How to become a better poker player

Because playing poker requires at least 50 percent skill, it only stands to reason that a player needs to do a lot of reading, studying and practicing before any real success at the table can be expected. You need to know and understand the rules, odds, and expectation of each poker game you want to play. There is a lot to know about calling, raising, and bluffing in poker. Indeed, there are whole poker books on facial and body expressions. It’s important that you know how to read the board as well as other players at the poker table.

The other 50 percent of poker, on the other hand, deals with the luck of the draw. You can be a very skilled player and still not draw decent cards during any given period. I call this being in a “slump,” just like a professional ballplayer. Just as he (the pro) can get into a hitting slump, a skilled poker player can have a long dry spell without getting any decent cards to play with. Sometimes, it seems you just get lousy cards, round after round. The best advice in this situation is for the poker player to reduce his or her bets or stop playing for a while when getting those consistently poor hands. Wait it out, the cards will turn, but make sure you still have some funds remaining so you can get back into the game when your “slump” is over.