Ultimate Guide to Poker: 25 Essential Tips to Make you a Winning Player

So you’ve played a few games of poker – probably losing sessions, maybe a few wins – but you’re hooked. The game is so exciting that you are driven to play some more. This guide will help ensure that your next sessions are winning sessions! Follow these 50 tips (in no particular order) and drag the nice pots into your stack!


Tip #1:  Understand Position

Positions in many popular forms of poker (Texas Hold’em, Omaha etc) are determined by the dealer button. The player who has the button in front of them will be last to act on all streets (except before the flop) and this is known as the best position to be at. The player immediately to the left of the button, generally known as the small blind, will be first to act on all streets (again, except before the flop) – this position is known as the worst position in poker. The reason the dealer button is the best position is because that player will get to see all the other player’s actions before he/she has to make their decision, implying they have the most information. The more information you have – the more of an advantage you have.

Here is a video that sums it up well:


Tip #2: Think in terms of big blinds, not in terms of money.

When the chips infront of you represent big blinds instead of money, you will be able to make much more objective decisions with those chips when required. If you have a lot of money in the bank, calling a $5 bet with a weak hand might seem ok since “it’s only $5″. But if that $5 represented 25 big blinds then it’s a massive amount of chips relative to your chip stack – meaning that you should be very prudent in the decisions you make with those $5.  Likewise, you may also see poker pros playing for millions of dollars on TV, where 1 big blind may be worth $1000.  In a game like that, 25 big blinds would represent $25,000. But in poker’s relativity, $25,000 can be worth the same as $5 – they are both 5 big blinds. Money’s utility is different for everyone based on how much they value each dollar, but when you are thinking in terms of big blinds, utility no longer becomes an issue for you.


Tip #3:  Stop Calling and Start Raising (Be Aggressive!)

When you call a bet, you only have one way to win: having the best cards. When you bet & raise, you have two ways to win: having the best cards and getting called, or if your opponent folds their hand. Since more times than not you will not have a good hand, only calling will certainly ensure that you lose money in the long run. Usually, if you plan to call a raise, you’d be better off betting at the pot yourself and trying to get your opponent to fold.

Here is a great video on Aggression by Gripsed.com

Tip #4: Understand Pot Odds

The mathematical aspect in Poker is vitally important. The good news is, you do not need a PhD in mathematics to understand them – even at the professional level. One of the most basic mathematical concepts in poker is known as Pot Odds. In a nut shell, Pot Odds represent the risk / reward ratio of choice.  Here’s an example:

You have a flush draw on the flop. Your chances of making the flush are roughly 35%. There is $10 in the pot, and your opponent goes all in for $5, making the pot a total of $15. The best to you is $5. If you call and make your flush, you will win $15. Should you make the call?

The answer is no! (even though it’s “just another $5″) – Your chances of making the flush are 3.5 : 1, yet when you do make it, you’ll only win 3 : 1 on your money. This is a losing proposition.

For more information on Pot Odds – checkout these sites:


Tip #5: Start small and work your way up

The higher the stakes, the better the players. Plain and simple. Even if you have a lot of money to burn, you should still play at the smallest stakes games you can find if you’re serious about learning poker. The smallest stake games usually have the weakest players, and the way to make money at poker is to play against weak opponents – not strong ones. The more you win at the stake you’re playing, the more open you should be to moving up stakes.

If you’d like to get a free $150 bankroll to get started, click here


Tip #6: Understand that poker is a high-risk, high variance game

In poker, especially pot-limit and no-limit structured games, the swings you will experience can be enormous. Even the best players in the world get stacked by total beginners – it is the nature of the game. Many times, your odds of winning a hand might be 50%, essentially meaning you are flipping a coin. If you were to flip a coin 100 times, chances are there will be periods where it lands on heads 4,5,6 or more times in a row. This is similar to what you w

ill experience in poker. Often times, the best play is to put all your money in the pot with only a 52% chance to win, knowing that 48% of the time, you’re going to lose it all. You are

not suppose to win every session if you’re playing correctly, you have to lose from time to time. It is the nature of poker, so accept it and don’t let the swings get the better of you.

For further reading on Variance – check out these great articles


Tip #7:  Leave your ego at the door

Thinking you are the best player at the table will leave you broke in the long run.  People in general have a tendency to over-estimate their own abilities and under-estimate those of others. Do not fall into this trap – it will cost you dearly at the poker table. This is known as Illusory Superiority and nearly everyone suffers from it. Focus on the game of poker and how you can improve instead of focusing on how much better you are than everyone and it will pay dividends for many pots to come.


Tip #8:  Leave your emotions at the door

If you’re taking poker seriously, you should more or less be robotic at the table. When you are frustrated because you are losing, you will likely compound the loss by taking

foolish chances in an effort to get even, or to get that “happy” feeling of winning a big pot. Conversely, you may be really happy after winning a huge pot that you start turning up p

rofitable situations in order to “protect your win” – which is an effective loss since you are not claiming the profit you are entitled to.  Because the swings in poker are so huge, they will often multiply your emotions, most often for the worse.  Make sure your emotions = 0.


Tip #9:  Do not try to emulate the poker you see on TV

The poker you generally see on TV is poker played at the highest level. It is also usually final tables of big tournaments which most of us will never play in. These games are played differently than the cash games you’re more likely to encounter in your local casino or online.  Raising All-In with in the late stages of a tournament may be a brilliant play – but do that in a case game when you are 100bb deep and it is downright moronic. Too often players will see ultra-aggressive players like Tom Dwan (I played with him, trust me) pull crazy bluffs on TV and they will try to exact same thing at their game. The difference is – you are playing with amateur players who call too often, Tom Dwan is playing with seasoned professionals who are capable of making big folds. His plays will likely not work in your games.


Tip #10:  Focus more on what you think your opponents cards are as oppose to your own cards

The strength of your hand is always relative to the hand of your opponents. Even if you have a hand as strong as four of a kind, it’s possible that you are beat by a straight flush. While situations like this don’t occur that frequently, you will encounter many situations at the table where you’ll have a strong hand like a flush or a straight and still not have the best hand. A mistake that many beginning players make is only consider the strength of their hand and totally ignore what hand their opponent might have. For example:

Let’s say you hold .

And the board comes out:

And your opponent goes all-in. What would you do?

Many beginners will automatically make this call, because they have pocket aces. Pocket aces are really only a strong hand before the flop, and the fact of the matter is, on this board, your opponent can have so many hands that have your aces beat, that you should probably fold in this situation. Always think about the cards you think your opponent has before you many any decisions.


Tip #11:  Don’t drink alcohol and play poker at the same time

Yes I know, in many casinos you can get free alcohol if you sit down at a poker table. Poker is a very complex game and your judgment will be seriously compromised if you’re drunk. You will make calls you shouldn’t make, you will give away information you should keep to yourself, and you will not be able to focus to your full capacity. If you’re intentions are to play poker to win money, do not add alcohol to the mix.


Tip #12:  Play patiently and pick your spots

In a standard cash game, you won’t lose much money if you fold marginal hands before the flop. In fact, in most cases it will save you a lot of money. In a cash game scenario, it always pays to be patient and try to get your money in with good cards in good situations (example: against an opponent who calls way too much). Profitable spots will always present themselves, sometimes not for hours, sometimes every hand you play for a whole round will be a profitable spot! It’s all a matter of being patient, weeding through the crappy hands and waiting for a good spot against a weak opponent. Patience is especially important in Poker Tournaments, particularly in the early stages when the blinds are small relative to the starting chip stacks.


Tip #13:  Good decisions pre-flop lead to easier decisions post-flop

If you stick to playing premium hands before the flop*, you have easier decisions when the flop comes. Let’s say for example you have and you call a raise before the flop. The flop comes:

You bet and your opponent, who raised preflop, reraises you. What do you do?

This is a marginal / tough spot that you’ve got yourself into as a result of a loose call you made before the flop. There are many hands your opponent can have that beat you, like {AK,KQ,KJ,AA,KK,77,33,K7,K3,37}.

Now let’s say you folded your KT next time, and this time, you raise with AK and are called by a player. The flop comes

Your opponent goes all-in. What do you do?

Now your decision is way easier than the previous example, because now there are very few hands that actually beat your hand {AA,KK,77,33,K7,73} and there are tons of hands that you can now beat {K8-KQ, QQ-88, random bluffs}. We make an easy call as a result of playing a good hand preflop.

*note: to play at a higher level, you’ll need to put yourself in more marginal situations. However, at most games, just playing tight and patiently will be the best strategy


Tip #14:  Win more pots by betting with the best hand – avoid bluffing too often

Don't Bluff too often in poker - it will cost you!

Likely the most common mistake amateur poker players make is bluff at way too high of a frequency. The problem with bluffing, especially if you are playing low-stakes games, is there are way too many weak players who make very marginal calls. The correct strategy against this player type is to have them call you with a worse hand. Bluffing should in general be reserved only for tight players who you’ve observed make really tight folds. Bluffing against these players is profitable as a result of equity »”>fold equity. Coupled with the strategy of playing patiently, we can now “make big hands and get paid”.


Tip #15 – Observe your opponents carefully, especially when you are not in the hand

Too often I see players at the table only concerned with the game when they are in a hand. They will watch the games on TV, chat with the player next to them, get up and walk around the poker room, read a book, you name it. This is a huge mistake! When you are not in the hand, you have to pay close attention to the action – particularly, how your opponents are playing. Which players are loose callers and call down with anything? Which players are playing tight and always have a strong hand when they bet? Which players just lost a huge pot and are now on tilt? Having this information will be critical for the situations when you are in the hand.


Tip #16: Dress for comfort (applies to live games)

Even though you may be going in the middle of the Nevada Desert to gamble, make sure you pack a sweater. Casinos are cold places, with good reason. People stay awake for longer periods of time when they are slightly too cold than too hot. Be ready to combat their strategy by wearing a sweater (vs a t-shirt or less) and sneakers (vs sandals). You will make better choices and call it a day when your mind gets tired.


Tip #17:  Have a clean work space / desk area (applies to online games)

Having a messy work area will make you feel negative about your environment. When things are neat, tidy and smell fresh, you will naturally feel better. Make sure all those coke cans, candy wrappers and dishes are put away and your poker area is free of clutter.


Tip #18: Don’t limp in before the flop

If you’re going to play a pot and you’re the first one in, come in for a raise. This gives you the lead on the hand and gives you the opportunity to represent the most strength. You will be able to take down a lot of pots on the flop by putting out continuation bets.  Just calling the big blind (or limping in) is a very weak play that weak players make. Since you are playing only premium hands, you don’t want to limp in and let a weak hand crack the hand you’ve been waiting to play. Raise it up, narrow the field to opponents who hold cards that perform poorly against you (ie AK vs KQ)

See this discussion on cardschat about the horrors of limping in!

See why AA gets cracked when you limp UTG


Tip #19:  Join the poker discussion away from the tables

It irks me to no end when I see novice poker players give out free poker tips to fish at the poker table. I understand why – people have a natural desire to be recognized – in cases like this, for knowledge in poker, but it is totally counter-productive to your primary objective at the table: Making Money. Giving out tips and making fish play better will reduce your edge and in turn reduce your profit. Additionally, players who see that you are thinking at a high level are encouraged to step up their game, also reducing your edge. If you want to discuss poker, visit online forums like TwoPlusTwo or PocketFives, keep it away from the tables.


Tip #20:  Keep accurate records of your poker results

Many of us know people like this: A guy, we’ll call him “Chris”, is always talking about how much money he made at the casino last night. He went into the casino with $500 and walked out with $3000. You know it’s true, because he showed you the $3000. You’ve seen Chris with stacks like this on a frequent basis actually. Yet for some reason, Chris is often seen bumming cigarettes from people, doesn’t have a car, doesn’t go out much, and really has nothing to show for all these big wins he’s having. What gives?

The most likely cause is that Chris is not recording his losses properly. Sure, he may have made $3000 one night, but how many nights did he blow is $500? Did he go to the casino the next day with his $3000 and only leave with $1000? Keeping track of your results will help you understand how much money you are making – or in the more probable case – how much you are losing.

Online Players have the luxury of using Poker Software to track their results. Two popular tools are PokerTracker and Hold’em Manager. These pieces of software offer other benefits, such as our next tip.


Tip #21:  Review & Analyze hand histories

Hindsight is 20/20 as the saying goes, but most poker players choose never to look at past decisions. This is critical for improving your play. Understanding different ways you can play hands in different situations become a lot more clear when you are reviewing a hand you recently played.  Think about different scenarios, for example “what if I reraised pre-flop instead of just calling, would he have folded his hand?” or “should I have just gone all in on the flop instead of raising only 1/2 pot? Would I have gotten more money then? What kind of hands would he have called with” etc. Thinking at this level will help you go through that thinking process when you’re at the tables.

Studying Hand histories in Poker @OnlinePoker.org

Poker Hand Analysis @aintluck.com


Tip #22:  Don’t move up stakes to chase losses.

You’ve already lost some money, perhaps not by making mistakes, or maybe you did, but the fact of the matter is – when you move up, you are risking more money when you have less, against players that are better than the ones you lost your original money to. From a logical standpoint – it makes no sense. This relates to leaving emotions at the door. Do not fall into this trap.

Short article on chassing losses in hold’em @aztexasholdem.com


Tip #23:  Don’t stay in a game where you’re the underdog

Remember the movie Rounders? “If you look around the table and don’t see a sucker, you’re it”. This holds very true at every poker table. If you suspect that all the players at the table are better than you are, you are likely correct. There is no point in staying at this table unless you have a desire to give away your money. Don’t try to outplay good players when finding a juicy game is pretty easy. Your bankroll will thank you. In fact, our next tip takes this tip to the next level.


Tip #24:  Table Selection might be the most important decision you make

There are ways to tell if a game is juicy (full of weak players) or not by quickly glancing at a table.

In a live game, some signs that players are bad are:

  • Buy-in for less than maximum amount
  • Limp in before the flop
  • Are drunk
  • Goofing around with buddies at the table
  • Keep their chip stacks disorganized (ie. having a few stacks of different color/value chips)
  • Limping in/Calling Raises (limp-call fish)
  • Have a lot of seniors (I almost feel bad saying it, but in my experience most senior citizens are passive players)

In an online game, there are fewer, but still good ways to detect a juicy game:

  • Buy-ins for less than the maximum amount
  • Does not top up chips to maximum on a regular basis
  • has a name like “chris983″ or “chris_x” – shows a lack of creativity and likely an impulse sign up (which indicates a gambling mentality)
  • You have taken notes and labeled the player in a previous game

You will always have more Expected Value in a game full of weak players.


Tip #25:  Not having a good Rakeback Deal

Rakeback can save your bankroll when times are bad, and pad your bankroll significantly when times are good. RakeBack is very similar to getting paid a salary to play poker – the higher the stakes, the higher the rakeback. If you do not have a deal like this, you are throwing tons of money away. If you’re interested in getting a rakeback deall, click here.

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Now that you have my top 25 tips, what tips do you have to share? Leave your comment below