Novice poker players often make the mistake in thinking that poker is a flamboyant sport. Poker players risk a lot of money and sometimes they dress up in flamboyant outfits, but to be really good at poker, flamboyance is the least useful characteristic. Whether he is a beginner or a veteran, a poker player becomes a good, winning player through discipline.
Poker is a mathematical game. Though luck plays a big part in every hand, probability is the single most important consideration in poker. Every hand dealt to a player has a corresponding probability of being a winning hand. For example, a poker player is approximately 42% likely to get a pair in a given hand. In comparison, a player is 300 times less likely to get a straight flush. Getting a pair after the last card dealt by the dealer (river), especially a low pair (9+9 or below), is not such a good hand since other players at the table are also likely to get a pair or higher.
The strategies in no-limit poker are different from those in fixed-limit poker. Beginners are advised to practice their poker skills in fixed-limit games, since the risk of losing money in these games are more controlled. (However, a novice poker player shouldn't take fixed-limit games for granted as these games are usually played fast and players could lose a lot of money this way.) Below are a few beginners' tips for fixed-limit poker players.
Poker players have to be aware of strong "pre-flop" hands. These are the first cards the dealer gives you before he deals the "community" cards or the cards dealt face-up at the center of the table.
Players should raise with:
AA, KK, QQ, JJ, TT, AK (same suit), AQ (same suit)
Regardless of how aggressive the other players are before the face-up cards are dealt, the high pairs above and AK and AQ of the same suit are highly likely to take the pot. These are the really strong hands in fixed-limit poker. However, for players who are inclined to take more risks, these other cards can also be considered strong pre-flop:
AJ (same suit), AK, AQ
Getting these three hands pre-flop can be considered strong enough for a player to raise. They're not, however, strong enough for most players to risk more money by re-raising or calling aggressive opponents on the table.
Warning: winning a pot early on with weaker pre-flop cards might lead some novice players to bet bigger the next time they get AK, AQ and AJs. This will be a mistake, since probabilities don't ever change; it's only the player's luck that changes within a given poker session.
Raise when you get these following cards:
KJ or AQ or AJs or AT A9 or KQ of the same suit, JJ-77 and AJ (off suited), KQ (off-suited).
The above cards are very strong cards pre-flop and a player should call when he gets them. The player, though, should be careful with these cards as they are bound to give him too much confidence. Raising with these cards is considered a "bluff" rather than a straight-out strong betting, since other players are likely to fold with weaker cards but players with strong cards such as AA, KK or QQ are likely to call or re-raise.
Remember that consistency though uninteresting to some, is the best skill a poker player must learn if he wishes to be a winning player. In a game of odds and probabilities, a consistent and disciplined player will beat a veteran player, especially in fixed-limit games.
Author:Eric Scone
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