Online Poker Strengths
The most important aspect of online poker is playing to your strengths. Each player must try to get whatever advantage he is capable of against his opponents if he intends to win something. Poker, by definition, is a game that is played with incomplete information. Every player is aware of his own cards but not those of the other players. Therefore the greatest strength a player can have in online poker is more information about his opponents then they have about him.
The question is obviously how can a player go about obtaining more information about his opponent's hand? Clearly we are discussing a situation apart from any illegal methods of obtaining information. True a player can rig a deck, or in the case of online poker, hack into his opponent's computer and monitor his hands. This method of playing is commonly called cheating. Most players who use these methods feel there is no other way to obtain the information needed, but a true poker player will say otherwise. A true poker player knows how to read his opponents so perfectly that he might as well be looking at their hands. This transforms the game from mere luck into a finely tuned skill.
The best method for reading beginner players is by paying close attention to their betting patterns. Any beginner will fall into a clear pattern with his form of betting and you will soon be able to differentiate between actual bets and bluffs. Additionally you might be able to pick up hints to his hand based on the bet he puts down on the table. He might always double the blind when he has an ace, or he might raise $5 when he is holding a pair. If you are playing online poker then it would be best to sit with a notebook and literally examine each bet laid out by the other players. It will not take long before you have an advantage over them.
The other main way to read a player in online poker is by hesitations of any kind during play. Most players require a moment to decide how to play a hand and these brief hesitations will give insight into what they are holding. Did they pause before making a big raise? Perhaps they were thinking how much they could pull you in for without betting you out. Are they making good sized raises without any delay? Maybe they are bluffing and want to seem overconfident. Why else would they bet so fast in a manner that should drive you out? They are trying to make you fold so they can take an easy win. Pay attention to any slight hesitation, and along with being able to read an opponent's bets, you will be ripping them apart.
