Rules for Developing Online Poker Strategies

The foundation for developing your particular online poker strategies should be based upon what is called the fundamental theorem of poker as defined by David Sklansky, world champion poker player. Mr. Sklansky has this to say about poker strategy:

“Every time you play your hand the way you would if you could see your opponent's cards, you gain, and every time your opponent plays his cards differently from the way he would play them if he could see your cards, you gain.”

By basing your game plan on this theorem of poker, you stand a better chance of keeping your opponent off-guard allowingg you to win more pots as a result.

Online poker strategies should also include a solid understanding of pot odds. Pot odds are used to calculate the ratio between the amount of money in the pot and the size of the bet needed to stay in the game. For example: A $10 call against a $40 pot creates pot odds of 4:1. When you combine pot odds with the odds of winning a particular hand, it becomes easier to decide when to call, raise and fold. This means that part of your online poker strategies also needs to include how to calculate the odds of drawing the hand you need in order to win.

Another important part of your online poker plan is to determine what your table posture, or table image will be. Your table image is the persona you create for yourself based upon your playing tactics and how your opponents interpret those tactics. By subtly varying your table image during play, you can throw your opponents off track and cause them to misjudge your hand. This plays into Sklansky’s theorem.

Will you be known as an aggressive player or a passive one? Aggressive players bet and raise more frequently. Passive players tend to check and call. Sometimes, depending upon how the game is going, you may end up being a little of each.

The final thing is to establish whether you want to be known as a tight player or a loose player. Loose players usually play more hands than tight players do, and they stick around more often when they really should have folded. The tight player plays less hands and will readily fold when they don’t have a good hand. That’s the preferred online poker strategies.