shouldn't do it when your depressed, angry or simply having a bad day. You will start playing emotionally, not rationally -- and as a result you won't play your best. Likewise, if during a poker game, you lose a big hand or get sucked out on and feel yourself going on tilt, stand up & take a break until you feel calm later on. Good players will sense your mood and take advantage of it.

7. Watch your opponents carefully

Always watch your opponents, especially when you are not in a hand. Watch how opponents bet and how much they bet and in what position are they betting. Learning how your opponents play is key. If you know that one player always raises in a certain position, and another has a poker tell when he bluffs and a third folds to every re-raise, you can use that information to help you decide how to play against them.

8. Pick the right game for your skill level.

The main reason why you shouldn't jump into a $5/10 game after winning at $2/4 is because as the stakes rise, so will the average skill level of the players sitting there. You want to be one of the best players at the table and if you're making stacks of money at a lower level game, why move?

9. Don't Call at the End of a Hand.

It may be worth seeing if a player really has the hand to attempt to gain information that will help you later on in the game, but if you really feel a player has the hand he's representing and you're already beaten, why give him even more of your money? These types of bets will add up over the course of an evening.

10. Read books and take notes

Learn how be a better poker player. If possible try and keep notes on what works and does not work for you, and eventually you will come up with a style of playing that does work. Read as much as you can about the game and keep on the look out for online tips from the professional tournament players.