Poker Articles

This article was written by Andrew Wiggins, AKA "Muddywater."

Over the past few years, many online poker players have enjoyed the luxury of playing poker for fun while making money at the same time. However, with the ever changing landscape of online poker, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to win without taking a disciplined approach to the game. Many players do not employ all available options to improve their chances of winning.

With the makeup of the games today, you must use every advantage possible to realize and maximize wins. Some may seem obvious, but they are often taken for granted. This article is meant to be a reminder for those that have become lazy and for those that have not done everything possible to gain an edge. 

The most obvious advantage one can gain is playing in a favorable environment. This is fairly easy for new players. These players are uncomfortable multi-tabling and typically enthralled by the new experience of online poker. On the other hand, players who have been grinding online games for a prolonged period of time may find it more difficult. Veteran players often get bored with the endless hours at the tables and therefore do not fully concentrate. It is essential to eliminate anything that can be a distraction while playing. Some common distractions are browsing the internet, talking on an instant messenger service, or watching TV. If a person is not completely focusing on their games, valuable information will be missed. When you are playing poker to make money, you should treat the game like a job. Poker won’t always be the most enjoyable thing you could be doing, but it’s probably the most profitable.

Two other beneficial additions to one’s playing experience are PokerTracker and a display such as PAHud or Gametime+. Players can easily get lazy and stop referring to their PokerTracker or loading up their PAHud before a session. There is no reason not to use these every session you play. It’s impossible to keep track of all your opponents. Any added information on an opponent will help your chances of winning. In addition, PokerTracker provides an unparalleled tool to allow one to analyze their game. Poker players are infamous for thinking they are bigger winners than they are. PokerTracker keeps people honest about their results. The win rates that were attainable in the past are not as reasonable any more. Everyone must come to the realization that games have gotten harder, and they must adjust accordingly.

Every serious player should review important hands after every session. Doing this is one of the best ways to improve as a player. It is inevitable that you will have difficult and defining hands every session you play. It’s impossible to always play every hand correctly, and there is often more than one way to play a hand. Taking 10-15 minutes to review your hands will help your game immensely. Furthermore, it’s very beneficial to get the input of respected peers and to post hands on message boards. The more diverse perspectives you can get, the more your understanding of the game will grow.

These are all things that every good player knows. It is just too easy to get out of the habit of actually performing all these tasks. There are up and coming players that are likely playing more than you while taking the game more seriously. These players can make up for lost time fast and obtain an edge. As long as you are playing the game for money and not solely for fun, you should do everything in your power to maintain your advantage. Be honest with yourself, and take a look at your game. Make sure you are completing every requirement to ensure your dominance.