Most football players would not go running into the game without their helmet. Neither would a soldier go into battle without his weapons. Both of these scenarios could lead to lengthy stays in a very sterile place where you are forced to wear a gown with no back and eat jell-o. The point is that unless you are equipped for what you are doing, chances are you going to get wiped out. Poker does not have the physical nature of football, but there is risk all the same. If an unprepared football player gets knocked into a coma, he is still getting a regular paycheck. If a poker player goes into a game without the very basic intellectual tools necessary to play the game, he may come out with his health, but he may need to head for the nearest soup line to maintain it. Poker is played between the ears. So it is your mind that you need to equip in before you go charging up the hill with only a pair of tens and superficial knowledge of the game. For those of you who are new to the game, here are some of the basic skills that you will need to develop before you start betting putting your money on the cards in your hand.
- Strict hand selection. Have the patience and discipline to play only starting hands that have a legitimate shot at winning. Fold hands that can only be advanced with blind luck and not good play
- Discipline is the ability to know when to fold. Good card players will tell newbies that their money is made as much on the hands they put down than it is on the ones they play. Wait for a good hand, and dont let the invisible pressure make you feel that you must play a hand simply because it has been a while since you were in a pot
- Learn to identify tables where the skill level is below yours. These will be the tables you want to play at. Playing against opponents who are not your equal is a good way to profit at the game
- Paying attention to and remembering the other players' upcards
- Take the time to read your opponents. When you have folded, still pay attention to what is going on at the table, and observe how various players behave in certain situations
- You need to develop the courage to bet/raise/call. If you have a hand that might be the best hand, but is not necessarily the best hand, it takes a lot of will to keep going to the showdown
- Keep your emotions under control. A bad beat can get to anyone. Dont play when your angry or upset
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