Advanced theories

Remember all those things that, as a beginner, we told you never to do? Like playing less-than-great starting hands, raising out of position, calling big-stacked opponents and bluffing like it’s going out of style?

Well, now you’ve learnt the rules, it’s time to start breaking them. Advanced poker is all about shaking it up a bit – doing the unexpected, confusing your opponents and generally getting a bit more creative. And here’s where we’ll guide you and help you really finesse your poker skills.

While you’re doing that, there are still two key things you’ll need to work on – a head for facts and your feel for the game.

Know your numbers

This one’s crucial because, as we know, the numbers don’t lie. As you get into more advanced territory, figures like implied odds, expected outs and correct bet sizes become more important. So you’ll need to practice your number crunching and know when to bring the stats into play.

Hone your instincts

A lot of the time, it all comes down to instinct. With experience, you’ll start to read your opponents, spot a fish or a maniac, know when someone’s going on tilt, and adapt your play for different situations. This will help you avoid traps, cash in on other people’s mistakes and pick the most profitable games for you.

But remember, no matter how much of a poker expert you become, the basics still apply. Manage your bankroll, stay calm and, most of all, have fun with it.

Let’s play some winning poker.