Poker Strategy: 6 Steps From Novice To Playing Like A Pro

There is no one set poker strategy for all players. Poker strategy is determined by a number of things including: Your bankroll, your motivation and most importantly your personality. Lets look at six areas that you need to follow to take you from novice player to winning the big pots consistently. The one thing to keep in mind is that poker is a game of psychology. It is not just your play that is important, you need to get inside your opponents minds and get an edge over them. Right lets get started and look at a winning poker strategy. Adopt the Right Mindset Forget the idea the its easy to win at poker if it was then everyone would win, but they don't. The number of really successful poker players is relatively small and they have all worked hard and you need to approach the game with the right attitude. If you want to be a successful player then you must really have the desire to succeed. If you don't have the desire to succeed from the outset, then you are probably not going to put in the required time and work necessary for success Learn the Basics & practice Don't play poker until you know the basics, this sounds obvious but many players simply dive in and lose. You need to learn basic poker strategy first. Bluffing, pot odds, slow playing, rules and variations of the game and the game you wish to focus on. Keep in mind you can't learn everything from books, you need experience. You need to get plenty of practice and this doesn't mean free games. There useful for a while as you learn the basics, but you need to know what its like to win and lose hard cash. Poker is a game of skill but also a game of courage and you need to feel the experience. Move up tables and pot sizes as you gain experience and perfect your poker strategy. Have a Money Management Plan How much money do you have to play poker with? You need to decide in advance and as general rule, set a bankroll aside that will give you staying power of at least 300 bets. Don't try playing in high stakes games unless you have the confidence, experience and bankroll. Expand Your Knowledge of the Game There is always something new to learn when playing and perfecting your poker strategy. Try to keep learning all the time, and have an open mind to new poker ideas and strategies. A great way to expand your knowledge is to read poker strategy that other players have used and been successful and see if they suit your style of play. Focus on other Players Poker is a game of psychology and you need to beat other players. We all know, the best hand does not always win at poker. Keep an eye on how your opponent is playing and try and adapt your poker strategy to gain an edge. You must pay attention to their style and adapt your play to it. Analysis Yourself Look at your own play after each game and try and work out what you did right and what you did wrong. Always think about what went wrong, what went right and how you can improve your overall game to improve your poker strategy. Poker is a game that looks deceptively simple but it is much more complex than many novice players believe. Perfecting your poker strategy If you think you are going to be winning big consistent pots in just a few weeks forget it. You won't. Becoming a successful poker player and developing a sccesful poker srategy takes years of practice. The good news is that you can become a good poker player with the right attitude, the right poker strategy, courage and plenty of practice. Good luck!