Basic Online Poker Strategies

By Hank Blaine • November 12, 2020

What makes online poker such a fun and interesting game to both play and watch is the level of strategy a player applies to his/her game with the luck factor thrown in for good measure.

Online poker is an easy game to pick up and a hard game to master, especially with the competition getting stiffer as players develop their own skills. That being said, we here at Nitrobetting came up with quick poker guides covering a few basic online poker strategies that both beginners and intermediate players alike can benefit from.

Online Poker Timers and Layouts

Unlike traditional poker, online poker games and tournaments have certain features that change how rounds of poker are played out compared to its live counterpart.

Players must know that online poker works with an in-game timer, giving players a limited amount of time to check, raise or fold their hands, whereas live poker players can virtually take all the time they want to make an action. Online poker may also have a different layout one may expect in comparison to the live version of the game, so players should always familiarize themselves with how the online poker table looks prior to diving into the game.

While these may seem like disadvantages, the overall convenience and safety, and return on investment of playing poker online far outweigh the negatives. In fact, online poker players have used the in-game timer to their own advantage; often holding out on actions as the timer ticks down to indicate either a bluff or serious thought about how they want to play that particular hand.

The Importance of Table Position

Specific to Texas hold ‘em poker, a player’s position on the table is a huge factor in and of itself.

Here are a few of the basic terms in Texas hold ‘em with regards to players in certain positions during a round:

Big Blind: the player who’s required to bet the minimum required bet in a given round.
Small Blind: the player who’s required to pay half of the minimum bet required in a given round.
Under the gun: the player who is after the big blind player and who acts first during the pre-flop turn.
Pre-flop: the first round of betting before the community cards (dealer’s cards) are dealt.
Post-flop: the second and succeeding rounds of betting wherein the small blind acts first followed by the big blind.

Players should be aware of where they’re positioned in the turn order of a given table, as this will determine how aggressive or passive one can play his/her hand seeing who’s up next in the turn order.

READ MORE: Jacks or Better Strategy Guide

Understanding Pots and Hand Odds

Probability is king in poker, with the best professional players always able to leverage their knowledge of pot values and odds of hands to the utmost advantage.

In Texas hold ‘em poker, it’s paramount to understand the odds of winning with a given hand while also taking the amount at stake in the round known as the pot. The odds and the total pot value changes even more so when the community cards – the turn, flop, and river cards – are dealt by the dealer.

Obviously, understanding poker hands and the odds of those various hands make for the backbone of any good poker player. Knowing when and how much to react in a round of poker, meanwhile, is a skill that’s only refined through experience.

In online poker, players are given a helping hand, with in-game tools able to jot down notes on the tendencies and trends of opposing players. That being said, online poker also is a great way for players looking to enhance their skills before taking their action to live casino floors.

Bluffing and Calling Bluffs

Bluffing is a commonly-used term in poker, wherein a player tries to fool other players that his/her hand has a better winning hand than the rest of the table despite not having close to a winning hand whatsoever.

Reading, calling, and making bluffs in online poker poses a different challenge for all players considering that all players can’t discern physical mannerisms like poker games played in-person. Therefore, learning how to “bluff” online is another strategy that players should pick up on.

As mentioned earlier, online poker tables have tools within the game for players to take notes on certain players’ digital mannerisms in lieu of the face-to-face psychological battle. Just do note that the opposition is also likely tracking them back.

Giving Online Poker Some Rest

There’s no question that players can play online poker from hours on end. However, it’s also important for players to take breathers every so often to keep themselves from tilting or making erroneous plays.

Not only will more frequent breaks from playing poker be good for one’s health, better results will also follow once a player clears his/her head after taking some time off from the game, only to get back into the action with a renewed outlook and strategy after some time away from the digital poker tables.

Where to Bet on Poker

Players can start placing stakes on online poker games here at Nitrobetting; the leading Bitcoin casino and online BTC sportsbook on the internet. Create an account now to put your newly-acquired poker knowledge to the test with our wide selection of poker variations and tournaments round-the-clock.

Be sure to also check out our Nitrobetting News for all the latest updates on our new online casino releases and promotions.