Poker is big business. Look at poker sites like Full Tilt and Pokerstars that will pay any player who wins a televised tournament final table a large sum just to have a branded blazer or baseball cap. A poker player can win thousands, or even tens of thousand each night for a small buy-in in tournaments or cash games. You have the chance to win real money with poker, so you should work hard to improve your game. How can you improve your game? You know that you need to practice and study, but there are many other ways. Where do you begin?
There are many credible poker books you should read. You can also go to your local casino to ask the best players for individual lessons. But this article will focus on the top 5 online places you can go to improve your poker game right from your computer screen.
Poker Forums – The largest online poker forums boast thousands of members. They include novice players who have never played poker before, as well as pros. All types of players are welcome to join the discussion and debate poker. Your game will be improved by simply reading the discussion. You can also add your ideas to the discussions if you are brave. If you don’t answer the question correctly, you may be flamed (internet lingo for shouted at). You don’t have to worry about it as this forum is great for getting raw feedback on playing winning poker. Take a deep breath, take a deep breath, and get into the shark waters.
Poker blogs – There are many poker blogs. Poker players will discuss all aspects of their lives, from the actual poker game to their personal lives. Look for well-known blogs, then browse the links to their blogs. Comment on the blog. The joker388 blog owners, like this author, love to receive comments. You will most likely receive a positive reply. Find the poker blogs you like and follow them. They will teach you what to do and what to watch. Soon, you will have a list of blogs that you regularly visit.
Poker Training Websites: Pros quickly jumped on the opportunity to learn poker. There are many websites that you can subscribe to to watch videos and get tips and tricks. You can find a variety of sites, from ones that just list videos to those that provide a curriculum-based approach to lessons. Remember that many review sites are affiliates, so it may be difficult to find objective reviews when searching for the best site. If you ask the members of the poker forum, they will share their opinions freely and honestly. You want to make sure that the site you choose is adding new video every day so you get value for your subscription.
Podcasting Poker – There are several large Internet Radio stations that specialize in poker. They often offer weekly podcasts you can download. This is a great way to get advice from the top players around the world. It also allows you to hear the thoughts of people who can communicate their opinions on topics that might be confusing. For a starting point, search iTunes, Poker Road, or Bluff online. Podcasts can be listened to regardless of whether you are playing Stud, Holdem or Razz, and even Omaha. These podcasts can be listened to while you are walking or driving to work. Many last over an hour and are great entertainment as well as learning tools.
Railbirding – Make sure to check out the highest stakes cash games online. Watch the top pros play cash games online. You can see the players being called down, and you can take down some of the hands. You can also use a screen recording device to go back and view the hands again as many times as you like. It is a great way to learn by watching the best players at their best. You can also tune in to the Pokerstars replay every Sunday of the Sunday Million Final Table. These guys have won thousands in the largest weekly tournament for big cash, so they can offer some great tips on tournament play.