Has your poker game has stagnated a little? Are you looking for ideas on how to take it to the next level? Our set of five quick tips might just be what you need to get your poker game fired up and get that bankroll moving!

Tip No. 1 – Strengthen Your Preflop Game

Some swear by charts to work on their preflop game, but having the requisite discipline to stick to your strategy is where the real challenge is. Pay attention to the tactics of other players at the table, especially the hands they are winning with, and don’t fall victim to impatience – as you may end up playing a hand not worth playing if you do.

Tip No. 2 – Believe in Your Bluffs

No guts, no glory as the saying goes, and this is particularly true when it comes to poker bluffs. Mastering the art of the bluff is what separates winners from losers, and by that we don’t just mean the ‘how’, we mean the ‘when’. Subtle bluffs will have less of an impact on weaker players, but there’s no reason why you can’t perfect them against these opponents and work your way up to the major leagues. These should then be played, with absolute commitment, in the big games where the rewards are worth it and they will have the desired effect.

Tip No. 3 – Hit the Books (or the Internet)

The most successful players have one guiding principle in common – they are always learning. If you really want to be a successful player you’ll need to put in plenty of time reading up on strategies, gameplay tools, and more, honing your instincts and engineering situations where you can practice what you’ve learned. Set some time aside for research every week, and then aim to play twice as much as you study.

Tip No. 4 – Stick to your Strategy

Just as you shouldn’t abandon a game plan if you hit a losing streak, don’t abandon it if you hit a winning streak either. You should already have bankroll and gameplay strategies, and it’s important not to let the euphoria of consecutive wins cause you to throw caution to the wind. You’ve got there on the back of that strategy, so it stands to reason that changing it may well change the outcome. The best players know when to leave the table in light of both hot and cold streaks.

Tip No. 5 – Don’t Punch (Much) Above Your Weight

We all need a challenge now and again, and we all dream of being the rookie upstart who upset the champions table, but there’s a reason why favorites exist. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred the best players win, and when betting real money it’s important you balance the odds of victory against the prize pot. That’s not to say you shouldn’t challenge yourself against better players of course, but don’t let your ego get the best of you and leave your pride and bankroll battered needlessly.

Playing the Field

These quick tips will hopefully spark something you hadn’t previously considered to give your game an edge and make you a more formidable poker player. Don’t forget too that there are numerous variations of poker out there, such as Casino Hold ‘em, Texas Hold ‘em, Trey, and even Caribbean Poker, so if one style doesn’t work you then try another and see if that suits your skillset more – good luck!