Playing poker is a game of skill rather than chance so it is possible to learn to become a great poker player. However, it requires hard work and dedication to become a pro. Follow these tips if you want to master the game and become an amazing poker player. 

Stay Focused

One of the most important things you can do when playing poker is to stay focused. Playing a live online game can take a long time, especially if there are a lot of people in the game or you are playing for high stakes. You will make silly mistakes if you take your eye off the game, and you can’t hope to know what is going on around you if you do not stay focused. This is the best way of mastering the game and it also means that you can pick up hints and tips from those around you and improve your own game while you are playing. Understanding your opponent’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as your own, is the key to having a great game. 

Study Form

Studying is the best way to get good at anything and playing poker is no exception. There are literally hundreds of card games that you can play in a game of poker, so start with one or two that you want to master and work your way up from there. Reading books or watching online demos are great ways to learn the tricks of the trade but it is worth remembering that playing poker is as much a game of psychology as cards so study that too. It is also a great idea to watch a few games and not be tempted to play every hand yourself. You will learn a lot, especially if you watch people who are already good at the game. 

Play More Than One Game

If you go to a bricks-and-mortar casino, you will only be given the chance to play one game at a time. You can’t be in two places at once when you are there in person after all. However, that is not the case when you play online with a site such as Play Live, South Africa’s largest online casino. At Play Live, you can play many games at the same time, adding to the excitement of the game. This is a great strategy if you are an experienced online poker because it means that your chances of winning are higher, but this also means that the potential losses are higher too. You can’t hope to stay focused on more than one game at a time when you start though, so concentrate on mastering the game before you use this technique. 

Play Your Own Game

You should be very aware of what your opposition is doing but don’t let that put you off playing your own game. From the outset, you should be thinking about the strategies you need to use to win the game and how to play each hand according to your game plan. Make good decisions for yourself and the rest will follow. 

Don’t Let Others Put You Off

It is easy to get psyched out by other players, especially if you are playing someone more experienced than you. Your opponents will use your emotions against you if you let them and this can result in your ability to play being negatively affected which will cost you money. Try not to show your emotions and remember that if you play live online poker, you can always walk away from the table and take a break when you need to.

Don’t Gamble More Than You Can Afford to Lose

Gambling more than you can afford to lose is a bad idea although it can be easy to get carried away once you have started playing a game. To avoid this, set a budget at the outset and stick to it. Remember that, if you bet big, you may not be able to spend as long at the poker table as you might like to but, if you bet small, your wallet will last for longer. Many professional players do not bet more than 5% of their wallets at any one time for this reason. 

Pick the Right Game

There are so many poker games to choose from that it can be difficult to know which one to play when you are new to the game. Many people start by playing for small stakes so that they can learn the game and then move up once they get good at it. This strategy may work for some people, but you should remember that, the higher the stakes, the more professional and experienced your opponents are likely to be. Sometimes, it is better to be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big pond, especially if you want to win.

Follow these seven tips for mastering poker and you will be winning hands before you know it.