10 Poker Fundamentals

There are some basic Poker fundamentals that should be used in all poker games, whether you are playing Texas Hold’em or 7 card stud. The objective of every poker game is to survive, to make it to the final table and be the winner. Every player’s objective should be to out play, out bet, and out think their opponents to be truly great at poker. Here are 10 poker fundamentals that will help you be the best poker player.

1. Survive and Win
Because Texas Holdem are designed to eliminate players your main objective is to survive the game (not the round) and protect your chips. When you take risks that are not necessary, then you will find yourself in trouble quickly.

2. Building Your Chips
Building Those Chips Up – You want to keep those chips up because there will be larger blinds and a lot of competition in the no limit games. You also want to be able to take a few calculated risks when you need to.

3. Focus on the Game
Just because your folding a lot doesn’t mean you should not pay attention to the game. You need to pay attention to the way your opponents are playing. Concentrate on your own game too. Bet when you get the right cards and are in the right situation, that way you will make prophits. It takes a lot of practice to acquire this long an attention span, and learn to be aware of your movements and those around you.

4. Learn to Adapt
Pay attention to how the game changes and learn to adapt to new conditions like the number of players at a table, the different player styles, the odds, the size of the bets, the blinds and the antes, the size of your stack of chips compared to others.

5. Patience
Learn to be patient and fold when you don’t have good start or if your cards aren’t right by the flop. Plan while others are wandering. Focus on your play and that of others.

6. Start Slowly
Patience is the name of the game. Use the early part of the game to study the opponents and find out what their habits are. This is the planning stage of your game.

7. Table Image
Be aware of how others thik you play. Make sure you mix your game up so that others cant distinguish your type. If for example you always bet on the nuts and fold at any sign of trouble, other players will figure this out.

8. Set Your Image Up
Play a few terrible hands early on so that other players will not really get a feel for the way you play. And you won’t get an image of someone who only bets the nuts.

9. Bet the Real Hands
When you get a good hand then challenge even the maniacs and aggressive raisers. Get as many chips as you can for it.

10. Play the Player
This is a key element in poker. Don’t always play the hands but get other players to make the wrong play, and know your opponent, and you can only do this by studying his plays.

Always be prepared to mix your play so that other players aren’t sure about how you will play. Go against what the table is like. For example if everyone at the table is playing tight, do the opposite, overplay some hands, do a few semi bluffs, go on some draws, etc, and if the table is loose tighten up and go with a good hand.

If you do your pre planning and learn as much as you ca about the game, and gain confidence in your game you will probably win more at Texas Holdem than lose.