You’ve just started playing online poker and you’ve discovered something: you’re not very good at the game.  That’s fine!  Most people who want to play poker have seen it on TV and think it’s some sort of magical money fountain where you bluff a lot and money showers down from heaven, and who can blame them?  The poker broadcasts are edited to show the most exciting hands and ignore the other 99.5% of play that’s only really of interest to the people who are picking up the chips.  Here’s three tips to make you play better.

Don’t Let Others See The Flop For Free
If you’re holding cards strong enough to see the flop, don’t let others get in the action without paying a toll.  Raise by the minimum bet.  Beginners (like yourself!) love to see the flop for as little money as possible and it’s dangerous to let them do it.  If you’re holding AK and the two other guys you’re playing against have 10-5 and 7-4, they are getting a free change at building a straight or a flush if you don’t kick them around a bit.  If 10-9-8 hits, there’s an open-ended straight draw for one guy and another guy gets a shot at a pair of tens without paying!  It’s wasting a good starting hand when you might be able to kick them out of the pot entirely just by showing them you’ve got your right hand high.

Don’t Be Afraid To Fold After The Flop
We know, we know.  It can be very hard to fold after the flop.  You’ve put money into the pot and you want to stay in to see what happens.  This is not playing poker: this is being an observer who is paying to watch other people take their money.  If you’re holding AK (again) and the flop is JJ5, it’s very likely that you’re going to walk away bloodied if you stay in.  If, through some miracle, an Ace and a King hit the board, you’re still going to lose to that guy holding a pair of Jacks or even one Jack.

Play Smart On The Turn And River
If you’re holding a draw after the turn (you need to hit one more card to make  good hand like a straight or a flush) then try to get to the river for as little money as possible.    If you’re sure you have the best possible hand after the turn, make it expensive for opponents to see the river and if you see that the community cards include a pair?  Someone could have a full house.

These are very basic tips, but beginning players could do wise by learning them to improve their game right away.