Its all well and good getting tips that cover the basics of poker, but what about those of us who are a little more advanced than that? What we need is tips from the top professionals who don't just play poker, but they make a living from it doing competitions and poker tournaments. These ten tips are from some of the biggest names in the poker game and all of them are well worth implementing...
10 - The Best Time to Minimum Raise is... (by: Kevin Hughes)
This is something a lot of players get wrong and to be honest it really does depend on the table you are playing at. If you plan to do it in an early position you really should have a strong hand and if you don't and someone else does it you should then play on with caution.
9 - Pot Totals Should Never Dictate What Hand You Have Because... (by: Will "BigT" Johnson)
A lot of beginners are always caught up on the hand they have and think it isn't worth going on. But the truth is you need to read the room. Try thinking about the pot total and the other player's reactions rather than the cards you have in hand.
8 - The Best Way To Play a Bad Hand is... (by: Liv Boeree)
A lot of players make the mistake of playing on and then trying to flip a bad hand, but the truth is if you raise from the get-go it is much more likely for the other players to fold thinking you have been dealt a strong hand. Playing on then raising can sometimes mean you are bluffing and you are much more likely to be duelled off.
7 - The Key To Playing Low Suited Connectors is...(by Kevin Barrow)
The key to playing low suited connectors is knowing that when you've missed the flop you should just get out even if it costs you a little bit. It is far better than bluffing and playing on as the risk of losing much more is higher. By doing this you also show you are willing to play on with any hand and that opens much better possibilities later on.
6 - The Best Way To Play Poker With a Low Budget is... (by: Mace Reed)
If you have a low budget there are two things that I would do. The first is to play cash games for just a few pennies. Or maybe low-ins poker tournaments because those will help you to enjoy the night rather than higher ins that will eat up your money quicker. By sticking to the lower ins you can ride out the bad luck times that even us top pros suffer from.
5 - You Can Spot a Players Tells by... (by: Jackie Redmond)
If you don't know anything about them personally you can always go by what they are wearing. Looking out for things like the cleanness of their nails, their hair and even how they smell. By looking for these signs you can guess what sort of player they are and how to play against them.
4 - You Should Always Act Last Because... (By: Sam Asrawi)
Being able to act last is a MASSIVE advantage that a lot of amateur poker players really don't appreciate. You get to read all the other players, know what you are playing against and make the last judgment call against that information. When you are playing poker last really is best.
3 - The Best Way To Play With an Aggressive Player on Your Left is... (by: Jordan Karry)
While it can be distracting you can also turn it into a bouns by setting up a lot of traps. By playing conservative and not opening as many pots, but when you do open a pot you should let the aggressive player do all the pushing rather than yourself. The softer you play the more likely you are to turn them into an advantage.
2 - You Should Never Fold Pocket Aces Because... (By: Danny Jones)
It is just silly talk to fold pocket aces before the flop, but if the flop comes bad like 7,8 & 10 you should always give them up as there is almost zero chance of being able to turn it around at that point. Like in all things poker related it is better to lose a little now and again than a lot in one go.
1 - When You Think You Should Raise or Fold... (By: Thomas Shall)
This is often a tell-tale sign the player is an amateur when they get the times they should raise or fold wrong. As a general rule of thumb, I would try and call when you think you need to raise or fold. Using calling as a weapon rather than a weakness. By calling you are not expressing your hand in any way. It could be seen as a strong hand or a weak one and makes you much harder to read either way.
