Pre Play advice

Most poker tables are battlefields if you think of them as anything else just commit all your stack and walk away it will save time and effort because you will lose it all anyway. 

Now we're not trying to scare you but like any sport you have to be prepared, Poker requires skill, nerve, and Wit. Before you join the game take the time to watch it for a while pick up some pointers on the other players at the table, the old saying watch and learn comes readily to mind.

Some basics - Are you mad! in a bad mood, everyone been getting at you today, well go and play tiddlywinks tonight because a poker table is the last place you want to be in that kind of mood.

Don't try the old I'll try a massive bluff on the first hand and catch everyone out, it's the quickest way to lose your manhattan we've seen. 

Learn how to fold the greatest players can fold quicker than you can say it, playing every hand will lose you valuable chips that you will need later on.

Would you like some idea of the odds on certain hands appearing click here

Know Your Odds

Know your odds, if you can understand the maths of poker you'll win it's almost that simple.  Don't be afraid to ask a question, most poker players are friendly and polite, if they can help they will, just don't ask them what cards they have in the middle of an hand, no one is that helpful.

Feel like your being beat not sure whether to call or fold, go with the gut feeling nine out of ten you'll be right, okay you'll be bluffed once in a while but it's better than losing your manhattan when you knew they had the Royal Flush but thought you'd see it anyway.

Learn to judge the other players at the table even online you can do this, would you like an idea of some of the characters you can meet click here.

Learn to judge the value of your starting hands, learn to fold bad ones, for instance which starting hand would you prefer, A-A or 9-2.

Be aware of your position on the table if your out of position don't try and force play, remember the guys in late position have all the advantages.  If your in this position use it.