Poker Strategies In order to become a really great poker player you must know the rules of the game pretty well and have the best winning strategy. The rules of poker are not really hard to learn, and with lots of practice you can quickly figure out how the game works. But, besides knowing the rules a great poker player must also learn to read his opponents and anticipate their next moves. A good poker strategy begins with remembering two fundamental things. The fist is that your two cards in your hand are the only cards that separate you from the other players in the game and give you the opportunity to win. The second thing to remember is that all cards placed on the poker table facing up are the community cards. These cards are shared by players during a poker game. It is crucial for you to focus on the community cards and what they might mean to your opponents as much as they mean to you. Anticipation is the key of the game. Always keep a close eye on your opponents. The next step in a great poker strategy is being able to evaluate your cards. For example, in Hold’em poker, according to your two cards received from the dealer you have to make a decision that only you are able to see. So, when you take that first peak at your cards, make sure you won’t reveal anything to the other players with your reactions. In poker is not really advisable to show your emotions, whatever they might be. It is better to stay calm in any situations and hold your emotions inside. How do you know if your cards are bad or good? Well, this depends on how many players are in the game, but in general if you even a small pair you should fold before the flop. Some players choose to fold if even one of their cards is smaller than a 10. Aggressive players usually stay in the game if they have a pair of 8 or 9, because these cards give you more possibilities to make flush or straight. Poker games are based on the cards player have in their hands, so learn to be patient The good hands will come if you take the right decisions, and if they don’t come right away, do not get angry it’s just the way poker is. A good strategy in poker is to reduce your loses as much as possible. After you see the flop, do not just play your hand because you are already in it. Learn not to take chances if that is not necessary, or if you know your hand is not strong enough. Usually, if there are 7 players at the poker table, two pair or better than that is surely going to be the winning hand. In case you do not have even a high pair after the flop, it’s better to get out of the game. You won’t have any chances to a flush or a straight. Remember that it is a good idea to check if you are the first player after the flop. This can put your opponents in some difficult situations. If you are still in the game at the turn and the river there is a 90% chance that only one or two players are still in the game with you. You must take the best decisions when the fourth and fifth community cards are dealt. This is the part of the poker game where players should act with caution. Evaluate their hand correctly and if things are not as expected to be ready to stop. Many beginners do not know when to stop with a weak hand, they just go on hoping a miracle might come up eventually and they end up losing a lot of money. Never go too far, if you know you do not have a chance at the pot. Poker is a great game try to have fun playing it. Good luck.