Top Tips

There are plenty of books on Poker; most of them might as well have been written by semi literate badgers. There are a few that are very good and we would recommend you have a look at. “Poker Nation” by Andy Bellin. “Big Deal” by Antony Holden and anything by the great Al Alvarez.

We of course can teach you to play, but if not, play on line for free, most sites offer this ability to play for free so take it. Remember 80% of on line players are American, so play against them at six in the morning when most of them will be half cut.

Do not play every hand, although it is tempting, boredom is a killer in Poker. You might win a few hands but overall you will be down. Play tightly and do not adjust your play just because you are playing with different sums of money. If you lose a hand, with good pocket cards*, do not go on the tilt* this will happen to you and you have to accept that sometimes probability is a sham. Do not get angry, be patient, your time will come and so will the rewards.

Playing on line for money can be fun we would recommend playing $5 sit and go tournaments, which means if you come third you get your stake back, if you come first or second you are in the money. The most you can lose is $5. To be up you need to be in the money every third game. Playing on line is fun, but it has its limitations, some people just play badly, some will slowplay* some will even wait until the timer runs out before playing a hand. This is just to wind other players up. Stick to your own game plain and do not be forced to play like everyone else.

When Playing tournaments especially early on, avoid anything that could lead to confrontation and an early exist from the game. As the game gets older and you more drunk* use aggression where appropriate. Remember bluffing is ok, but is an art, do not do it all the time. Finally when the cards are dealt, watch the players not the cards.

We suggest you drink very little in the way of booze during a game. Drink afterwards and come and bore us with your tales of Bad beats*

Jargon Busting
ALL IN	When you push all of your chips in to bet.
ANTE	Money put into the pot before the start of the game.
BAD BEAT	An Impossibly good hand is beaten by even better hand.
BLINDS	Obligatory bets in poker.
DRAWING DEAD	Indicative of internet or bad players, playing out a hand you have no chance in winning
FREEZE OUTS	No re buys / no add ons. Entry stake only tournaments, knock out from the beginning.
FLOP	The first three cards dealt in Texas Holdem
GUTSHOT	An inside straight. For Example. You have 2346, you draw 5 and that a gutshot.
MUCK	Throwing your cards in
OUTS	Drawn cards that give you the winning hands.
POCKET CARDS	The two cards you are dealt.
RIVER	Last drawn card in Poker
TELL	A Give away, usually as subtle, that gives away your hand, for example grinning in inanely when been dealt pocket aces.
TILT	After been beaten by poor play or even better cards, a player loses the plot for while and plays foolishly
TURBOS	Faster than usual tournaments where the blinds go up every five minutes, a fast and furious fun way to play
TURN	The fourth card dealt in Texas Holdem