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[Tuesday, July 29, 2008]
Knowing the terms and skills needed to play poker is a must, regardless of whether you are going to play a hand online or in a live poker room.
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Occasionally you run into something that makes you stop and wonder what it is.
Understanding the terms of the game and mastering the basic skills you need to play is key to winning. You need to know the terms before you can master the skills you need. This is one distinct advantage of playing poker online. You can learn everything you need to know before ever stepping foot into a live casino.
Let's start off by discussing what a blind is. A blind is a forced bet that players must make in place of an ante and is usually used when playing Texas Hold'Em poker. There are two blinds in the game; the small blind and the big blind. When sitting at a poker table, the person to the dealer's left pays the small blind. The person sitting to the left of the player paying the small blind pays the big blind. Texas Hold'Em poker also uses community cards. These are the cards laid face up in the middle of the table that all the players use to make their hands. There are usually five cards laid out and the first three cards are referred to as the flop.
A draw is when you need to improve the cards in your hand. Deciding whether or not to draw is determined by what is on the table and what is in your hand. If you have nothing usable in your hand and one on the table, then you can draw a card. These cards are called 'outs'. After players stand or draw, two more cards are laid on the table; the 'turn' which is card number four, and the 'river' which is the fifth and last card dealt.
These are the basic terms you should know when playing poker. It takes skill, however, to be a good poker player. You should be good at basic math and probability, be disciplined, be able to read other people, and be willing to take a risk in order to reap the benefits of winning the hand.
Math skills - especially probability - are important to figure out how outs work and the chances that must be taken in order to improve a hand. To figure out whether or not you have a good chance of hitting your out card, you need to count how many outs you need overall to get a good hand. Multiply that number by two, add one, and you have your percentage. If you do not have a good percentage but want to play the hand out, then you are going to need to bluff the other players. Practice is how you determine your outs and being able to make realistic bets.
Folding your hand is another thing you need to learn. There are times when you should fold and times to stand and play what you have. You are going to make mistakes and if you learn from them, you'll start to win more money than you lose. Being disciplined when you play is also key to playing a good hand of poker. It takes time to learn how to play poker and be good at it. Once you have honed your skills, start with low stake games. With patience and practice, you'll be winning hands in no time.
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