Online poker tournaments are skyrocketing in popularity due to reasons ranging from low buyins into major tournaments for a fraction of their usual cost to those who do not live within driving distance of a land based poker room. (And of course another factor is the money that can be won.) The Internet has changed where and when one can play. This revolution in how the game is played has resulted in millions of dollars being placed into online poker tournaments and satellite poker tournaments, with more opportunities on the Net coming up each week.
Poker as a "sport" is widely enjoyed by millions around the world due to the necessary level of quick thinking, skill and challenge of the game. For those who don't understand, what makes it a game of skill is this, the element of luck is in the draw of the cards, but the skill is in how those cards are played. Too many times on televised tournaments you can see extremely bad hands winning because of how the hands were handled in a case-by-case situation by the player. Anyone can get lucky for a good run or even enough to win a tournament, but over time the skill level of a player will reflect their number of victories and the amount of winnings taken home.
What fundamentals does a poker player need to know before playing tournaments over the Internet? Here are some tips:
Make sure you are ready. Practice in regular play over the Internet as much as possible. This is what lets you gain years of playing experience in a matter of months. Many young players in their 20's are doing well against top players and this is one of the big ways of how they get their knowledge so fast.
Take the time to invest in learning strategies, techniques and how to read players. Purchasing a few books written by experienced top players is a better investment than playing at a table without an idea of what is going on. Combining the two will enable you to play a solid game and wait for others to make mistakes and bust out. And know how to adjust your playing strategy when the blinds increase.
Surrender in order to survive. It does not make sense to play marginal hands in a tournament if you don't have to. Unless you know you have a winning hand, it may be wiser to fold. The chips you save may help you to win a larger amount when you get a superior hand. For the first few rounds in a tournament, you are trying to survive while others are being eliminated.
Take the time to understand when a player is "pot committed". When a player is pot committed, they have so much invested that it makes it hard to back away from folding or putting more chips in. Knowing to watch for this will enable you to put on more pressure when you know you have a superior hand. It should also help you know when to abandon a hand so that you do not place yourself in a situation when it becomes hard to back away.
Finally, keep a written record to track your play and earnings. It will help you to focus in order to become a better player. This lets you stay on track and forces you to ask yourself if you are playing the best game you can play.
Tom Howze is a webmaster for 7 sites that relate to online gambling, World Series of Poker and World Poker Tour events and updates. For more information, please visit 2005 World Series of Poker . He can be reached at webmaster@justgambleforfree.com for questions.
Is your lack of confidence hurting your poker profits in... Read More
Pssst...! Wanna know a secret?How about the secret of laying... Read More
Stu Ungar is considered by most to the greatest No... Read More
Well folks, here we are. It's August 13 as I... Read More
Do you have what it takes to become a successful... Read More
When playing poker we are constantly required to make decisions.... Read More
TRAVEL- The following is my penny pinchers guide to Las... Read More
There are really two main options to owning a casino... Read More
The role of a 'bookie', the common name of the... Read More
The Texas Hold'em poker phenomenon has taken the country by... Read More
The state of online gambling may have just found another... Read More
'Blackjack' is one of the oldest games played in United... Read More
Gambling became popular in China in the last phase of... Read More
It is in one's best interest to know all your... Read More
Online poker is a very popular virtual casinos game where... Read More
Many players seek to increase their chances of winning at... Read More
There's no secret that poker is taking the world by... Read More
Underdog or favorite? It's a choice we make everyday throughout... Read More
Many people believe professional-level sports bettors win at least 60%... Read More
Poker tables come in al shapes, sizes and prices.Folding poker... Read More
Video poker is an easy game to learn to play... Read More
No deposit bonuses are very popular, especially among "not-so-wealthy" online... Read More
Poker is one of the world's all time favorite gambling... Read More
The 2005 World Series of Poker event is scheduled to... Read More
Although no one will ever truly know where the casinos... Read More
When you play poker online, you have options available that... Read More
Are you puzzled by the workings of online Casino bonuses,... Read More
There are several online poker rooms that offer Poker games... Read More
Looking to find out what kind of games can be... Read More
Add bad poker players to your buddy listPlaying poker is... Read More
To be successful at poker you should, at any time... Read More
A trip that will always be remembered is the one... Read More
His palms are sweaty and his heart is racing, but... Read More
Pssst...! Wanna know a secret?How about the secret of converting... Read More
Coin in - spin - hold your breath......Watch those symbols.....Will... Read More
When you play poker online, you have options available that... Read More
The first thing one needs to do before they even... Read More
It should come as no surprise that Texas Hold 'em... Read More
'Keno' is a well known game nowadays. It is frequently... Read More
Looking to find out what kind of games can be... Read More
Online poker tournaments are skyrocketing in popularity due to reasons... Read More
A compulsive gambler who participated in Gamblers Anonymous program shared... Read More
Pssst...! Wanna know a secret?How about the secrets of basic... Read More
Tip One: Mix Up Your Play: Once you have mastered... Read More
This article is about how you can evaluate the power... Read More
Over the past few months there has been a significant... Read More
This is the second in the Texas Holdem Strategy Series,... Read More
Craps is the fastest - and certainly the loudest -... Read More
There are three basic types of video poker machines:* Jacks... Read More
An overall review of online casino software has led me... Read More
The first ever recorded sports bets, took place on 10... Read More
Gaming chips have been made from a wide range of... Read More
Even though they look pretty much the same and they're... Read More
As many experts have said, poker is a game that... Read More
Pssst...! Wanna know a secret?How about the secret to remembering... Read More
Bonuscodes for Party Poker are a great way to get... Read More
Everyone who plays Texas Holdem knows that Ace-King is one... Read More
Poker's new upsurge in popularity in is due to televised... Read More
Very common and popular system among newbies who like roulette,... Read More
Most people know the answer to this question. You don't... Read More
Since the emergence of a few online casinos in 1996,... Read More
Underdog or favorite? It's a choice we make everyday throughout... Read More
How To Extend Your Stay & Play At A Casino... Read More
Pssst...! Wanna know a secret?How about the secret of protecting... Read More
If I had a lottery ticket for every time I've... Read More
It goes without saying but we'll say it anyway: the... Read More
Casino & Gambling |