The past two decades have seen the meteoric rise in popularity for the poker game online. Poker is now easier to play than ever thanks to a simplicity of playing on the laptop or phone from any location. In contrast to the atmosphere and pace of playing live in the casino, online poker might be more difficult to adjust to if you’re a beginner. To help you transition your poker skills to the digital felt, here are 5 invaluable tips to succeed when playing poker online.
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Take Notes on Opponents
One major adjustment playing online poker is the inability to observe opponents’ physical tells and reactions. However, the ability to take meticulous notes on rivals mitigates this. Most online poker sites and apps allow you to tag opponents and record detailed notes on how they played specific hands or situations against you.
Studying these accumulated hand histories and notes identifies each opponent’s patterns, style, and tendencies over time. You’ll learn who the loose aggressive players are, who frequently bluffs, who only continues with strong made hands, and other Behavioral traits. This intelligence makes adjusting your own strategy versus specific opponents much easier.
For example, you can make lighter calls against a tagged opponent who frequently bluffs. Or fold more versus a nit who only bets with a strong hand. Translating online opponents into data through notetaking allows you to make better informed decisions in future hands, despite not seeing their facial reactions. Don’t underestimate the power of databases in online poker. Consciously recording and utilizing notes is hugely advantageous.
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Utilize Multi-Tabling
One unique advantage of online poker is the ability to play multiple tables and hands at the same time, referred to as multi-tabling. While playing a single table is common for beginners, developing multi-tabling skills can be highly rewarding if done strategically.
The main benefit is you see more hands per hour by spreading your time across 2-4 tables. This increased volume smooths out the impacts of variance, and accelerates your poker learning curve by providing more experience. Start conservatively with just 2-3 tables, and incrementally add another as you improve focus and comfort.
Be selective about which additional tables to join rather than spreading yourself too thin. Target tables where you’re positioned later in the blinds order, allowing more observation time before having to pay for blinds. Adopt a snug playing style, folding weak hands early and only paying premiums. Make decisions quickly without second guessing.
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Master Bankroll Management
Bankroll management is critical in online poker due to the higher variance compared to live games. When playing online, you can’t visually spot weak or strong players like in a live setting. As a result, you’ll inevitably experience wilder swings, extended winning and losing stretches, and more setbacks even if you play perfectly.
To counter the higher variance, you need to build a sufficient bankroll cushion and follow the proper BRM strategy. A general rule of thumb is to have 50-100 big blinds ready for the limits you intend to play. Only risk 1-3% of this total bankroll during any one session.
If your bankroll drops by 10-20% below its peak, move down one or two limits to rebuild. Following a strict BRM regimen ensures you have enough of a buffer to withstand the inevitable downswings without damaging your bankroll’s longevity. It protects you from going broke.
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Configure Your Table Setup
Unlike live poker, online poker software allows you to extensively customize the look, feel, and layout of your virtual poker table. Investing a little time upfront to configure your online poker setup to match your preferences and playing style can give you a significant edge.
Some useful customizations include increasing the bet slider sizes so you can easily place bets with less mouse movement. Enable auto stack top off so you automatically rebuy to the maximum stack size. Switch to four-color decks to more easily identify potential flushes and draws. Adjust the size and positioning of tables on your screen to minimize mouse travel between tables if multi-tabling. Remove unnecessary graphics and animations that just distract you from the gameplay.
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Stay Patient and Avoid Tilt
Patience is a virtue in poker that’s tested even more in the rapid online environment. With so many hands flying by, you’ll invariably hit bad beats or suffer bad luck. Staying calm and avoiding going on tilt is pivotal to succeed online.
After big losses, get up and walk away momentarily. Don’t immediately redeposit or play higher limits while angry. Breathing exercises and meditation can help temper your emotions. Remember results orient around the long run – focus on making +EV decisions regardless of outcomes. Keeping composure in online poker’s high variance environment separates winners from losers.
Conclusion
Mastering online poker or 3 patti sequence requires adjustments if you’re used to live play. Taking diligent notes, multi-tabling strategically, managing your bankroll, customizing your setup, and avoiding tilt are essential tips to excel online. Learning these best practices will help you maximize your winrate and unlock the lucrative potential of internet poker.