Although every poker player is subjected to the whims of Lady Luck, poker is not purely a game of chance. There are countless strategies and tricks that can give you an edge over your opponents and help you become a sharper, more successful player. This can be especially important if your money is on the line. The best way to improve, other than practice, is to learn from the experts. In this article, we’ve compiled seven tips that’ll help you improve your poker skills, keep reading to find out more!

Micro stakes

Micro stakes apply to the games with the lowest stakes. This ranges from 2NL, which are 1cent / 2cent blind games to 50NL, which refer to 25cent / 50cent blind games. You will need to learn the fundamental skills to win against winning players before you play higher stakes. This is especially true if you are just starting out or have a history of losing. Even seasoned players should play a low stake game every few weeks just to ensure that their foundations are solid.

Pre-flop raises

In live poker, limping, which is called a blind preflop, is a common tactic. However, limping in online poker may make you a target for stronger players, and they may isolate you after the flop.

It is better to call a raise on a preflop pot for online poker as it allows you to take control of the pot right at the start. It is recommended to raise it thrice the big blind, and add a big blind for an eerie limper. This aggressive tactic allows you to have more ways to win the pot. For example, you have the option to win by forcing your opponents to fold pre-flop, as well as on the flop, turn, or river.

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3-bet

A 3-bet refers to a re-raise pre-flop. It gives you more paths to securing a win. By taking it down pre-flop, you can make the best post-flop hand. If you choose to follow up with more aggressive tactics by betting or raising, you can force your opponents out of the pot post-flop.

If you have good hands such as AA, AK, KK, QQ, or JJ, you should 3-bet multiple times. However, 3-bet should be limited during low-stakes games, so that you can decrease the frequency of getting called.

You can also engage in light 3-bets, where you re-raise speculative hands. It is most effective against weak players who don’t play big pots unless they have a very strong hand. Light 3-betting is heavily influenced by position, and should only be done for blind versus blind or when there is action around the button.

There are times when calling a 3-bet will do more harm than good. The first scenario to avoid 3-betting, light or otherwise is when a seasoned player raises in an early position. This is because they will have a narrow range of strong or premium hands. The second scenario is when you are out of position without premium hands. Out-of-position refers to a post-flop citation where you have to act first on all three streets, namely river, turn, and flop. In this scenario, the best course of action might be to fold, even if you have a relatively good hand.

Pre-flop 4-bet

A 4-bet refers to a raise that is followed by two subsequent re-raises. 4-bets are extremely powerful moves and you have to be extra cautious when faced with a 4-bet. Most players only call a 4-bet when they have premium hands like AA, KK, QQ, or AK. 4-betting is not profitable for anything other than premium hands, even with strong second-tiers such as an ace of spades and a queen of diamonds. 4-bets are extremely costly, with about 25% of your stack going into the middle before the player sees a flop and the chances of connecting with a flop is too low to take on such a risk in most cases. Unless you have the strongest premium hand, it is almost always best to fold when faced with a 4-bet, even if you are in a favorable position.

Bluffing

For low-stakes poker games, bluffing should be done sparingly. A low-stakes game will usually have weaker players who call over their limit. The best strategy would be to bet only when you have a good draw ( namely a flush or a straight), a monster draw (which refers to a pair and flush), or the best possible hand with large amounts of equity. Another strategy to avoid is slow-playing your strongest hands, such as a flush, straight, or full house, as weaker players prefer to call.

Scare cards

A scare card is a high broadway card that is bad for your opponents’ range. These cards include aces and kings.

As mentioned earlier, you should not bluff too many times for low-stakes online games. However, there is an exception when your opponent is a weak but regular player. These players have a 20 to 25% went to showdown (WTSD) rate, and often avoid large bets unless they have a premium or near-premium hand. These players can be bluffed out of their pot by using scare cards on the river or turn, as they are unlikely to call in these situations. If they do call, using an ace of hearts on the turn allows you to salvage the situation as it gives you an inside straight draw to the wheel. Double barrels are wasted on a scare card against such players as they will be able to call your bluff.

Turn and River Re-Raises

At micro-stakes, turns and river rises are extremely powerful. Most low-stakes players have a passive and friendly playing style, where they call a range of hands and frequently limp. Hence, when such players call a significant raise on a turn or river, it is unlikely that it is a bluff. Turn and river re-raises are a surefire indicator that your opponent can beat a one-pair hand. Hence, it is best to fold, even when you have a pocket ace, as the odds are stacked against you.

Conclusion

The cream of the crop in poker has impeccable strategies and tricks that allow them to achieve many years of success. Learning these strategies will allow you to stay ahead of the competition and give you a solid blueprint to work towards.