Whether you’re new to the world of poker or a seasoned veteran, you can never do enough research and practice. The biggest names in poker all have their own strategies, but one thing they all agree on is doing plenty of reading and studying – it’s a core part of the game.

Helping you to brush up on your poker knowledge and skills, we’re going to run you through a few of the simplest ways to improve your poker game. Who knows, perhaps we will see you at the World Series Main Event if you follow closely!

Don’t Be So Hasty Pre-Flop

As soon as your cards are dealt, the chances are your mind is going to be racing, thinking and planning for the next few betting rounds. If you’ve got junk cards you might be tempted to fold and sit out, but quite often on flop those junk cards can become pure gold. If you’re already in because you’re one of the blinds, it’s well worth trying to hold on until the flop – unless the call becomes more than 3x the big blind. If you’re playing several variants of live poker at BitStarz such as Caribbean Stud Poker and Three Card Poker then you won’t see a flop – all cards are dealt face up, aside from the dealer.

One Ace Usually Means More Are Coming

If you’ve managed to land an ace in your hand, but your other card is of a low value, it’s well worth calling and playing the hand through to the end. If you’ve noticed aces coming out together in close succession before, it’s worth matching a rather hefty call to see the flop. More often than not, you can turn an ace into a pair or use it as a kicker with a low value pair – giving you the upper hand. Don’t throw an ace away lightly, and it should go without saying, always keep a pair of aces.

Don’t Be Afraid to Fold

There will be times where you really have nothing and the cards wouldn’t have been going your way all night, don’t be afraid to fold – even with a bit of action on the table. If you’re bluffing and someone calls you, you’re now invested in the game with a terrible hand and very little chance of pulling off a magical turn and river combo. When you have junk, don’t be afraid to fold and cut your losses – after all, the aim of the game is to hold onto as many chips as possible, don’t give them away easily.

Play the Cards You Have

Whether you’re playing online poker, a house game or at a casino, unless you’re a pro at reading facial expressions then it’s useless to try and play people. Play the cards in your hand and the cards on the table. If you have a pair, it stands to reason that you could end up with a good hand come the flop, turn a river, so back yourself. If you’re playing Trey Poker then you can always fold and save yourself an extra stake if you don’t have any good cards. Remember though, high card can often pay off – especially when the dealer needs a Queen or higher to qualify.

Practice with Low Risk

If you’re working on a new strategy, you need to practice it somewhere with low risks and somewhere you’re not going to end up blowing your entire monthly paycheck. Try your hand playing online poker with a live dealer against the dealer, rather than in an online room – these rooms are typically full of bots. Playing Texas Holdem Bonus Poker live at BitStarz is a great way to test your new knowledge without playing against humans.

Hopefully, you’ve learnt some useful tips from this guide and next time you’re playing a few hands you can pick up the big win and become the real MVP – not to mention the envy of all your friends!