Internet Poker Tips

Playing poker in a casino and playing poker online are different. Not only can you play Internet poker any time of the day (and play it at your own comfort level), but there are a number of differences that require an adjustment to your game.

Everyone acts differently online than they do in the real world. From the dawn of chat rooms through the new "smarter" web, people think hiding their face means they can act like lunatics. Remember that human behavior online is unpredictable--and obey these basic Internet poker tips.

Is There Psychology in Online Poker?

Of course there is. There's psychology in every game. Especially games that cost money.

On a basic technological level, it's far easier for a person to click a mouse button as opposed to reaching into their stack, counting out the proper number of chips, and plopping them down on the table. Recognize the psychological difference between an action not involving a physical representation of money and one that does, and you'll have most of the psychology of the Internet poker game down pat. Let's face it--people feel more confident online because they aren't being stared at or watched by casino employees, etc.

So how does this psychology benefit you and your poker game? A player who is embarrassed about outdrawing a person in a live game, won't waste a split second making the same move on the Internet. Playing poker online is similar to hanging out with teenagers--it's all impulse and hormones.

What Can I Do About Constant Callers?

You're powerless against the guys who call every bet. Understand and accept that fact and your poker game will be better off for it.

Constant callers in online poker are looking to draw you in on more pots than you'd normally get involved with, and are hoping to river you by involving you in more calls. Here's one way to know if you're falling victim: is your variety of bets made greater online than it would be in a casino setting? If not, you're doing it wrong. You should play fewer pots and fold a lot more often in the online world. This is a fact.

As long as you're making other players pay for their mistakes off the draw, you're playing good poker. But remember that it is better for your bottom line to check-call the river when you've got a boat full of callers right there with you. Keeping them honest will save you cash, because the chances of a player with a solid hand (two pair or better) are greater when there are more callers.

This all sounds obvious, but simplicity and repetition are the name of the game.

Should I Pay Attention to Screen Names?

If you aren't web-savvy or haven't spent much time around poker players, you may be influenced by the ridiculous screen names people give themselves online. Often, people will put together some mash up of poker terms or obvious "tells" (for example, IAMBLUFFING) to put people off their game.

Remember that a screen name is just a screen name.

Using a screen name to influence the game is a stupid, low-handed, idiotic move that is only open to you at an Internet cardroom. Having said that, a surprising number of so called "deceptive screen names" are winning big money at tournament around the web.

Imagine you're sitting in a poker room in Vegas. A guy walks in wearing a suit covered in neon bulbs and wearing an ostrich on his head. Would you leave the table? You're damn right you would.

Be suspicious of these weird screen names in the same way.

How Do I Spot Internet Poker Tells?

Don't make the mistake of thinking that there are no "tells" in the online poker rooms.

You're right, you can't see your opponents when playing rounds of Internet poker. What you can see, and very closely, is the actions they take.

One of the most important actions to look at is how fast a player bets. A fast bet either means a strong hand or an accident -- whereas a slow bet or a person taking a long time to make a bet usually means they had to stop and think about their actions. This means their hand is probably pretty weak.

Taking good notes at every online poker room session will help you spot future tells.

How Should I Play in Low Limit Internet Poker Games?

I get this question more often than you'd think.

And yes, normally you don't want to play a tricky game at the $5 / $10 level. The cash you could win isn't really worth the effort, right?

In Internet poker, the same is true. It is generally considered a waste of time to try and play a sneaky or creative game in any of the ultra low-limit tables except at the $3/6 games or higher. When you're in the low limit games, the entire table is ready and willing to bluff you, call you on down, or do whatever they think it takes to make your trick moves backfire on you.

We sometimes call this "trying to get smart". Why should you try and get smart against idiots? It never works. If your opponents are really willing to show you down mid pair, low pair, or even Ace high, you should know by now that bluffing or going up against them is simply a fool's gamble. These kinds of idiots are the types of players that you will see most often in the low limit games online, so save your trick plays for big money tournaments, home games, or other special occasions.