If you are a beginner online poker player, it is better to play your cards well rather than trying to bluff your opponents out of hands. It is good to try occasional bluffs here and there, but the real art of knowing when to bluff comes from knowledge and practice. In this article we will point out some of the best live and online poker tournament strategy tips you can use to improve your game as quickly as possible. Tip 1: Play The Right Starting Hands. Whether it be lack of patience, or an unfamiliarity with opening ranges, many tournament poker players still open too wide.

We’ve come a long way since the early days of Paradise Poker, Absolute Poker, and party suites at the WSOP. For those of you who are new to the game, those names and events might sound like Ancient Greek. While the game of online poker has changed significantly, many of the strategy resources haven’t. Often, you may find yourself unknowingly trying to jam a square peg into a round hole with old advice.

So, that brings us to what I’d like to cover today. Here, you’ll learn some tips for playing online poker in today’s climate. I’d like to look at five different factors you should be aware of to survive and thrive in the games you’ll find currently. My goal is to plug some of the gaps in strategy that may have worked for us old-timers but might not be applicable nowadays.

1. You Have to Embrace Technology

In the old days, Shark Scope’s directory of players was a huge technological breakthrough for players. Fast forward to now, and you have heads-up displays (HUDs) and a lot of crazy solvers and software you can use to get better.

While it may seem easier to avoid these things and not invest the time and money, it’s not doing you any favors. If your opponents have more information about you and are using math-heavy tools to figure out situations better, you’re falling behind.

Look, I’m an old-school guy who wishes all the training software, HUDs, and tracking programs never came out in the first place. But you don’t have to look any further than why I didn’t like those things to see their value. It helped people catch up faster. It helped people become better players. It gave people an edge.

Whether you like it or not, you have to embrace new technology to stay current as a winning player when it comes to respectable stakes.

2. Destroy Distractions Before They Destroy Your Bankroll

In the old days, the internet wasn’t as cool as it is now. There weren’t as many awesome distractions to get in the way of doing some productive work. We had Candystand Mini Golf, and that was about it. Today, though, you have Reddit, online video games, online casinos, and more YouTube creators than I can count.

What this means is that, in today’s climate, you need to have an action plan to eliminate distractions while you’re playing poker online. While you might think you’re able to play four poker tables, text on your phone, and watch YouTube without compromising your game, you’re wrong. You’re missing small details or opportunities to find an edge when you let the distractions win.

Come up with a plan to focus solely on your games when you’re playing poker online. Unless you’re purely playing for recreational purposes, this is critical.

3. You Can’t Let Complacency Creep Into the Picture

In the old days, poker was easy. As long as you were slightly better than the average bear, you could crush the game. Some of you newer players might not believe what I’m going to say next, so buckle up. There was a time when all you had to do was raise pre-flop and continuation bet with 100% frequency, and you’d crush the game.

Today, though, that’s not the case. Thanks to technology and the natural growth of the game, poker players are much better than they used to be. What this means is that you need to work harder to stay in front of everyone else.

It’s so tempting to play 100% of the time when you get to a skill level where you are winning. Doing anything other than playing feels like setting money on fire. However, it won’t be long until players—who are actually taking the time to get better—will start passing you by. Additionally, you’ll never know your full potential. Maybe you’ve got what it takes to be a nosebleeds crusher?

4. There’s More Than One Way to Skin a Cat

This is another old-person cliché phrase that means there is more than one way to get a job done. In the old days of poker, everyone did the same things. If you strayed from the beaten path, you were as ostracized as a fish. However, as the years went on, people realized that there were other ways you could win at the poker table. In fact, they found that there were better ways to win than the accepted norms.

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I share this story because I want you to be open to trying to do your own thing. Got a strategy you think is awesome, but other people think it’s crazy? Give it a shot! Track your success or failure with it and build your own strategy.

Never let the mediocre players of the world stop you from becoming great. Remember, every new move or strategy has to start somewhere.

5. Get Yourself a Bonus

I’ve never been a huge advocate for bonus chasing in the poker world, but I think that was a mistake. These poker sites today are handing out free money just for trying them out or being loyal. I’m not advocating for chasing bonuses at sketchy poker sites. What I am saying, though, is that if the money is out there, go get it. There are some crazy lucrative online poker bonuses that you’d be silly not to try and get your hands on.

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