GENERAL TIPS

To be successful at poker you must give the game your full attention. Don't talk on the phone or read a magazine. Success demands focus.

Always be watching the game even when you are not in the hand. Knowing how your competitors will react in certain situations will give you the advantage.

Be aware of how much is in the pot and how many chips your opponents have. These factors will strongly influence your strategy.

Be aware that "bad beats" seem to occur more online. This is because the level of play is much faster than in a home game or in a casino and you are involved in more hands. When bad beats come as they inevitably will, do not become frustrated and make foolish moves. Collect yourself and move forward.

PLAYER DESCRIPTIONS

Tight or Loose: These terms describe how many hands a player will play. A tight player will play very few hands. A loose player will play a lot of hands.

Passive or Aggressive: These terms describe how often a player will bet on the hands they hold. A passive player rarely bets and usually calls or checks. An aggressive player has tendencies to bet heavily with the cards they are holding and hardly call or check.

The most profitable hands for beginners are those that are loose/passive. All players should aspire to be tight/aggressive. Remember that one must be aggressive in order to get to the final table in tournament poker or to amass chips in ring games.

Always be aware of your table image. If you think the other players have gotten a read on your style of play you should get ready to change gears.

PLAY YOUR POSITION

Different positions at the table call for different strategies. Assuming that you are playing against eight other people at the table you should take the following advice. You may play looser the fewer competitors you have. An example of tight play would be as follows:

Early Position: the first three players to act after the blinds. Play only stronger hands, as players who go after you may raise. This means playing AA, KK, QQ, JJ, 1010, 99, AK and AQ.

Middle Position: the three players who follow the first three players. They are able to play a few more hands because they have seen the early action and have fewer players following them. You can add the following hands to your options: 88, 77, 66, AJ, KQ, QJ and J10.

Late Position: the last two players before the blind. They are able to play more hands than those at early or middle position because they have seen most of the action at the table. You may consider playing 66, 55, A10, KJ, K10, 109, 98 and any ACE with a same suited lower card.

Blinds: have the advantage of playing a majority of hands because they have already contributed to the pot (small blind/ big blind). However, if there is a raise before them they must often fold as they will have the early position after the flop.

BETTING

Bet with an intent. You must decide what you are trying to make your opponents do (call, check, raise, or fold) before you make any move. Also consider what your opponents are trying to make you do with their bets. Figure out what they want you to do and frustrate them by doing the opposite.

You should be wary if an aggressive player changes their betting pattern. If they check or do not bet the flop or the turn strongly they are often trying to trap you.

Look for quick checks to the flop and bet no matter what you are holding.

The best players know when to fold. Do not fall in love with hands like AQ, JJ or better if there is evidence that you have been bested. This is a very hard skill to master and separates the men from the boys.

Be careful when playing low pocket pairs which are anything below 10's. Try to see the flop as cheaply as possible. If there are overcards on the community board and the betting is getting big before you have picked up your triple, fold faster than superman on laundry day. The odds are against you picking up "trips" but when you do, make your opponents pay.

BLUFFING

Bluffing is a key to being successful at poker . If done correctly, it will separate you from average players, build your chip stack and allow you to move deeper into tournaments. Picking up blinds and pots with mediocre hands will ensure your survival at the table and provide useful ammunition as the game progresses.

Always try to set up a bluff as early as possible. Representing a strong hand from the beginning will make your bluff more believable than betting late in the hand. If you wait till the river to make your move, opponents will think you are trying to steal the pot and call you.

Bluffing works much better against a smaller amount of players and against players who are more likely to fold than call. Study your opponents and act accordingly. Put out feeler bets to see how much it takes the table to fold.

Be aware that constantly bluffing can get you knocked out of games in a hurry. Eventually your opponents will grow weary of being pushed around and put you to the test.

If you have a short stack and have to make a move, it is often better to push all in than keeping a minimal number of chips back. Sometimes in order to win you must be prepared to lose. Put pressure on your opponent by putting as many of their chips at risk as possible. Try to avoid players with big stacks and small stacks when making this move. The former has the ammunition to call you and the latter has nothing to lose. Mid level stacks are the most likely to lay their hands down.