14 Poker Tips for Beginners to Start Playing like an Expert

Playing cash games like Poker requires skill, patience, and strategy. Some important poker tips and tricks for beginners can help you start like a pro, giving you an edge over your opponents and impressing your friends with how much you know as a first time player. The different buy-ins, poker variants, and tournaments can seem overwhelming, but with the best online poker tips and tricks for beginners, you can quickly improve your game.

MPL’s Rules of Poker guide can help you understand the game better, while basic poker tips build strong strategies, especially for online poker cash games. Whether you’re just starting or looking to level up, MPL has you covered.

Top Poker Tips For Beginners To Play Online Poker

It is always helpful to know a few poke tips for beginners before a first-time player starts playing this classic card game. It is easy to think any hand can be converted into a winning combination through some luck with community cards. This is a big mistake that players often make during the early stages of playing Poker. A professional poker player memorizes the poker hand rankings to identify a winning hand.

Here is a basic guideline of poker hand rankings:

• A-A and K-K are considered as the Premium Hands. If the player has such a combination as their hole cards, chances of winning the pot is higher.
• Following the same principle, A-K, Q-Q, and J-J are strong hands. A-Q, 10-10, 9-9, and 8-8 are considered marginal hands and lead to a winning pot.
• A general online poker tip to follow is that the player should fold any hand less than a pair early.

1. Choose your starting hand carefully

In Poker, many new players want to play every hand. But it is better to play only strong hands. Playing weak hands can make you lose money.

Here’s an easy tip: choose strong hands at the start and fold weak hands. If you are one of the last players to act (called "late position"), you can raise with strong hands. But if your cards are weak, it is safer to fold.

The best starting hands in Poker are pocket aces (A-A) and kings (K-K). These hands are strong even if you are the first to play.

Other good hands if you are in a late position include 10-10, 9-9, 8-8, 7-7, 6-6, and suited aces like A-10, A-9, A-8 (same suit). Small pairs like 2-2 and 3-3 are weaker, so play these only if they look good after the first three cards (the flop). Don’t keep weak hands for too long.

By choosing good hands, you can play better and have a better chance of winning!

2. Play in Ranges, Not Hands

One of the most important Poker tips is learning to spot beginner players in the game. To do this, you need to observe others carefully.

Spotting Players:

• Beginners: They focus on guessing one specific hand the other player might have. They rely on their gut feeling and try to guess exactly what hand the opponent has.
• Advanced Players: They think in terms of a "range" of possible hands. Instead of guessing one specific hand, they consider all the hands their opponent might have in that situation. For example, the opponent could have a flush, top pair, middle pair, bottom pair, or just ace-high. Advanced players try to understand the full range of poker hands their opponent could hold. They also use this to calculate things like pot odds (the chance they will win based on the amount in the pot).

Advanced players don’t focus on one specific hand, they look at the full picture to make smarter choices.

3. Learn the basic math

Learn the basics of math to play poker well. While many people think poker is just about luck, it actually relies on careful decisions, simple ideas, and understanding probability. In Texas Hold 'Em, you need to know the odds, which means understanding your chances of getting a winning hand.

Take some time to learn how to calculate your odds of making a good hand. Learn how many "outs" you have - this means how many cards are left in the deck that can improve your hand. Then, compare these odds to the amount of money you need to bet.

When you understand these basics, you’ll be able to make smart decisions based on math instead of just guessing. This will make you a better player.

4. Recognize betting patterns in Poker Games

The cards you get at the start of a poker game can set the tone, but it’s not the only strategy to win in online poker. Starting with a strong hand is usually best, but other factors come into play, especially if you’re playing with skilled players.

A good way to understand the game is by observing how your opponents play. Even though it might not seem like a typical online poker tip, watching your opponent’s betting style can give you clues about their cards. This skill takes time to develop, but as a beginner, it’s useful to learn a few advanced tricks. By paying close attention to how players bet in each round and what they show at the end, you can gather valuable information to improve your strategy.

5. Adopt different styles of play

A crucial online poker tip is to mix up a variety of approaches as Poker is a fascinating game. Some of these approaches include -

• Tight - Play cautiously with relatively fewer hands and take lesser risks.
• Loose - This is the opposite of 'tight,' involving playing with many hands and being more willing to gamble.
• Aggressive - This involves a lot of betting, opening pots, and going for huge bets to put the opponent under pressure.
• Passive: This is the opposite of aggressive, which involves calling more often than betting as it is in the opponents' hand to dictate how the action unfolds.
• Slow Playing: Slow Playing, called sandbagging or trapping, is a deceptive play in Poker where players bet a weak hand with a strong holding.

In a poker game, the key lies in being flexible enough to use any style depending on the situation, as being predictable more often than not ends up in defeat. Play tight when you have to, make loose calls when required. Beginner poker players could look to go for a 'tight-aggressive' combination. Play differently, and you can win more money.

6. Make the most of your position at the table

One of the most important poker tips is understanding your table position.

You may face a raise or re-raise if you are in an early position when you are the first to act. On the other hand, in a late position, you have more knowledge about how your opponents acted and what they might hold.

The significance of one's position cannot be overstated. It determines which hands you will raise and call with and how aggressive you should be before and after the flop.

If there have been no raises, you should always raise small pocket pairs in late position. Those hands, however, become merely calls in early position. The closer you get to the small blind, the more cautious you need to be.

7. Never be the first player to limp

As a beginner poker player, never be the first player to limp. There are two main reasons why you should never limp :

• You can't win the pot before the flop like you wanted(if you raised)
• You can face multiple players because you might have tempting pot odds if you limp. Thus, you're less likely to win the pot.

The more mature poker skills are to limp when at least one player has already limped. It is a good poker strategy because you will be getting great pot odds. This means you can win something.

8. Learn how to bluff

The game theory of Poker suggests that top players wouldn't win nearly as many pots if they didn't bluff. Because sometimes it so happens in poker tournaments, you will frequently miss the flop or turn. Learning to bluff is an excellent strategy to get people to fold.

To get better hands to fold, good players know how to bluff. Begin by understanding how to play the continuation bet (c-bet). After leading the betting preflop, you make this wager on the flop.

It doesn't matter if you've struck a flop or not; a c-bet will keep the tale moving forward. A c-bet is also excellent for hiding your made hands if you have an aggressive persona. While you may have a good hand, your opponent may assume you're just attempting to buy the pot.

9. Aggressive semi-bluffs with the right hand

Bluffing remains an integral poker strategy that can turn even a losing game in your favour. While there are numerous strategies associated with bluffing in Poker, 'semi-bluffing' is a poker strategy where the player dictates only if they draw a decent hand. This means that the player will bluff only if the hand dealt has outs to improve to the best hand during the later rounds. Bluffing with a total nothing hand before the river has chances to backfire more often than not. Hence, semi-bluffing becomes important as it lays down the perfect hand criteria to proceed with a bluff or fold.

One such scenario is that poker players should check if the hand-drawn has potential showdown value during the betting round. E.g., a pair or ace-high.

10. Defend Blinds

A basic poker strategy is used to suggest that you should fold the majority of your hands in the small and large blinds. Nowadays, however, the popular belief is that you should guard your blinds at all costs.

You've already paid an imposed bet if you're in the big blind, for example. You're also second to act when the flop is revealed. Why should this be a position you have to defend when you don't know most of the table?

Post-flop betting is the key to the answer. You're the last one to act in the big blind. You can raise, call a raise, or check to see if anyone has raised before the flop.

Being the last to act offers you much information about your opponents before the flop.

With this knowledge, you can call the big blind with various hands. Furthermore, you may be getting a good bargain on a flop.

However, use caution while playing the big blind. The player should avoid re-raised pots and consider the number of players in hand. With a multiway-playing hand, you should also protect your big blind, such as suited connectors or premium pairs.

11. Play low stakes and keep making notes

A poker tip to keep in mind: Play low-stakes games to hone your skills, then try your hand at larger at buy-in poker tournaments. Always take notes when playing. Implement these easy poker tips to improve your game and win the pot.

12. Choose the stakes sensibly

An often overlooked poker tip, choosing your stakes wisely is very crucial. Being a winner is difficult without proper bankroll management, even after using the best poker tips. Play Poker in limits that you can afford; avoid those limits where you have the potential to lose money.

13. Don't play too many hands

If you are under the impression that playing too many hands will give you a winning shot, that is the wrong poker strategy. This is a prevalent mistake that beginner poker players end up making. Sure, a few poker hands will give you a winning pot, but you're more likely to lose. While starting, always be selective with your poker hands.

14. Too much bluffing is also bad

One of the poker rules you need to remember: too much bluffing will make you lose the game miserably. Poker tournaments often showcase the bluffing part, but that is not the poker strategy that will help you win the cash game. Bluff occasionally, but don't follow that strategy blindly. Focus on your cards more, be it Texas Hold'Em tournaments or any other variant of Poker.

Tips for Poker Tells

Players make some tell-tale poker signs, like nervous talking, nail-biting, frequent glances, or filling up the chatbox with messages. However, if you observe closely, there are more Poker tells than you know. Read Common Online Poker Tells for a more comprehensive list.

Apart from these tips that you must include to improve your poker game. You can avoid making few mistakes that can make you lose.

How to Play Poker Online for Real Money

Want to play Poker and bring your online poker strategy to the test? Besides being just a card game, it's also a cash game. Start playing Poker on MPL and win big now!

• For Android, Go to the Poker page on the MPL website and scan the QR code on the page to download the MPL App. For iOS devices, visit the App Store, search for "MPL". Click on "Get" to download the app.
• If you're new, tap on "Sign Up" to create your account. You’ll need to enter your phone number or email, set up a password, and verify your details.
• If you already have an account, just click "Log In" and enter your credentials.
• To start playing for real money, deposit funds into your MPL wallet. You can use various payment methods such as UPI, wallets, or bank transfers.
• Go to the "Deposit" section in the app to add money to your account.
• Once your account is set up and you’ve deposited funds, browse the poker options available. Select the cash game or tournament you want to play.
• MPL offers different variants of poker, including Texas Hold'em, so choose the one that suits you.
• After selecting your game, you’ll be placed at a table. Use the above discussed poker tips to make smart decisions with your cards and chips.
• Bet, fold, or raise based on the strength of your hand and position.
• If you win, you can withdraw your funds to your bank account or e-wallet through the "Withdraw" option in the app.

2 Bonus Poker Tips for Any Poker Player

Attack When Your Opponent Shows Slight Weakness

Players can often have a relatively weak hand that will fold when faced with multiple bets. When your opponent starts showing a lot of weakness, you can take advantage of them with aggressive bluffing. Don't just go with semi bluffs; go with pure bluffs. This poker strategy will be a winning shot.

Fold when unsure

This is one poker strategy that almost all players know but fail to execute when playing the game. Poker is a mental game. A good poker player is generally the one who folds more hands than he actually wins. It takes real prowess for a player to fold a good pair - a situation where most will be enticed to continue hoping to snatch a win.

However, what differentiates a pro player from the crowd is their ability to read the table, the opponents, and deciding to fold even if it means losing a few poker chips during the initial betting round. Whenever you're unsure if you should play the hand or fold, the general rule of thumb is to choose the latter.

FAQs on Poker Tips and Strategy

1. What are the best tips for beginner poker players?

• Start with low-stakes games to practice.
• Play tight-aggressive by betting only on strong hands.
• Avoid bluffing too much.
• Always pay attention to opponents' betting patterns.

2. How do I manage my poker money?

Play games with budget you can afford to enjoy the game better. MPL has poker tables for all budgets, so you can choose what suits you and play responsibly. The basic tip for online poker cash game is to only playing best hands and betting confidently, avoiding too much risks.

3. How important is position in poker?
Position is crucial in poker. Being in a late position lets you see how others act before you make your move. This gives you a strategic advantage to play more aggressively or cautiously.

4. Should beginners bluff in poker?
Beginners should bluff carefully. Focus on learning when to bluff and use semi-bluffing strategies, which are safer than bluffing with a weak hand. These are helpful poker tips to improve your game.

5. How do I choose my starting hands?
Play strong hands like A-A, K-K, and Q-Q in any position. In late positions, you can also play suited connectors (like 10♠-9♠) and smaller pairs. Fold weaker hands early to avoid unnecessary losses.

6. What is a "tight-aggressive" strategy?
A tight-aggressive strategy means playing fewer hands but betting strongly when you do. This approach reduces risks and helps you maximize your wins with strong hands.

8. How do I improve my online poker game?

• Study poker tips and strategies.
• Practice regularly ion MPL poker app with free or low-stakes games.
• Clearly your gameplay and identify areas for improvement.

9. What are "ranges" in poker, and why are they important?
"Ranges" refer to the set of possible hands your opponent could have in a situation. Thinking in ranges instead of specific hands helps you make better decisions by considering all possibilities.

10. Can I play poker for real money online in India?
Yes, you can play poker for real money online in India, but it depends on your state laws. Platforms like MPL provide a secure way to play and earn real cash rewards.