| |  The ten commandments of online texas holdem
Just as in the bible the ten commandments govern how to live life, these ten commandments could govern how to play effective online texas holdem
1.Thou shall use the instant hand tracker
The instant hand tracker is a great thing, because after every hand in which there is a showdown, it allows you to go back and relook at the hand, seeing what each player has, and how they played it. Does player A have a certain betting pattern when he flops the nuts? Does Player J do a certian thing every time he is chasing a flush/straight?
2.Thou shall be able to fold big opening handsd
This is one that even i need to work on, Case is, when you have pocket pair of 10s, JJ, QQ, or even KK, and flop comes with AK3, although you have a big hand before the flop, you need to fold that QQ right there if bet into probably. Also, if four spades, or open ended straight on board, and you hold trips/2 pair, it probably isnt best hand so be sure to fold it and not play it if raised due to being a "strong hand"
3.Thou shall not show cards
Never show your cards unless you absolutely have to. Showing your cards gives your opponent one more read on you that they could not have gotten otherwise. This could come back to haunt you later on in your game
4.Thou shall become effective at note taking
Online poker gives you the ability to take notes on all of the players at your table and in a tournament. Use this to your advantage. If you notice a pattern in Player A's style the first two hands, jot it down, because it could be you and him with 4 left and top 3 playing going head to head, when that read you got earlier can help you to win
5.Thou shall not let your emotions take over for you
We've all been there before have KK get called by some guy w/ QJo all in preflop, only to see the flop come 10,9,8. Immediately you go into anger mode, and start reraising every hand, and throwing the rest of your chips away. Take time, take a deep breath, and go back to playing your game, because if you weren't busted, you still have a chance to win.
6Thou shall not be predictable
People say with onl ine poker it is hard to get a read on a player, but that is wrong. Some players with the amount, and the time spent on each bet, allow others to get a tell for how strong they are. For example, one player i play regularly against, i cant tell just by the amount of time it takes him to hit the call/raise button, exactly whether or not he has a better hand than i do. Look for this in your opponents.
7.Thou shall not blow your bankroll in one night
This isnt so much with the actual game itself, but rather it has to do with what kind of tables you are sitting at. So many times, people will make there $50 deposit, and want to make money fast so they head to the $2/$4 ring games to make some quick dough. Dont be one of these people. Start out at smaller limits and eventually build your roll up higher and move on to higher limits.
8.thou shall notslow play big preflop hands
Too many times when someone loses a hand when there hole cards are AA,KK,QQ, it is because they either just called the BB or raised the minimum before the flop. Doing this allows numerous amounts of people to see the flop, increasing the odds, that someone catches something on the flop, which is better than what you have
9. thou shall use your chat wisely
This isnt about poker edicit or anything, but it is about how the chat can be one thing that can be used to your advantage in a poker game. Now, it wont work in a THF game where we are all friends, but in MTT's that you are in, you dont have to be mean or break the rules, but definately by having the chat you can rattle your opponents a little bit. However by using the chat you have to be careful not to give tells on yourself, such as excessive chatting that stops when you have a big hand, or no chatting, then talk it up when you raise big, and someone else is pondering a call, then you give them a tell accidently
10.thou shall have fun
If you arent having fun playing poker, you shouldnt be playing, because poker is either your job or hobby, and if a hobby isnt fun, it shouldnt be a hobby, and if it's your job, and you dont like it, maybe you should get an easier, more fun job. |
Lots of good rules and guidlines to follow here, if anyone hopes to have any degree of success at online poker. 
