Poker is a game that requires a fair amount of luck, but also a substantial skill element. While the luck factor will bolster and tank even a great player’s performance at times, learning how to play and become a force at your table is both deeply satisfying and highly profitable.
Starting Hands & Position
A player’s position in the betting interval can have an enormous impact on their decision-making throughout the hand. The best players are able to minimize their risk by playing their position intelligently and taking advantage of the fact that more experienced opponents tend to overplay their hands.
To maximize your chances of winning, start with premium hands such as pocket pairs, high-card combinations and suited connectors. Then, if you are dealt two cards of the same rank, bet aggressively by raising or calling the blind bet to build the pot and force weaker hands out.
Understanding the basics of starting hands and position is an essential part of developing your poker skills. Once you understand these fundamentals, it’s time to start learning more advanced concepts and lingo.
Using Ranges
Rather than trying to put an opponent on a hand, more experienced players will work out the full range of possible hands they could have and determine the odds of beating them. This is called working out ranges, and it’s an important skill to master if you want to improve your poker strategy.