So you’ve caught a glimpse of a poker tournament online, or maybe you’ve watched Casino Royale too many times! But whatever the reason, you’ve caught the poker bug, and now you’re ready for some action!

The first thing to know about poker is that playing poker is gambling. You are more than likely going to lose some money before you win some money, especially if you start playing like a hot shot without really knowing what the hell you’re doing. But that’s why you’re here! To learn a little bit before you start!

Poker at it’s routes is a game of chance. But most good poker players will tell you that it’s incredibly important to know how to read your opponent as well. Even more important then this, however, is knowing the rules. A good guide to the rules of poker is available here. Here’s some tips to  help you take your first steps into the game of poker and hopefully win some money.

• Play with your head, not with your heart. This is the most important advice anyone can give you. You will not consistently win if you play emotionally. What this means is you do not want to chase your losses, or have it out for one individual player. Play your hand smart, and always keep an eye on what the first three table cards are (called the flop) because those generally make or break your hand.

• Don’t raise too high, too fast. Everyone’s excited when their dealt pocket aces, but a good poker player will watch how much they bet on the first round of betting. If you bet too high, your opponents will know that a.) You have been dealt a high hand and b.) that you’re not very experienced, because you just gave away what you have! Betting is just as important as your poker face. Bet conservatively at the beginning if you want to keep other players in, thus boosting the value of the pot. More players in = more money in the pot. Very simple. Also, high pairs are not as strong a hand as you might think.

• Raise if the chances are good you’ll hit a high hand. Generally, it’s a bad idea to put much money in the pot early if you’re dealt a high hand. Inversely, if you’re going “chasing” (the term for hoping you’ll complete a hand on the flop, turn, or river) you want to bet bigger in the beginning. That way, if you end up winning the hand, you can get more money from the pot. The best way to implement this strategy is to bet the minimum before the flop. If you hit your hand on the flop, then bet double the minimum on your next turn. This will make other players think you have hit a pair or something similar, but not a huge hand. Feel free to bet to you’re heart’s content after the river card is down, as this is when most player’s are highly invested in their hands, and do not wish to walk away.

Examples:

If you are dealt the 7, 8, and 9 of spades, you should bet the minimum before the flop is down. The chances are pretty good that you will hit at least two more spades, meaning you have a flush, which is a pretty high hand. The chances of hitting this hand are easy to calculate, but dependant on how many people are playing against you. if you have a game of 4 players, for example, the odds of hitting your flush are rouphly 4%. And if you do hit it, you want it to pay off.

•  Don’t bluff unless you know how. I’ve seen way too many players lose an incredible amount of money bluffing. If you’re new to the game, do not bluff as a general rule. In the same token though, sometimes it is necessary to bluff to throw your opponents off of your strategy. One of the most important pieces of advice I can give is to make SURE that you do not allow your strategy to be known to the other players. If you are obvious to read, your opponents will capitalize. Mix it up, but be careful not to lose too much.

•  Read the Board. While probably the most obvious tip, it is too often overlooked. Read the cards on the table very very carefully. Then read them again. This is the most important tip anyone can give you about texas hold ‘em poker. I’ve seen good poker players lose hands they obviously should have won because they did not read what was on the board. Keep your eyes open, and watch the cards!

Hopefully these tips will help you have some success with poker. They’ve certainly helped me! Always keep in mind that poker is similar to any other skill. Practise makes perfect! If you’re playing at a casino, always start with limit games. This is where you can find other players just getting out in the poker world. A good table to start is either a 1-2 limit table or a 2-4 limit table (the numbers refer to the size of the blind bets, or antes.)

Good luck, and have fun!!! After all, it is a game!