THE FIVE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE OF WINNING POKER

Many players who have gambled at poker for years have lost track of the fundamental winning principles of poker. When any of these principles are violated, a losing situation presents itself.

Therefore, we must study one more the five fundamental principles which can assure your victory at the poker table.
1.    The only purpose in playing poker is to win money.
2.    Be alert at all times.
3.    Play only in games you can afford to play in, either financially or emotionally.
4.    Have sufficient capital for the game you’re playing.
5.    Know when to leave the table.

1. The only purpose in playing poker is to win money

This is very important. Unless you’re playing penny-ante poker with your mother and maiden aunts, you’re there to make money. The final count of chips and/or cash determines who has won and who has lost. The losers have less money and the winners more money. Simple task that, but arriving at that goal of winning takes many factors.

When you sit down for a serious game of poker, don’t think in terms of how much you’re going to lose. Think of winning, and turn your head around so that winning is the most important consideration in the game. If you do this, you’re on your way to becoming a winner. There are many other pastimes for fun and recreation. Serious poker is not one of them although winning is a wonderful thing.

2. Be alert at all times

In the movies, the tough poker player can afford to swig from a bottle of gin, or pour himself endless belts or shots of rye. After all, he’s playing from a script, and if the script tells him that he’s a winner, then he’ll be a winner. Nothing like that is foreordained in real life. There is no script everyone is following, and therefore, the player must be at the top of his form all during his session of serious poker.

In order to do this, he or she must not feel weakened by a cold or illness. If that’s the case forgo the poker game and curl up with a good book or some chicken soup in your bed. Don’t play if you are worn out or tired.

Don’t drink while playing and don’t go to the table with even one drink under your belt. Alcohol impairs judgement, and even worse it makes cowards into brave men, gets them up until reality hits them, and then the depression begins. Sometimes a drunk goes crazy at a game and runs over all the other players with an incredible run of good luck.

But more often, the drunk is the loser, the sucker, the chump at the table. I’ve been at games where there is one roaring drunk in on every hand betting and raining the limit. Do you know what happens? Suddenly the whole character of the game changes. We may be seven strangers facing the drunk, but an unwritten rule emerges; everyone goes for the drunk.

Sometimes the strategy backfires, for players will stay in with weaker cards, knowing that how weak their cards are, the drunk’s will probably be weaker. Then that player will lose out to another player in with stronger hands, or will lose to the drunk, who will draw a high pair or some card to beat the player’s weak cards.

The important thing to remember is this ; don’t you be the drunk or the chump. Stay away from drinking. If everyone else at the table is drinking, fine and dandy. That makes your chances of winning even stronger. You’ll be playing with a clear mind while the opponents will have their judgment impaired.

3. Play only in games you can afford to play in, either financially or emotionally

There are two forms I personally know a millionaire (And God, he’s cute!) who can’t play beyond a certain fixed limit, whereas he can afford financially play at five times that limit with his money. The reason he doesn’t play at bigger games is because he can’t afford to emotionally. His heart starts racing during playable hands; a loss devastates him, he appears to be a motorcycle at the table with the engine revved up to max torque, but the cycle isn’t moving. He knows this about himself, and he sticks to lower level games.

On the other hand, I know a few guys in Vegas who call themselves pros who are always at games they can’t afford to be at – financially. If they take a big loss, they’re devastated financially, as well as emotionally, and it may take them a few weeks for them to lick their wounds and raise some money to get back in action.

Then they go and play in too big a game, and hope for a run of good cards to get a monster in, but usually the result is the opposite. They’re playing with scared money, money they can’t afford to lose because they are under-capitalised at the table. They play more cautiously and don’t raise when they should to drive other players out. IN other words, as we shall see in the various theorems of winning poker, they’re playing like chumps, the losers!

Other players smell out scared money players, and they’re hit with checks from all sides of the table. Anyway, the scared player is rained and re-raised when he has any kind of playable hand, till his head is spinning and his hands are shaking. He stands no chance against perceptive, intelligent and aggressive players.

4. Have sufficient capital for the game you’re playing

This is the corollary of the above principle. Most games in casinos require a minimum buy-in, but this amount is not sufficient for real play.

For example, in the £5-10 poker games on the London, the minimum buy in is £50 which means that the prospective poker player, when he sits down, must have £50 in front of him, ready for play. After the sit down, the minimum buy in rule is waived. Thus, a player who started with £50, may be down to £10 after losing a hand, but he can play with the ?10 and doesn’t have to buy more checks to stay in the action.

He not only has scared money now but he has no chance of making any money, because after his ?10 is used up, he’s going to have to sit and watch the action in the game. He’ll be “all in” and not able to make any future bets, and only a portion of the pot will belong to him if he wins.

If there’s one thing that I’ve seen over and over again in my years of poker playing, its foolish players who are all in just when they get a monster hand. I watched a pot build to £1,500 once, and the winning hand was 4 8s, held by a player who was all in, and could only bet £20. His share of the pot was about £100, while Aces up took the other £1,400.

5. Know when to leave the table

This is extremely important. If you are going to play poker either professionally or as a way to make money, then you can’t look at Poker as individual sessions of play, but as one long poker game that’s going on indefinitely. You step into it and step out of it. It doesn’t matter if you won £250 today, if you’ve lost £6,000 a week before. You’re not a £250 winner; you’re a £5,750 loser. You should keep a running count of your wins and losses. It doesn’t matter if you win more than you lose in terms of poker sessions, or vice-versa.

What is important is how you stand at the end of your last play. Are your ahead or behind? If you’re ahead, you’re a winner; if you’re behind, you’re losing, and nothing you can think about or rationalise about is going to change this.

Courtesy should be paramount at the table but unfortunately it is sometimes lacking. Indeed, there are many examples of bad conduct witnessed at the Poker table. Here are a few tips on how to conduct yourself with courtesy in the game. Try to remember that when your conduct is above reproach players will respect your opinion and will seek your guidance when there is a dispute.

1.    Do not pass your cards out of turn, even if you are no longer interested in staying in contest for the pot. It can affect the fortunes of one player over another when the field is shortened and a player has a difficult decision to make. It usually gives an advantage to the players seated beside you who have yet to make their plays. You may see other players fold, or call out of turn, but please don’t do it yourself. If you do, be assured you will be pulled up by the other players for it.
2.    When discarding your hand, do so at a low level of flight so that no other player can see what you have discarded.
3.    Leave your cards in plain view at all time, preferably on the table in front of you. Holding them against your shirt or showing them to “railbird” friends (See Glossary) is not approved behaviour.
4.    Likewise keep your chips in plain view at all times.
5.    Refrain from criticising other player’s methods standard of play.
6.    Do not abuse the dealer, verbally or in any other way. Bad behaviour, such as throwing cards at the dealer, while mercifully rare, is totally unforgivable. Remember it is not the dealer’s fault you are losing.
7.    Forget post-mortems. It is irritating for other players to have to listen to discussion on what happened in the last hand, or even several hands before.
8.    If you are plagues by the need to show someone what a good hand you had, when not required to do so at a showdown, make sure all the players enjoy the same experience. The correct guideline often quoted is “show one show all”
9.    Showing your cards, except at the showdown, even without bad intent is bad etiquette.
10.    Players, must not show or reveal the contents of their hands when all-in before betting is over. A player who shows that he has a strong hand for the centre pot hinders the chance of a player who bets into a side pot. There is less likelihood of a call. If an all-in player shows that he has a weak hand he increases the chance of a call.
11.    Likewise, please don’t feel that you have to tell everyone what your last hand was and what you would have bet if only you had stayed in the pot, some polite people might feign interest, but few really are.
12.    Do not splash the pot. This is where a player throws his chips into the pot when making a bet. It takes extra time fort he deal to re-stack and count the bet when you splash the pot. When you bet, place your chips directly in front of you. The dealer will then be sure you have bet the right amount and when betting is complete will place them into the pot.
13.    Soft-play agreements have a negative effect on the game. This is where a player bets less than he normally would or checks good hands when against friends, husbands or wives. Don’t enter into these types of agreements. Every player should play in his/her own self interest – it’s the essence of poker.
14.    Do not handle other player’s chips or cards.
15.    Speech play (often called “coffee housing”) is the term used to describe what happens when a player makes comments about a hand when it is in progress. This is not prohibited in the terms of the rules but is considered unethical in the UK (not so in the USA). So be careful what you say during the play of a hand and resist the urge to talk about a hand during the action or when someone is thinking.
16.    Do not try to educate players at the table by pointing out what you think are mistakes. Its odd and they will resent it and mark you down as a smart Alec, or worse. Why not let people pay for their education – its how I had to learn.
17.    Players should speak up and assist the dealer by calling attention to an error in the amount of the bet or the improper reading of the hand etc. Likewise, any player who sees as error about to be made, such as awarding the pot to the wrong person, has a duty to speak up.

If you are new to online gambling, here are a few tips intended to make your experience an enjoyable and safe experience.

1) Do your homework before venturing into a gambling site. Sign up with one or more of the free, preferably reputable, message boards where experienced players and others exchange news and views about gambling sites, promotions, gambling software providers and gambling in general. You will soon get a very good idea of which gambling sites to avoid. If you have webcast capability on your PC there are weekly online gambling programs that can provide useful up-to-date information on gambling sites and what is happening in the industry. Online e’zines are also an excellent source of balanced on-line gambling news.

It is recommended that a player visit a site that is an IGC Member, remembering to confirm the membership status on the IGC Member Page. If the IGC logo is displayed but the site cannot be found on the IGC Members page then contact the IGC to confirm the status of the site’s membership.

2) There are literally hundreds of online gambling directories, and not all of them are trustworthy. If you are looking for good gambling sites check out the ones who can afford to advertise on large gambling directories and then balance that information with what you learn at point (1) above.

A player should consider entering gambling sites directly, and be wary of entering via partner programs. Most of the reputable gambling portals (please check the IGC Members page and search the Services for “Gaming Portal and Information Site”) write original reviews of the sites for review by players before they wager online.

3) Like a player, a reputable operator will want to verify the bona fides of its players. The problem is that reputable operators are sometimes targeted by individuals who may try to commit fraud against their business. In an effort to ensure that the player is who they claim to be, an operator may seek additional personal information.

Before you give any gambling site the details of your credit card or bank account, check the site over carefully for the following:

1. IGC membership.
2. Player support details in case you need some assistance or want to ask a question (write these down with your player details before play).
3. The name of the software provider (write this down).
4. The name of the e-cash provider.
5. Where is the website licensed? Make sure you keep this on your records.
6. The auditor of the casinos payouts and name of the company verifying the random number generator (if available) ?. actions aimed at ensuring fair play.
7. Have a test run or two – try small amounts before you decide to bet big (eg deposits and payments).

Does the site offer twenty-four hour support with telephone and email contact addresses and toll free lines? This is the norm for good gambling sites and you should not accept anything less. Some may offer real time interactive support. If you want to take extra care, try emailing their customer support and/or calling the 1800 support number prior to wagering, with a question, such as, what gambling software do they use? See if you get a response. No response, or no response to an email within 24 hours, is not a good indication, you should consider looking elsewhere for another website for your online entertainment.

When registering and playing at a site, it may also prove wise to write down the phone number of the customer support (hopefully there is one), and, for the “write to us” forms. Fill in any registration form BEFORE opening an account and ask for a working e-mail. Otherwise it could be difficult to contact the site if it is down for technical or “other” reasons. Keep a list of phone numbers, e-mail addresses and your account numbers from all of the gambling sites you join, and save a copy of all e-mail offers in the event their site is unavailable.

It is also recommended that players look for a physical postal address on the website in conjunction with a (digital) email address. This adds another level of comfort to your experience, seeing that the operation has a physical entity and is more than an email address on the surface that can easily be set up and operating from any location.

Ask yourself, what is the site like in general terms? Is the presentation professional and does it have relevant information upfront about licensing, software, e-cash and the legal requirements? A poorly presented site with insufficient information is frequently the sign of a cash-strapped or questionable operator.

Knowing the software provider for the website is an important factor, to ensure that you are playing safe, fair games with acceptable odds. You are entitled to know the identity of the software provider. If a casino refuses to divulge this information, this is also a reason for caution.

Quality casinos will often have their RNG (random number generator), or payout percentages, reviewed by an independent testing agency, a government body or another reputable body such as one of the Big Six audit firms. As an example, some sites have their payout percentages certified by a reputable accounting firm and published monthly on their website. A commonly held tenet is that the payout percentage for games using a RNG should be in the 97 to 98 percent range. Many casinos now offer a very useful reprise facility that enables a player to check their wagers and game history.

Several leading software providers are IGC Members – for additional information refer to the IGC website Members link to search for services provided.

Similarly, the name of the e-cash processor should be clearly stated. This is important as it provides security and confidence that you will be paid efficiently. Again, while not an exhaustive list, please check the IGC Members page and search the services provided for Members who provide a service such as “e-commerce solutions” service. Some of the major suppliers have their own e-cash companies that insure player accounts up to a specified level while some of the larger operators have their own e-processing system. Again, as a means of assistance, it is recommended that you check to see if the company is an IGC member. New gamblers are advised to test the water before making larger bets. If hesitant about gambling online, it might be a better course of action to make small wagers at a site and to then cash out. This will test the speed and efficiency of the gambling site’s finance system. Credits back to credit cards should take no longer than 7 to 10 days (sometimes sooner). Gambling sites will generally accept your money by credit cards, debit cards, bank wires / transfers, ecash wallets to name a few. If winnings are credited back to your credit card, it will only be up to the amount of your original deposit (this is a bank regulation). Anything over that will be sent to you by bank wire or check (be wary of the latter).

Things to check onsite: Does the gambling site charge you for these payments and how much? Some of the charges levied can be unfair. How long does your payment by bank wire take? It should not be longer than 10 days. Growing numbers of gambling sites are now fitted with online statements that you can access at any time to check the state of your player account – this is obviously a desirable quality. In any gambling site there should be a service that enables you to demand an audit trail if you are unhappy with any transactions.

It may be prudent for a player to take a copy (screenshot) of any larger winnings and request a copy of the applicable transaction log relating to the win as soon as possible after the win. If there is a dispute with the operator, a player will have some proof.

Look for licensing information. Most online gambling sites are licensed in sovereign Caribbean or South American jurisdictions that at least give you an avenue for complaint if you feel that a gambling site is guilty of bad practice. USA, Canada and the UK have still not agreed to license online gambling (UK sportsbooks are the exception), although moves are afoot to provide genuine, effective regulation (with teeth) which will protect your interests in the future as in the Isle of Man and Alderney. The Kahnawake jurisdiction is an ethnic Indian enclave jurisdiction within Canada, but does not constitute Canadian licensing. Antigua has a well-developed licensing structure, as is Vanuatu, whilst there are indications that Costa Rica may move toward formal licensing legislation. Gibraltar is also a location of several reputable operators, some of whom came from the UK before a relaxation of the taxation rates. The Commonwealth of Dominica is also a respected jurisdiction. Other common license jurisdictions of varying quality include Belize, St Kitts, Netherlands Antilles and Grenada. If there is no license do not gamble there.

Reputable sites should also include a ‘Privacy Policy’ statement clarifying that the player’s details will not be used or given to third parties. This statement should be visible on the home page or provided as a link from the registration forms.

Good quality gambling sites will generally offer, “play for free” games on a site so that you can try out the games and get used to gambling on a PC. Most will also offer extensive information on the rules and how to play each game. Sites that do not offer this facility to players should be treated with caution.

Once you are comfortable with gambling online and have registered at a gambling site you will probably at some stage receive marketing emails offering various incentives and promotions to play. Gambling sites do this to attract new business, but before participating you should always carefully read the rules governing the promotion to make sure you follow them to the letter. Gambling sites are quick to disqualify players who do not. Pay particular attention to the number of times you are required to wager a deposit or a deposit plus bonus before qualifying. Read the rules carefully to avoid conflict and stress at a later stage.

If email advertising is utilized, careful consideration should be given to whether the operator has a permission-based e-mail opt-in, and of course, an easy ‘unsubscribe’ mechanism for players.

Additional indications (please note that these are indications and intended only as a guide) is to look for an independent, recognizable and reputable third party certification of a site or of a particular aspect of the site. Examples include, audited game return, general security of the site, particularly the security of payment system, SSL encryption or the like, and in particular the ‘padlock’ symbol (normally found at the bottom right of the screen) which gives the player the comfort level that when entering sensitive information (e.g. credit card details) on the web page that the details are secure.

4) If you follow these simple and commonsense rules, online gambling will hopefully be a safe and enjoyable experience, one that will even be profitable at times! Remember that you are not alone. If you feel you have been treated unfairly or badly by a gambling site, which carries the Interactive Gaming Council logo, you can lodge a complaint online at www.igcouncil.org (Contact link) and impartial IGC executives will adjudicate it and if indicated, mediate on your behalf. If the gambling site is not a member of the IGC there are several “watchdog” sites and player organizations to which you can turn for support if you have a just complaint, and you can of course complain to the licensing authority concerned as well. In all cases we recommend that you escalate a complaint beyond the general support to the Management. The vast majority of complaints can be resolved at that higher discretionary level, thus saving you time and effort.