Winning Poker Players

Poker Winning Strategies

What makes a winning poker player?

If your wondering this then your probably losing shirt at the poker tables. Don't get to despondent though, there is hope.

Some basic principles make poker players great.

• Patience

• Ability read your opponent

• Prepared to Gamble

Patience is a virtue as the saying goes but it is truly gold at the poker tables. Not playing cards that you know are going to lose and being able to wait for your winners makes the difference between winners and losers at the poker tables. Often if you watch the poker pro's in action you will see them lay down good hands that would have most folks going to broke. This is the poker pro's ability to wait for the right time to get their money in when they have the right hands.

Ability to read your opponents intentions and situation is very important. Often its not your opponents cards that count but your opponents willingness to gamble. If you opponent is loose you want to wait for big hands to get all your money is as you are expecting to be called by their loose plays and willingness to gamble. If your opponents are timid you need to steal his pots and force him to change his game and catch him when you have good hands.

Good poker players also know that there is a chance you could lose. This is gambling and there is always a chance your opponent could get you with a couple of miracle cards. This difference is that good players have better cards most of the time and the statistical advantage is with them over the long run meaning that they will be winners! This is especially important to understand if your playing with loose players who want action. You have to take a chance eventually in order to beat them even if your chances are in your favour you could still lose.

Good poker pros also understand the basic dynamics of poker starting hands, pot odds and position on the table. These basics help them make better choices about what hands that play, how much they choose to bet and what hands to chase etc.

Often when bad poker players lose they believe luck is going against them. As soon as you find yourself thinking that your unlucky you need consider if you are taking in all the basics of the poker game or maybe you are letting your emotions run away with you.

I like the fact that Phil Hellmut says that Poker is still a game of chance and even if your better than your opponent you can still lose. So go back to your basics, when your losing, starting hands, position, pot odds and your ability to focus on your opponents.

A very big part of the game and one that you need keep in mind is that this is gambling. Pots odds are important and sometimes this means you will lose occasionally.

If you are losing its often a very good idea to get away from the tables for a while and give yourself a chance to analyse your game. Poker is a great game when you get it together and give yourself the best chance of winning! Good luck with your hands and may your good beats be better than your bad beats.