10 Online Poker Tips Used By Pros
Poker has been around for centuries. People all over the world have played it in some form or other; they’ve also built an entire culture around this captivating game. Stories are told, myths are created, and legends are made at the poker tables.
That includes the online tables right here at Bodog Poker. If you haven’t already, you can start building your own legacy right now by playing in one of our featured poker tournaments. Events like these have become the most popular way to play online poker for real money, giving you not only a shot at glory, but some life-changing money as well.
Using cryptocurrency to play at Bodog Poker has also become very popular in recent years. In our latest guide to all things poker, we’ll give you 10 simple online poker tips quoted directly from the game’s top professionals, then we’ll show you why crypto is especially important when you’re playing the big tournaments.
Tip 1: “Rarely is it correct to play a hyper-aggressive style of poker.”
Daniel Negreanu is one of the most successful tournament poker players of all-time. The proud Canadian also has a reputation of playing “loose” poker, but he only unleashes those small suited connectors every once in a while, when the moment is just right.
Tip 2: “Poker is really about reading people.”
Nobody’s won more World Series of Poker bracelets than Phil Hellmuth. His brand of “white magic” may look strange to critics who base their decisions entirely on math, but Hellmuth uses his keen powers of observation to measure up his opponents and get inside their heads.
Tip 3: “Poker is meant to be enjoyed.”
Online poker wouldn’t be where it is today without Chris Moneymaker. He proved that so-called “recreational” players can be good enough to win the big one, which Moneymaker did at the 2003 World Series of Poker Main Event. The more you enjoy poker, the more likely you’ll put the time in and get really good at it.
Tip 4: “Ninety percent of the hands aren’t shown in a poker game.”
Doyle Brunson was one of the first people to make a name for himself through poker, thanks in part to his 1979 book Super/System. His book is almost a script for online poker tips. You usually don’t get to see what cards your opponents have, but they also don’t get to see yours unless you show them. Use that mystery to your advantage.
Tip 5: “If you play like everyone else, you’ll be fine, but you’ll never be great.”
It took less than a year for New York Times best-selling author Maria Konnikova to go from complete beginner to taking down a major poker tournament. Konnikova used the things that made her unique – including her willingness to put in the work – to become a champion.
Tip 6: “You go broke because you don’t have the discipline to follow bankroll management.”
Phil Laak was a fixture on the late-night poker shows during the mid-Aughts, thanks to his buoyant personality and “Unabomber” nickname. Even a professional player of his skills knows that poker is also a game of luck, and that you need to play at stakes that are appropriate for your bankroll. Playing online poker for real money can be a pressurised environment, so making sure you are in control is hugely important.
Tip 7: “The key to playing on the highest level is to stay patient.”
Now that he’s “retired” from poker, 2016 WSOP High Roller for One-Drop winner Fedor Holz is focussing more on providing mental game advice and training – and he has a lot of wisdom to share. Don’t try to win every hand of poker you’re dealt; pick your spots when they come up, which they will.
Tip 8: “Take advantage of all of the videos that are available online.”
Maria Ho has built her profile as a top player and poker commentator, appearing on virtually every show in the business. Like many pros, she uses instructional videos to sharpen her game, and she makes a habit of it to ensure that she’s always improving.
Tip 9: “The worst form of tilt for a professional poker player is auto-pilot.”
Speaking of instructional videos, Phil Galfond runs arguably the top website in poker (aside from Bodog Casino of course), Run It Once. Galfond is one of the most focused players you’ll find at the tables, always aware of the players around him and the situation they’re in at every stage of the hand. This is what allows him – and you – to make the best possible decisions in the moment.
Tip 10: “Know when to fold ‘em.”
Okay, the late Kenny Rogers technically doesn’t count as a top pro, but his 1978 song The Gambler gets quoted more often at the tables than anything else. As it should be; this piece of advice might be the most important of these 10 online poker tips, because folding is one of the hardest things for most players – even the experts.
Play Online Poker at Bodog With Crypto
All of the tips we’ve listed here can be used at the cash tables as well as tournaments – and using Bitcoin (or any of the other digital coins on our menu) has its advantages no matter which games you’re playing at Bodog Poker. But it’s even more important when you’re playing big-money tournaments like the weekly $200K Guaranteed, where we recently bumped the prize pool up from $150K to give you even more reason to play every Sunday.
Consider this Tip 11: When you enter one of these tournaments, plan to win. There are very large prizes at the top, including a bare minimum of $17,000 when you win the $200K Guaranteed. Using crypto will make it a lot easier for you to move these larger amounts of money in and out of your Bodog Poker account, with greater security, faster turnaround times and much lower fees than other methods. Watch one of our Bitcoin tutorials to find out more, and we’ll see you at the tables.