Online Poker Rules to Live By

By Eric Lehrer
4-10-06

It’s a little scary when you think about it. Many poker players at FullTilt.com at one time or another crave action like an alcoholic craves his next drink. However the alcoholic has to get up off the couch to get that drink, even if its to go to the refrigerator. A poker player with a computer has only to push a few buttons to transfer money into his or her online account. The amount of self-control needed is often provided by an awareness of how easily one can lose a lot of money. Controlling anything online as opposed to live play takes more focus and discipline because of its solitude; it is more of a battle within you.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when gambling online; you should have realized after your first time online that it’s a whole different game. Without faces to read or voices to listen to, everyone at the table begins on the same plain. While some might say that you can read a bluff or weakness by the amount of time taken to bet, others would consider it merely wishful thinking. I have personally played and waited to make a bet hoping that that would register as weakness, as if it took me extra time to decide if I wanted to call with my weak hand. Then again since you can’t see the other players the delay could be because one of them is putting out a small kitchen fire for all you know. The best way to judge a player online is to watch how he plays. It can be very instructional to watch the table for ten minutes before you start playing. If you get a feel for a table, perhaps if you see people are folding when small bets are made, you might want to make a mental note in case you want to bluff later. People often fall into categories in poker; chaser, slow player, bluffer, etc. If you notice a player folding 90% of the time and then suddenly he raises you could infer it’s a poor time to try and steal the pot. It is a similar kind of awareness at a live table, however there is far less control and your reads might be less accurate.

Manage your money well online. If you are losing a lot of money, ask yourself if you have a problem. Set limits for your money. A monthly or weekly amount you promise not to go over. Most poker sites will help you if you feel you cannot set your own limits. Call the support line and tell them to only allow you to deposit a certain amount of money. Online sites often have their own limits on how many times you can deposit money in an hour. Try to keep in mind that you are playing a game. When players go on TILT they can make drastic moves and lose a large sum of money very quickly. While winning is better than losing, very few people can make a living at online poker. We have all heard stories from a friend of a friend who has made tens of thousands of dollars. It isn’t likely that many people would be making a lot of money because then we would all quit our day jobs and become professional online poker players. The best players can be beat by the worst, a four of a kind can get beaten, and you can lose a lot of money. While the integration of poker and the internet is in its early stages, the accessibility to action is second to none. A respect for the game of poker should be well adhered to during online play. Mental focus is important because it will not only help you be the best player you can be, but it will also keep your pride in check.