Playing Poker Online: What You Really Need to Know

 Playing Poker Online – What You Really Need To Know

Poker is a game where skill is required. Each decision you make is about maximising your Expected Value, or EV. This article will be referring to "EV", and it will be used in two ways. You can either have +EV which is positive Expected value, or -EV which is negative. These are reasons poker isn't gambling.

Gambling games generally have an adverse EV (5.49% for you) and a positive EV (5.49%) for the casino. Although you might win short-term, the long-term outcome of typical gambling games is that the casino will always win by around 5.49%, even if they play them 1000 times. These kinds of gambling games, as you can see, are in the favor of the house. Poker pits players against each other, and not the house. In a full or shorthanded ring game (with 9 players) the goal is make the best EV decisions possible against all other players who are making -EV decisions.

One simple example would be if you were dealt KK (preflop) before the flop. This is a hand that everyone knows is a strong hand preflop. This hand is likely to beat all preflop hands. If you raise "all-in" with this hand, and the new player calls every all-in, you have an enormous advantage. Each time you are a favorite, that makes it a +EV choice. This is an exaggerated example. It would be foolish to play one hand. Playing the best 20% of hands would be the smartest thing to do. Against someone who plays only 70% of these hands, this person will make a +EV decision every single time you play. You will likely have a much greater chance of winning with the starting hands. This is just scratching the surface. Every decision in every situation has an EV. Online poker sites often offer starting hand charts which are very useful for beginners. This will help you increase your EV.

Also, variance is always a good thing. While some temporary weaker players might be lucky, it's what keeps them playing and attracts new players. An excellent player who makes +EV plays will always be a winner. Because poker is not gambling, it's a casino game of skill that teaches you how to exploit your opponent’s mistakes.

Is it safe for me to play online poker

Some sites can have as many as 50,000 people at one time. Full Tilt Poker and other major sites advertise on television and the internet. They allow you to play online poker for real or free. These sites offer the best customer service, and any negative publicity could negatively impact their business. You can take responsibility for keeping your password safe. This will ensure that you are able to keep your hard-earned cash safe. Online poker sites do not have an incentive to cheat. Instead, they want to ensure fair play and allow you to keep your money. Poker is a game where you play against other players, not the house.

It is possible to feel suspicious about a poker site. They don't advertise on television or the internet, and they don’t have members who play on a daily basis. This would mean that you wouldn't want to deposit your hard earned cash there. The majority of major poker sites are reliable and safe. How to Play Poker on Full Tilt Poker