Pro Tips: How to Take Your Online Poker Game to the Next Level

Poker is one of the most skilled games in online gambling. It requires a whole heap of knowledge, from understanding hand values to evaluating odds, managing your bankroll and developing a strategy.

If you are looking to develop your poker strategy and take your game to the next level, then it's well worth paying attention to those that consider themselves experts. There are so many tips out there these days, from how to spot tells online to more generic advice like taking advantage of promotions, such as signing up to the best casino bonuses at Slotsjudge to boost bankroll without risking more of your own money. So, if you are looking to take your game to the next level, here's some guidance from the poker pros...

Advanced Online Poker Tips to Improve Your Poker Game

1. Learn to Beat the Micro Stakes First

You'll find micro stakes poker rooms are full of novices, all of whom are regularly making mistakes that are easy to spot if you are a more advanced players. It'll help you improve your skills around spotting tells and catching the bluffs, as well as hone your craft around stealing blinds and uncontested pots.

It also allows you to experiment with how aggressive you want to be with your play, with beginners often unable to spot bluffs and be far more likely to fold.

2. Recognize betting patterns in poker games

Poker is a game full of betting patterns and spending time analysing your opponents can be a good way to get a firmer understanding of the game and what a player's next move will be.

For example, if a player is consistently raising pre-flop, then there's a good chance they'll have a strong hand. Things like betting heavily after the flop will indicate the same. 

3. Make the most of your position at the table

Successful online poker players are much more likely to make the most of where they sit at the table compared to those new to the game, so getting to grips on how it can help you can really improve your situation. 

• Early positions: If you are one of the first to act, you should avoid playing weak hands as you are solely reliant on your cards winning the hand at this point.
• Middle positions: You can be a bit more adventurous here, but you will still have other players that can call and act in the later positions.
• Late positions: These are the best positions to take advantage as you are the last to act each round and you can be much more flexible in how you play. Although you still need to be calculated. You can't just play any awful hand!

4. Don't Call 3-bets Out of Position

Ultimately, calling 3-bets when not in a good position at the table is going to put you at a huge disadvantage, unless you have a killer hand of course. Your calling range is much weaker and opponents can take advantage of that. 

It is worth noting there are exceptions and professional gambler Jim Bakos does have some guidance on this, and in particularly donk bets. However, he does also say, "I never suggest a donk bet for information or to find out “where we stand”. I don't bet to get value from worse hands that may check behind or are willing to call with overcards."

5. Aggressive semi-bluffs with the right hand

The art of the semi-bluff is always advantageous to have in your arsenal. There are key times to be aggressive with the semi-bluff, which include:

• Encouraging the fold
• When you believe there's value to be had on the next turn
• When you're in a strong position
• When building a pot

Arved Klohn at Poker Listings concludes, "Just like the majority of poker moves the Semi-Bluff works best when you’re in position. Because a successful semi-bluff relies so heavily on fold equity, it’s only effective when your opponent has a high probability of folding."

Conclusion

You can utilize these tips across all poker sites and they really will help you understand the game better and help you take the step towards shifting from a beginner and intermediate towards a real pro of the online poker world. 

If you've mastered the basics, such as bankroll management and hand risks, you may want to start developing these skills with free poker online before moving on to real money, and when fully honed you'll do more than enough to win over the long term, even if you don't have the best hand at the table!