10 Poker Strategies You Need to Know

Poker is a game of odds. Even experienced players know this. There’s no way around it, you will lose sometimes.

So don’t let that stop you from learning these key poker strategies every player should know.

All-in

Everyone loves a good all-in bet, especially when someone loses all their chips — except for them of course. But knowing the rules is crucial if you’re going to make one yourself.

In table stakes, you can only win what was put into the pot. So even if someone has more money than you, they can’t take it away.

And in no calling, like table stakes, nobody can win more from you than what was placed in the pot by yourself.

Blind bets

Blind bets are a great way to get people to fold weaker hands and get stronger ones to call with money in the pot already. But this strategy gets harder later on in the game when your opponents are playing better cards.

Generally speaking:  

If your opponent’s stack size is smaller or close to yours and they bet three times or more into your blind from late position, only defend with strong hands.

Bluffing

Bluffing isn’t always easy so don’t try it right away if you’re still a beginner player who hasn’t mastered techniques like controlling your physical gestures and expressions yet.

That “poker face” we always hear about doesn’t stop at our own faces though; pros also learn to read other players’ tells such as their involuntary reactions to betting sizes which helps them win against amateurs like us!

Folding

Knowing how and when to fold is important for increasing your profit potential when playing poker — especially when up against an aggressive player who has made good cards already! So be careful not to chip away at your wins too much over time by folding wrong or not enough.

Checking

Sometimes you might want to bluff in poker, but when do you decide when that time is? Well, one way to find out is by seeing who checks during the game. Weak players will usually fold quickly if you place a bet after they check.

Taking a break

When on the job, taking breaks occasionally helps people stay energized and refreshed. Why would poker be any different?

During your poker session, go grab yourself some water every now and then. Breaks also give you the chance to review how well (or bad) you’ve been playing so far before diving back into the game.

Making an intelligent laydown

Yes we all love winning jackpots — especially in poker! But sometimes it’s better to take a step back and think before making bets with good hands.

For example, if someone limps into your big blind with a hand like 9T offsuit and you have AA or KK in a live cash game, it’s almost always best to raise…but not always.

If you’re facing an opponent who has shown that they only limp/raise with AA or KK themselves, then just calling can be an intelligent laydown decision since limping/raising yourself could leave you vulnerable against their strong cards.

Identifying weaknesses

A major key to winning at poker is capitalizing off your opponent’s weaknesses. Pay attention to the way they bet, their physical ticks, and their body language when they play. By doing this you can figure out how to get under their skin.

On the other side of things, you also want to assess how they respond to your own plays and strategies. This will allow you to adjust accordingly and exploit them further as time goes on.

Taking risks

To succeed in poker, it is necessary that you are willing to take chances. However, taking risks doesn’t always mean blowing your chips by betting everything on a hand that looks strong.

Rather, you should be aggressive with your bets when it’s appropriate. Developing a strong sense of probability will benefit this style of play greatly. Additionally, there are other factors that come into play such as reading an opponent’s behavior like biting their nails or nervously fidgeting.

Long-term approach

Strategies that take a long time need continued patience in order for them to work out. You must stick with your gameplan no matter what happens and manage your bankroll effectively so that you don’t start making desperate decisions after losing too many times in a row.

Playing tight might make others lose interest in playing against you; especially if you’re forcing weaker players out every round with aggressive betting or well-timed bluffs!