Best Online Poker Practices

The primary difference between live poker and online poker is that a device is required to play online poker in the U.S. This device can be a PC, laptop, or your preferred mobile device. Otherwise, the available games and betting strategies will be the same.

Keeping that in mind, there are things you can do to set yourself up to be as successful as possible as an online poker player. We want to help you with that endeavor. That's why we are offering you the following information related to the best online poker practices.

Get Comfortable

As you prepare to play online poker, it's best to assume you might be playing for multiple hours. Instead of sitting at a poker table, you'll likely be sitting at home or perhaps in your favorite coffee shop. To help you stay focused, you'll want to make sure you are in a comfortable setting for the long haul. Here are a few suggestions:

• Make sure your chair is comfortable and supportive of your neck and back


• Do whatever you can to limit noise and distractions


• Have your favorite food and drink in proximity


• Simultaneously playing and drinking alcohol is not recommended


• Make sure the temperature and lighting are suitable

Make Sure You Understand the Rules of Your Chosen Game

When playing online poker on a major poker-playing software platform, you can expect to have access to at least a dozen or so poker variations. We suggest sticking with the ones with which you are most familiar.

After you make your choice, we would suggest you read up on the rules of that particular variation, even if you already know the basics. By fully understanding the rules before you begin, you can help avoid misunderstandings and unnecessary mistakes.

Make Sure Your Hardware and Connectivity are Strong

It can be frustrating to be in the middle of a hand and encounter hardware or connectivity issues. They won't wait for you when it's your turn to play. Instead, you'll automatically be forced to fold, which would be a real shame if you start with two aces.

Always check your hardware and internet connection to ensure optimal performance. If it's not reliable, it might be a good idea to find somewhere else where you can safely play. Or, you might want to wait for another day, time, and place.

Begin with Low Stakes Games

Only you can be the judge of your proficiency as an online poker player. Caution, don't kid yourself. You can lose a lot of money playing poker at levels that are beyond the scope of your experience.

Another thing to consider is your experience with the software platform on which you plan on playing. If your experience is limited on a given platform, we would highly recommend that you play low-stakes games to help limit the amount of your potential losses. As you gain experience, it will be easy to ramp up the level of tables on which you will be competing.

Stick with a Single Table Until You are Experienced

It has become commonplace for experienced players to play multiple tables at the same time. Players who do that might be considered "action junkies."

This is another area where experience should dictate your choices. If you are new to online poker, stick with a single table until you have mastered the art of playing single-table poker. As your experience level rises, you can experiment by opening another screen, but do so one at a time. We would suggest never going beyond two tables at a time until you have logged at least 250 hours of online poker.

Incorporate the Use of Poker-Playing Tools When Possible

Playing online poker has become a bit of an art form. As such, astute poker players are always looking for the latest and greatest tools of the trade. You are within your rights to follow suit.

However, caution is required because some tools are acceptable and others might be considered a form of cheating. If you were to get caught cheating, you would likely get barred from every online poker platform on the planet. With your best interest in mind, here are a few "legal" tools you might want to keep by your side:

• Odds calculating software


• Bankroll management software


• Poker rule book


• Stat tracking software


• Poker-solving tool for hand analysis
  

BTW: It's always a good idea to take a look at key stats after each poker-playing session. There are lessons that can be learned from the past.

Learn Bluffing Techniques

If you have some experience as a poker player in general, you probably know that good hands don't come with the frequency that you want. When you don't get good hands, you have three choices: fold, play and hope for lightning to strike, or bluff. It's this last choice that we want to cover.

With proper betting strategies and a basic idea of the capabilities of the competition, you can bluff your way into a winning hand. Before you start bluffing on large pots, it would be a good idea to read information about the bluffing process. Every decent pro poker player worth their salt has created content related to the bluffing process.

Read some content, practice on free sites or in low-stakes games, and gain bluffing experience. When you feel confident, you can test your wings at higher levels.

Read Up on the Competition When Possible

All of the top online poker software platforms accumulate statistical data on every customer. In most cases, that information is made available to the competition. Before you start plopping down your hard-earned cash, you would be well-advised to gather information on the competition. You should be able to find the following data:

• Their player ranking for the platform


• What games they tend to favor


• A player's VPIP - do they tend to play loose or tight

Using this information, you should focus on playing against players who are of a level similar to yours. The last thing you want to do is get hooked into a game where online poker pros are lying in wait for suckers. You don't want to be one of those suckers. Rule of thumb: Stay in your own class and increase your chances of success.

Never Play Online Poker If You Are Less Than 100%

Playing good poker requires a decent level of stamina, mental acuity, and concentration. If you are mentally distracted or feeling a bit under the weather, there is a good chance you won't play as well as you should. Of course, there will be a temptation to sign into your poker account if you feel stuck at home, but maybe you would be better served to wait until you are more alert and feeling better.

Gamble Responsibly

Whether you are playing poker, betting on sports, or playing online casino games of chance, you have to gamble responsibly. Not doing so could lead you to financial disaster. How would we define responsible gambling?

Never gamble with more money than you can afford to lose. What you can likely afford to lose is the discretionary money you have remaining after you have paid all of your bills and set something aside for savings. If you find yourself playing online poker beyond your means, you should immediately reach out to one of the problem gambling resources listed on the poker website.

Conclusion - If you are willing to take some of these suggestions to heart, you should find yourself playing a better brand of online poker. Above all, you should only sit down at a poker table of any kind only if you find it enjoyable.