Learning how to play online poker is easier than you think.  If you know the basic rules and mechanics of poker, then you will not have any problem playing online.

In fact, online poker is much simpler, faster, and intuitive because the dealer button is moving automatically, you do not have to compute the pot, and you do not have to count your chips to make a bet.  Everything is programmed by the software so all you have to do is to make a decision by clicking the check, call/raise, or fold command.

The Basics of Online Poker

There are two ways to play online poker.  First, you can download the client software of any reputable poker room and create a player account so that you can start playing at the virtual tables.  Another option is to play directly on your browser without downloading the software.  There are several popular poker rooms with web based poker rooms.

When you join an online poker table to play Texas Holdem for example, the format of the virtual room would be similar to real tables.  Simply pick an available seat so that you can participate in the game.  Of course, you need to fund your account so that you can play real money games.  If you want to practice, then you can play for fun or join an unrestricted freeroll.

What You Need to Do During Online Game

After taking your seat, you will find several command buttons at the bottom of your screen.  These include the check, call, and fold buttons.  If it is your turn to take an action, just click any of the available buttons.

So if you want to check or call/raise, just click these buttons.  A slider is usually available to increase your bet.  Simply move the slider to your right to increase the bet and hit the raise button.  If you have crappy hole cards, then click the fold button and your cards will be folded.

If you want to auto-post blinds and to auto-muck your hands, then tick the appropriate boxes for these commands.  The muck and post-blinds boxes are usually located near the main control buttons or at the side of the screen.

Not all poker clients or software are the same.  So you should expect different types of interface for different online poker rooms.  However, the description above is generally applicable for all online poker rooms.

Winning at Online Poker

Learning how to play online poker also involves learning how to win at the tables.  Here is a valuable hint for you.  Remember that the majority of online poker players are amateurs.  They usually play like mad men making unbelievable bets and pushing all-ins all the time.

The key is to be patient and wait for your monster hand.  Lure the fishes to your trap so that you can take down lucrative pots.  It is not difficult to learn how to play online poker.  Just keep your cool and wait for great opportunities.  Study the betting patterns of other players to master the game and become a poker pro someday.

Tells are one of the most important aspects of poker. They are a big part of the game and very important to get clues and hints about the cards that your opponents hold.

A good poker player knows that the amount of money that his opponent bets on has nothing to do with his cards and that in order to evaluate his opponents situation he must spot tells.

A good experienced player can gather lots of information from tells. Tells are signs that reveal information in many different ways, good players know how to spot them and how to use the information that they revealed for their own benefit.

Another important advantage of knowing how to pick up tells is the ability to avoid giving away your own tells. If you know how common players reveal information by tells you can try to look at yourself while playing and to notice what kind of tells you give and by that to learn how to monitor and avoid it.

There are many tells that experienced poker players can read. Tells are very idiosyncratic so in order to know exactly how to read a player’s tell you have to play with the specific player for a long time. In the long run you’ll realize that you’re familiar with your friend’s tells and that you can read them like an open book, but if you’re playing against new opponents in all sorts of poker rooms, here are some of the things that you should look for.

The first thing that you have to look at is the eyes. If you’ll watch professional poker tournaments you’ll notice that many poker pros are playing with sunglasses or visors. This is because the eyes can reveal lots of information about one’s cards.

Take a good look at your opponent’s eyes, learn how he reacts to different situations and you’ll now how to read his tells.

You can also learn a lot from the facial expression on your opponents’ face. You can tell if a player is nervous or eager if he has specific facial expressions or ‘tics’ and you can look for specific smiles or concern if the hands are good or bad.

Look for certain body gestures that can hint on a specific hand. Look for signs of anxiety or distress. There are stimulus responses that even the most experienced players cannot hide, so try to look for those physical changes and to study how the other players respond to different situations.

Try to look for eye pupil dilations, signs of dry throat, sweat, trembling hands and flexing of muscles and changes in the body gestures.

Other things that you have to look for are a repetitive glance at the player’s chips which might indicate a subconscious reaction to different situations at the poker table. Another thing is that you have to look for is the way the players stack their chips. If you notice a different pattern of stacking it might indicate that the player is under pressure or eager to make his move and win the hand.

There are many different tells that can indicate different reactions to situations at the poker table, but you must remember that you cannot count only on tells and you should use other poker strategies if you want to be a better player. Tells can provide valuable information, but serious players know that this is not enough for the game.

Ask yourself a simple question: Do you think that players like Daniel Negreanu, Annie Duke, Chris Ferguson, Phil Hellmuth, Kathy Liebert or Phil Ivey got to be the consistent winners that they are today by luck? Not a chance! They combine grueling hours of grinding it out at the tables with even more practice, and they dedicate themselves to staying at the top of their game and keeping their minds sharp by studying from the master poker teachers. So, what did they learn?

How to read a table.

Is your opponent bluffing? Can she read your tell – the one that you didn’t think you had? Do you have command over this significant aspect of the game that falls into the “skills” category, and makes the difference between a winning player and a losing one, in both the short-term and long run?

The rules to winning.

There are four basic rules for winning at any game of poker. Obey the rules, and you often go home a winner; break them, and you’re likely to go home a loser. When you know the rules of Texas Hold ‘Em, you can easily make the decision about whether to stay and see the flop or fold, based on your two hole cards.

How to be flexible.

Today’s youth have greatly changed the face of poker in more ways than one, not the least of which is that on average young players come to the table more analytically sound than the average player just five years ago. So whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned veteran of the game, you’ve got to keep up with what these “kids” are bringing to the table, or their book learnin’ could just trump your Ace and Eights. Learn how to combine a strong theoretical foundation with a flexible mindset, so you can stay ahead of the curve

Think you can make it as a poker pro?

Besides the fact that there’s a significant challenge to consistently earning enough money at poker to give up your day job, the explosion of poker’s presence in the public eye has affected the lives of pro players in ways that you’ve got to know about if you desire to play that game.

As WSOP season kicks off, legions of amateur poker hopefuls are gathering every bit of knowledge they can in order to break through to the top ranks.

The hopes of poker players who long to forego the dreaded nine-to-five work routine in favour of making their way through life as professional poker players certainly brim over this time of year. After all, what could be better than being your own boss, booting your alarm clock out the front door, experiencing unlimited travel opportunity and playing a game that most of us love as your occupation? If only life were that simple.

The explosion of poker tournaments has led to, as Mike Sexton often states, “The creation of a new millionaire on each World Poker Tour show.” Of course, viewers should realise the WPT victor emerges from a huge field where approximately 90 percent of the entrants lose their buy-in. In the ring game arena, only about 5 percent of all who embark down the path to becoming successful professional cash-game players will arrive at their destination.

Outside financial responsibilities, inability to handle one’s emotions during long dry spells and constant pressure are common roadblocks that derail even excellent players who attempt to live the poker dream. Let’s examine a few things to consider before turning pro.

The Good News

Should you choose to make a commitment to poker, it’s always reversible. Nothing says you can’t start with a small bankroll and give poker a shot. If your poker wallet begins to burst at the seams, stand back Phil Hellmuth Jr. If you experience diminishing returns over your designated test period, assuming you’re employable, at least you’ll have no regrets when you abandon the poker ship and return to playing recreationally and getting on those working-stiff shoes again.

Common Pro Attributes

I’ve discussed professional poker with more than 20 top players. Here are several common traits that I believe form the foundation of their success:

Intelligence—not all are book smart along the lines of Andy Bloch and Brandon Adams, but in general prosperous professionals display the ability to think logically and separate important details from actions that a second-rate player might deem more meaningful. Poker Students—a common thread that runs through accomplished players is a thirst for learning. None seems complacent when it comes to thinking about game strategy, amassing and studying written material and frequently discussing poker with peers. Most are consumed with self-assessment; determined to plug even the smallest leak in their games.  Mental Preparation—having typically survived one or more fiscal chasms, thriving pros incorporate action plans that are designed to champion cerebral calmness and clarity.  Risk Takers—as we know, poker often rewards aggressive, borderline dangerous play. Tournament announcers often say winners display ‘heart’. Playing poker as one’s livelihood involves being comfortable with moving meaningful amounts of chips and living a life of ups and downs emotionally and financially. Successful professionals have developed philosophical outlooks that enable them to ride these tidal waves.

Bankroll Needs

How much does one need to enter the starting gate? I recommend beginning with at least 250 times the big bet if you are playing limit games. For example, a $15-$30 Texas hold ‘em professional should be able to play comfortably with a $7,500 beginning bankroll. For no-limit players, I suggest 30 minimal buy-ins. So, for a $2-$5 no-limit hold ‘em game where the minimum starting stack is $200, I’d play behind a $6,000 bankroll. A super-aggressive player might increase these requirements since she will experience greater highs and lows than a more conservative competitor. Of course, if you keep accurate records (as you should), you would adjust these guidelines based on your historical performance. Most importantly, your poker grubstake should be separated from funds required for food, rent and other necessities (discussed below).

Normal Needs

When I worked nine-to-five (as a manager with a telecommunications company), my employer provided disability, medical and dental coverage. My company also funded my retirement pension and gave me a life insurance policy. My consistent, reportable income and lifestyle allowed me to obtain a good credit rating and a mortgage for a home purchase. Poker players must pay for insurance needs and fund their retirements from winnings, or go without these necessities. I have heard several sad stories about a professional’s life savings evaporating after encountering severe medical problems. Several have left their families on weak fiscal legs by eschewing life insurance, and then dying early. If poker becomes your chosen livelihood, you must implement contingencies to combat financial ruin for you and your family.

Cash Games versus Tournaments

I suggest beginning professionals forego tournament poker until accumulating a large bankroll.

Cash games offer control over your time commitment. When entering a tournament, you may play for 12 hours, or get knocked out during the first level. The longer one sits at a tourney table, the more difficult it becomes to maintain optimum focus. Coincidentally, at the end of long tournament days when the blinds and antes have escalated, players must often make critical decisions. Live game competitors handle stamina issues with ease; when fatigued they cash in and go home. Cash-game record keeping is simple and virtually audit proof. (Big government has no way of monitoring one’s wins and losses in ring games.)

While your tournament results will be highly erratic when compared to charting your ring game wins and losses, that doesn’t mean you won’t be subject to sustained losing periods when playing cash games. Your emotional stability and discipline will forever be tested during these slumps, as long as you pursue a career in poker.

Originally Written for Online Gambling Magazine.

To have the life of a professional poker player is a dream most people have when they learn poker. They fantasize about their desired career constantly: getting to decide when they work, having their favorite game as their own job, traveling and exploring new places everytime there is a tournament. The best part of it all is that with poker, one can earn millions — that certainly is a high income that one can garner just from playing a card game. However, most don’t realize that in order to achieve that sort of goal, they cannot just learn poker like anyone else. They have to master it, and learn the strategies that professionals use, aside from developing their own.

Anyone can become a professional poker player, for there are no real requirements to become one. People who learn poker and play it often can already call themselves professional poker players, despite having lost ten times in a row. Only the poker player can give himself that title if they truly wish to do so. One may choose to become a professional poker player if they feel that they are truly gifted at it and can earn money from it than from any other job. Also, he or she must be extremely dedicated to the game, and therefore should be prepared to play it for hours on end each day, without getting tired or bored of it.

Some also learn poker and eventually come to love the poker lifestyle, choosing that as the main reason for wanting to play the game professionally. They realize that poker will not earn them much, but do it anyway because of their love for it. Very few people actually rely on poker to get them through life, and do have several other jobs while participating in competitions.

As a professional poker player, one is essentially a businessman with the goal of maximizing his or her profits through various poker games. He or she must dedicate many hours to playing, and has to have a monetary goal that should be reached every hour. The best way to earn money is to play with people who aren’t as serious about the game. This way, one will have the edge over others. Professional tournament poker players learn poker and present their own skills in competitions. However, it is much harder to compete in tournaments because every other competitor is also as determined to win and has a lot more strategies than the average poker player. This makes it much more difficult to one.

There are, of course, certain disadvantages for one who decides to become a pro at poker. First of all, it’s not a social activity, especially for those who compete over the internet. Secondly, poker can quickly become boring, because it is essentially all about studying one’s own cards and trying to get a good hand. Thirdly, poker is not considered a real job by many, and a professional poker player is sometimes only seen as an entertainer and is looked down on by the rest of society. This shows that people who learn poker should be completely aware of how much they are willing to give up in order to play.

Slot machine features

The machines’ reels are quite simply spinning wheels with symbols printed on them. When you hit the Spin button, the reels spin around before eventually coming to a stop in a particular position showing a symbol.

The symbols are often related to the slot machine game’s theme. Common symbols include cherries and playing cards.

The payline is the line that runs across the reels when they have stopped. The payline may run horizontally, diagonally, or in a zigzag fashion. When you bet on a specific payline, you “enable” the payline. You will win your game of slots when the winning symbols are displayed on the payline that you have enabled.

Slot machine types

The two main types of slot machine are classic slots and video slots. Fruit machines fall under the category of classic slots. Classic slots, also referred to as reel slots, are three-reel slot machines. On a computer screen, they exhibit a curved, 3-D appearance and have one, three or five paylines. Video slots are five-reel slot machines. On a computer screen, they appear flat. They feature a minimum of five paylines.

How to fund slot machine gameplay

You will need to carefully consider the amount of money you are willing to spend during your gameplay and where this money will come from. Acquiring free casino money to play the slots online is the easiest way in which to learn the slots without spending a cent. Virtually every online casino offers players free cash as an incentive to register with them. These bonuses could be worth up to four times your initial deposit. After making your initial deposit, look out for further free cash bonuses. Some casinos offer free cash to play with, each time you top up your casino account funds.

How to bet

Before you begin to play the slots, you must make three important decisions relating to the coin value, the number of coins per line, and the number of paylines enabled. If you opt for a coin value of $0.25 and you select four coins, you will be betting $1.00 on each payline you enable. If you then select a total of two paylines, your total wager will work out at $2.00 per spin.

How to set limits

When playing the slots, setting limits is an essential part of fund management. A losing limit can prevent you from spending more money than you intended to spend, while a winning limit will allow you to know when it is wise to stop playing. Failing to set and adhere to these limits could result in financial problems arising if you do not possess a strong will and find it difficult to stop yourself gambling.

How to win

You will win your game of slots when the winning combination of symbols features on your enabled payline. If you enable multiple paylines, you may win on one or more different paylines.

Each slot machine features a payout schedule. You should look at this schedule to learn the combinations of symbols and the amount that you will win should you be successful. However, in the event that you win, you need not do anything, as the casino will automatically add the winning amount to your account balance.

If you are playing slots in a casino it is wise to note which of the machines have been heavily played but have not recently paid out.  When such a machine becomes free, play on it straightaway, as it will improve your chances of a win.

Best Poker Strategies for Newcomers

When you enter the world of online poker, it is a good idea to put some basic strategies in place to give structure to your game play and allow you to discover the nuances of the game without it becoming confusing or spiraling out of control. Rookie poker players might want to consider implementing the following:-

• Set your bankroll and stick to it – this is one of the most important rules of stakes gaming. Set a figure you can afford and play within that limit. Use bonuses such as those available from partypokerbonuscodes.com to top up initial deposits and choose low buy in games in the early stages.
• Learn the top ten best poker hands off by heart. Decide to bet only these hands initially, to stop you from second guessing yourself. This will allow you to get a feel for the flow of play without becoming distracted by the initial decision making. As you progress as a player, you will be able to judge what other hands to play more instinctively. Other aspects of the game will also begin to come naturally.

How can you Play Poker Like a Pro?

If you find you have an affinity for the game, you will want to (pardon the pun) up the ante a little. Moving forward into more intermediate strategies, players will want to ensure that they can accurately calculate both pot and implied odds for any given hand to give them a mathematical formula on which to base their bets. It is also a good idea to begin to introduce elements of psychological play as you progress, although it is important to be aware that practices such as check raising are not welcome at all tables and may earn you a reputation amongst other players.

Who Should be Your Poker Role Models?

In 2011 there are a number of great poker players on the scene that aspiring pros can look to for instruction and inspiration. Consider studying the style of these top 2011 players:

• Erik Seidel – This veteran of the poker scene learned the ins and outs of game play and gambling with competitive backgammon and a career in the stock market before turning poker pro, a move that netted him a cool $3m in cash outs so far this year.
• Galen Hall – Galen took up internet poker as a hobby, while studying as an undergraduate. Just two years after arriving on the pro poker scene, he has also cashed out in excess of $3m in tournament play.