Online Poker ‘Do Nots’

Losing one's shirt in online poker is much easier than you probably realize. True, nobody wins all of the time. Still, any seasoned gambler will tell you it is that slight extra edge that separates the winners from the losers. So if you are playing online poker to score some serious dough, there are basic golden rules all players would be wise to adhere to.


Anyone, of course, can seat themselves at any of the online poker rooms on the Web today and compete for real money. However, not every player in going to win over the long term, which is, among other things, precisely what it takes to be successful. Thus, to start you off on the right foot, we have listed the top ten errors committed by typical poker buffs. Avoid these faux pas and you too may find your picture on the cover of poker mags the world over.


Do Not Reveal Your Cards
Lots of online poker rooms permit players to toss in their losing cards without revealing them. Doing so just clues your opponents in to your strategy.

Do Not Play All the Hands
Playing less hands then your opponent(s) actually gives you a certain advantage. Some statistics suggest merely 1 in every 5 poker hands proves profitable. Therefore, do not be afraid to fold.

Do Not Bluff Tooo Much
Over-bluffing just leads to problems. In the smaller stakes games you're way better off bluffing only when you are pretty sure your challengers will fold.

Do Not Blow Your Budget
Never seat yourself at a table with more money then you are prepared to burn. When gambling with a limited budget, steer clear of the higher stakes tables.

Do Not Lose Your Focus
Online poker rooms enable you to automatically 'raise' or 'call.' Unfortunately this can cause you to bet when you really ought not to. Always pay close attention to the playing action and only proceed AFTER you've reviewed your opponents' moves.

Do Not Talk a Lot
Divulging any details about your hand after a win or loss only serves your opponents' interests. Any poker "tell" is one too many. Thus, keep the online chat to a minimum.

Do Not Focus Solely on Your Cards
Prior to joining any table, first observe your opponents to get a feel for their styles. True, reading online poker players is more difficult than in actual poker rooms. However, watching how long a player pauses before betting says a lot about them.

Do Not Count Too Much on the Odds
Poker's a game of strategy and not numbers. Relying too much on those ubiquitous online poker calculators and too little on your cards only spells L.O.S.S. Stay ahead of the game by first mastering poker's fundamentals.

Do Not Play Indefinitely
Every poker player, like it or not, experiences bad-card streaks. Too many players continue playing even when they're on losing streaks. Assuming that the 'lucky cards' are just around the corner is a recipe for loss. Simply give it a rest and play again tomorrow.

Do Not Play When You Cannot Win
Whenever you are behind in a hand, you're generally better off just folding. Even when you are holding an ace and king, if nothing comes for you in the flop and another player is raising, odds are good he/she has taken an advantage. Don't be afraid to fold.

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