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Understanding the Game
Basic Strategies
- Game Selection
- Position
- Hand Selection
- Understanding the Game
- Poker Actions
- Poker Tells
- Bluffing
Folding
The art of folding is possibly the hardest poker skill to learn. Knowing when to fold and when to call a bet is a very difficult decision, and with only 10 seconds to act online this decision is very pressured as well. A lot of practice makes this decision become much easier.
If you are convinced that your opponent has better cards, then you should fold, even if they bet only 1/100 of the pot. Folding hands like these consequently will save you money in the long term.
Better poker players tend to fold much more hands than they play.
Checking
Checking is normally a sign of weakness, but you can occasionally use it to "trap" an opponent into betting when you hold a strong hand. Normally however, it is used by players to see a free card. A hand that's not been completed should often be checked, this way you have the chance to see the next card for "free", although you will rarely be paid if you hit your flush this way, as flushes can't be disguised like straights.
After the river, if you don't know where you are in a pot, it is best to check your hand. This way you don't risk scarifying many of your chip stack if you happen to lose the hand.
Calling
Calling is a very similar action to checking. It may be best to call if somebody bets before you have completed your (drawing) hand, as you have the chance to make your hand with the next community card. By them betting they have showed a lot of strength, so it is possible you may be paid really good if you happen to "make" your hand. When you have seen the flop and you have not "connected", i.e. made a pair or better, it is best to fold to a bet rather then calling.
When your opponent bets after the river, and you're not sure whether you hold the strongest hand, it is wisely to just call. You should not call if your opponent has bet too large, since large bets regularly represent strength, and occasionally bluffs.
If you are positive that your opponent is bluffing, then making a small re-raise is advised so that he will shift in some more chips, as he is pot-committed and most likely will call. Folding would be best when not holding a premium hand.
Of course a call should always depend on the right pot odds, considering that you want a profitable poker career in the long term.
Ready to play free poker online?
Here is a selection of poker rooms to choose from. These four poker rooms are our most recommended poker rooms, but if you prefer to play somewhere else, we recommend that you have a look at our entire selection of online poker rooms.
