Poker is a type of game that takes only minutes to learn, but a lifetime to master. It’s a game of skill, patience, discipline, and continuous learning. If you’re serious about becoming a top-level poker player, you need more than just good cards.
In this latest poker learning report, I will share some proven poker strategies to get very good at poker.
1. Put in Volume
Putting in volume in poker means playing more. To become better at poker, you have to keep playing consistently. In poker, you can’t control certain things, like luck. You might have pocket aces, but your opponent wins with seven-deuce. That’s called variance. By playing more poker tournaments and hands, you reduce the impact of variance over time.
I’ve seen players participating in online tournaments while simultaneously playing a hand in a live poker game. Some online pros even play over eight tables at once to keep themselves busy. As a beginner, it might be hard to play more than one table, so I suggest you hone your skills first before attempting multi-tabling. You can start by playing multiple freerolls and satellite tournaments at the same time.
You may have seen players scoring six-figure wins, but those results come from putting in serious volume, and not by playing one tournament a day.
2. Study the Game
Studying is a vital part of poker. It’s a game that evolves very quickly, and you need to keep up. Studying means practicing, analyzing your play, fixing mistakes, and constantly improving your strategy.
Choose a specific area of your game to focus on, such as pre-flop ranges, post-flop play, bluffing, or decision-making. As a beginner, this might feel overwhelming, so start by watching YouTube videos.
Jonathan Little’s and BenCB’s YouTube channels are goldmines for beginners. I personally learned a lot by watching their free videos. You can also use GTO Wizard, a tool used by many poker pros. In addition, try joining free poker study groups where you can get advice and feedback from more experienced players.
3. Watch Others Play
One of the best ways to improve at anything is to learn from the best. This doesn’t mean copying everything they do; it means understanding why they do it. The seven-time bracelet winner Daniel Negreanu suggested in one of his videos to watch poker live streams.
In particular, watch online players’ streams. By observing them, you’ll learn how they handle different situations — short stacks, early stages, late stages, and ICM pressure. You can apply these strategies to your own game. Plus, many streamers interact with their viewers, so you can ask questions and get real-time insights.
4. Bankroll Management
Bankroll management is one of the most challenging aspects of poker. It’s difficult because the temptation to play in high-stakes tournaments is strong, but doing so recklessly can destroy your bankroll.
You can’t risk all your money to enter a high roller event. That kind of decision is reckless and will damage your bankroll, possibly forcing you to move down in stakes. Be disciplined. Stick to playing within your limits and use a proper bankroll management strategy to ensure long-term success.
5. Control Your Emotions
Poker is a mental game as it is a strategic one. No matter how skilled you are, if you can’t control your emotions, you’ll struggle to perform consistently. One of the biggest challenges in poker is dealing with tilt, the frustration or emotional distress that can lead to poor decisions at the table.
You might face a bad beat where your opponent hits a lucky river card, or you may go card-dead for hours. These situations can push you to play hands you shouldn’t or bluff in spots that don’t make sense, just because you’re emotionally upset. That’s tilt, and it kills bankrolls.
Keep following PokerProNews for more such inspiring and informative articles ahead!
