ONLINE POKER STRATEGY
We'll begin by talking about 10-handed texas hold 'em (by far the most popular game on the internet, especially limit hold 'em). Then we'll cover the best strategy for five-handed games and finally we'll talk about 'heads up' hold 'em games.
In online limit hold 'em, it is a fast moving gamefor a fast moving society as players seem to move in and out of games more quickly. Sometimes playing in their lunch breaks, or squeezing in an hour of play before dinner which makes tables line ups change frequently with little chance to figure out how a certain player plays or if there are and patterns in their play. You then need to identify what type of players they are in general terms. Are they crazy and unpredictable, calling station, tight player or skillful and very tough. Pay extra attention to hands where cards are shown at the end of a pot and identify how they played the hand and identify through the information you receive what type of player this individual is and play them accordingly. You will also be able to identify what type of players are through the number of pots they play and add this to the information you receive throught he hands they show. For example, if you notice a certain player hasn't played a hand or got involved in a pot in a while, the early evidence shows that this player could possibly be a tight player who plays very conservatively. Obviously, the same applies to the players that are playing you online. They only know about you what you let them know through your play. At this point, one thing that could be important to all forms of poker including online play is:
'don't give people extra information they are not entitled too. ie only show your cards when they need to be seen.'
The time where showing your cards could be benificial is when you could show your strong starting hands to give the impression you are a very tight player where this would allow you to bluff more pots successfully but until you ae an experienced player it is best not to give your opponents any extra information. Also, be aware that in lower-limit games, it is very hard to bluff someone out of the pot at the end due to the small price they have to pay to call you.
Other things to watch for include the amount of time a player takes to make a decision. A 'good' online tell is wheather or not a player bets his hand right away. Occasionaly you can work out if a quick bet means abig hand or a bluff. A quick bet is usually a sign of weakness and a slow bet is a sign of strength.
Love it or hate it, the internet has made an indelible mark on the poker landscape. More people are learning about poker and playing it because of the ease of access to learning tools and free or low-stakes games online. And it seems there won't be any turning back...the internet is here to stay.
Select for 10 handed limit games, 5 handed games or heads up limit hold 'em strategy:
10 handed strategy
5 handed strategy
heads up limit strategy
If you would like online strategy for other forms of poker, simply follow the sections on beginners strategy in each gane in the 'How to play poker' section.
