From Beginner to Pro: Online Poker Tips to Up Your Game
When it comes to playing online poker, you might think that it takes years of blood, sweat, and tears to go from novice to master. But the gap between these types of players is actually a lot slimmer than you’d think. Sure, the results for each type of player might be a lot different (like thousands of dollars kinda different). But the strategies are super similar. Whether you play online poker at a $1/$2 table or a $100/$200 table, the game of Texas Hold’em is still the same. Same name, same game, same strategies.
You know what that means? It’s possible to play online poker and rake in some cash at a pro level – as long as you’re willing to learn our top strategies!
In this post, we cover Ignition Casino’s favourite online poker tips for playing smart and winning big. From poker cash games to online poker tournaments, these tactics can help you crush your competitors in all kinds of game types. You can use these as Texas Hold’em tips since that’s the main game we’ll be referencing as our example in this piece. But you can totally apply these practices in games like Omaha and Omaha Hi/Lo. At the end of the day, the gist of the strategies is the same.
Before we get into strategies, let’s explore why the game of Texas Hold’em is so popular.
Going Back in Time: What Made Texas Hold’em So Popular
Texas Hold’em is one of the most beloved online poker games on the planet. But how did we get here? The main thing poker players love about Texas Hold’em can be summed up in one word: complexity. It’s a dynamic game that gives players heaps of opportunities to try out different strategies.
While Blackjack keeps you on the edge of your seat, it’s pretty easy to master strategy across all hands. Texas Hold’em, on the other hand, is much more nuanced in terms of poker strategy. Think of it as moving from checkers to chess (but a lot less complicated and way more fun). 
Texas Hold’em features multiple betting rounds and cards to be dealt. A full ring game seats 9 players. With so many players and so many rounds, there’s ample opportunity for all kinds of playstyles to appear. You never know which one could come out on top. It could be aggression. It could be trapping or solid fundamentals. Plus, random chance always spices things up. Knowing the optimal play is super tricky, but figuring it out is all part of the fun!
Texas Hold’em is also known for being wildly exciting, especially when you play no-limit style. At any point, one player could push another to go all in or fold. The stakes can be as high as any given player decides. Combine the drama of Ignition Casino tournaments with six-figure jackpots and you’ve got some electrifying action on your hands.
There’s also the fame aspect. Yep, one of its claims to fame is fame itself. Texas Hold’em is the game played at World Series of Poker. Here, you’ll see international champions compete for jackpots beyond your wildest dreams. An action-packed game like that was bound to be wildly popular, right? Sure, Scrabble is a fine time, but you wouldn’t see a World Series of Scrabble pop up on ESPN. And even if there was such a thing, we can’t say we’d be tuning in (no offence to the Scrabble buffs reading this). 
Bluffing Tips: How to Bluff Properly
If you want to play online poker at Ignition Casino, you’ve gotta know when and how to bluff in order to win. Remember: it’s not always like what you see in the movies. You don’t need to throw out big bluffs with all your cash if you have nothing in your hand. But you always want to keep your opponents on their toes, so this is one of our top online poker tips.
Let’s start by talking about pre-flop bluffs. If you raise in an early position, you’re sending the message that you’ve got a super strong hand. Your competitors will expect you to have a high pair, or an AK or AQ hand at the very least. That said, you can chuck in a raise with a low pair hand or even low-suited connectors (e.g. 78s). By doing this, you’ll lay a clever little trap for your opponents. Now, when it comes to late position raises, most lists of Texas Hold’em tips will tell you that they’re less credible. If you ask us, though, it’s an awesome way to pick up some easy pots and boost your bankroll. Most players will fold their hands instead of playing out of position against a late raiser who’s laying on the pressure.
Now, let’s explore some online poker tips for after the flop. In this context, a classic bluff is known as a continuation bet or a “c-bet.” If you raise pre-flop, your competitors will typically check to see if the flop shifted your confidence in your hand. On a dry board (which features no high cards, scattered suits, and all kinds of ranks), a c-bet will likely pick up the pot. For example, if you’ve got an AK and you raise pre-flop, betting a dry board will allow you to pick up some pots pretty often. It’s not just any kind of bluff – it’s a credible bluff (which are the best kind, in our not-so-humble opinion).
Curious about bigger bluffs? Let’s say you read another player as having a pocket overpair, but there’s fear of a draw-heavy board. This gives you a unique chance to bluff. Or let’s say you’re playing against someone who’s holding a QQ hand. You made it through the flop and now you’re facing a third flush card. The QQ player bet the flop, but they’re still worried you might have the best hand. They check to you. Even if you don’t have the flush, you can throw in a bet to try and steal the pot. You could also play coy and bet the river to score a win and make big cash. Sure, it’s a riskier strategy, but you know what they say: high risk, high reward.
One of the best online poker tips to remember about bluffing? It capitalises on fear. If you smell even the faintest hint of it in another player, you’ll want to think seriously about bluffing. 
Bankroll Tips: How to Manage Your Bankroll
In the world of Texas Hold’em tips, you can’t just think about in-game poker strategies. You also need to think about tactics you’ll use before you even sit in to play online poker. In other words, you need to master some smart bankroll management principles. A lot of these are pretty intuitive. For example, if you’ve got $500 in your account, you’re not going to sit at a table with $500. If you lost in a round of no-limit Texas Hold’em, you’d be out of the game in a heartbeat. Such high stakes also add way too much pressure on you, which doesn’t make for a fun playing experience.
Lucky for you, we’ve got the perfect alternative: find games at Ignition Casino with $25 or $50 buy-ins. Even if the game doesn’t go your way, you can still step back from the table with some money in your account.
Another one of our online poker tips is selecting stakes that give you some wiggle room to play with. If you’ve got $50, don’t sit at a $10/$20 where you only have two and a half big blinds. Sit at a $1/$2 table instead because then you’ll have 25 big blinds! Way more room to bet and try out some different tactics.
Online Poker Tournament Tips: Finding the Best Tourneys
Planning to throw your hat in the ring of an online tournament? In that case, online poker tips are your best mate. You’re gonna need ‘em to land those major jackpots you’ve been dreaming of.
Here’s what you’ll want to do:
- Monitor the blinds. If you play online poker too conservatively and you’re not raking in any pots, the rising blinds will eventually get the best of you. Stay active and alert to ensure that your boat is rising with the tide.
- Don’t be afraid to go all in. Are you the short stack player? If so, find some decent cards and shove ‘em in. If you’re lucky enough to score some double-ups, you can re-enter the game quicker than you’d think.
- Watch the bubble. If you’re one elimination away from cashing in on your major jackpot, it’s not the time to be risky. You want to play into the bubble before it bursts. Once it does, you can loosen up and experiment a little more freely.
And with that, school is officially out! Thanks for joining us for today’s lesson: Texas Hold’em Tips 101. Now’s the time to put your knowledge to use. Come to Ignition Casino, grab a seat at our tables, and show us what you’ve got!
