Tip #1: Determine Your Opponents’ Level of Play
You need to figure out what level of thinking each opponent is using in their game. Do they only think about their own cards (level 1 play)? Do they think about what you have (level 2 play)? Do they consider what you might think they have (level 3 play)? Do they evaluate what you think that they think you hold (level 4)? The idea is to play one level above your opponents. If you are using the same level of thought strategy as your opponent, there is not much room for strategy and outplaying anyone. If you play at level four against an opponent who is only thinking about their own cards, you are expending energy into outplaying someone who isn’t even noticing you are doing anything. To give yourself the best advantage against each opponent, you must first learn what’s going on in their mind, and then play one step ahead. To master this strategy, you can play poker online first and also watch some best techniques and strategies so you will get better.Â
Tip #2: Study Opponent Tendencies
You should be watching your opponents play during each hand, whether or not you are in the hand. There are a number of important things you can learn about the other players and what kind of player and thinker they are. There are many questions you can think about when watching your opponents. Are they aggressive? Are they playing too many hands? Do they like to check-raise? Do they bet out on the flop with over cards? Do they limp in or raise? Do they consider position when betting or calling? Are they fearful or timid? Do they calculate pot odds? How often do they try to steal the blinds? Are they asking these questions about you? There are so many different things you can ask yourself about each other player at the table and each of these will give you clues to how you can play against them. You will never be able to figure out exactly how a player will play. Many players will change their play based on emotions, whether they are winning or losing, what the table is like, and many other factors. Trying to figure out how a player will bet when they have KQ in each given situation would be difficult at best, but knowing that a given player overvalues high cards, because they always re-raise with paint, or that they will call a bet with over cards can be useful information. Many players just focus on what cards they have and try to find something to think about or do when they aren’t in a hand. Use your time effectively by studying the others. Each time you learn something new about an opponent, you increase your chances of making proper decisions against them.
