Poker seems to be the latest craze these days. Turn on the TV and you can find all different kinds of poker tournaments being played by amateurs, professionals, and even celebrities. Out in the public arena it is booming as well. From casinos to neighborhood bars, poker tournaments are popping up everywhere, giving people the chance to see if Lady Luck will smile on them and let the cards fall their way. For those that have played for years and learned the intricacies of the game, poker is just another walk in the park. For those that are just getting swept up in the poker whirlwind, there is nothing scarier than sitting at a table with a bunch of stone faced sharks who are waiting to start a feeding frenzy with your next hand. But, do not lose heart for all is not lost. The massacre doesnt have to start with your next hand, all you need is a little direction and you can avoid the carnage altogether and actually take part in taking someone elses money for a change. Follow these five important tips and you will find that no one will be able to stop the poker chips from stacking up in front of you.

Tip #1: Dont Go To the Game, Let the Game Come to You

One of the first, and most devastating, mistakes that a new poker player makes is trying to win the game in the first thirty minutes. Poker, like all games of strategy, takes time to play through till the end. Dont get in a rush and dont be afraid to fold a hand or two. Sooner than later a good hand will come along and, when it does, you want to have enough chips left to make it a profitable hand as well. All too often you will see a beginner lay down half their chips on a hand that should have been dumped as soon as it was dealt. Losing a few antes in order to keep from losing all your money is definitely a wise decision. Also, the later that you are in the game, the more chance that the other players will have built confidence. This means that when you have a winning hand after folding ten times in a row, they will be more inclined to bet the farm and give you most of their accumulated wealth. If you wait for the game to come to you, rest assured, it will come eventually.

Tip #2: Dont Let the Cat Out Of the Bag

I know, I know, ought to be common knowledge that you never reveal your hand to the other players. But, what most people disregard is that they need to keep the hand confidential both before it is played and after. What I mean is that if everyone folds and you get the pot, dont go telling the other players that you were bluffing, or that you had four aces, or anything at all about your hand. Letting someone know anything at all about your hand gives them an advantage and advantages in the game of poker lead to big stacks of poker chips piled in front of the one with the advantage.

Tip #3: Be Cool

When you win a hand, do so graciously, dont jump up and down and rub it in everyones face. Approach the game of poker as a serious job and you will win money. Once you have won, the money is in your pocket, and you are out celebrating, then you can let loose. When you get overly excited you lose focus. When you lose focus, you guessed it, you lose money.

Tip #4: When You Have the Hammer, Pound the Nail

When you know that you have an unbeatable hand, make it count for you. If you have something that you know cannot be beat, make sure that you get what it is worth. When four aces pop into your hand, dont bet small, dont leave the table with change in your pocket. If youve got it, use it.

Tip #5: Be Patient with the Hammer

Where a lot of players go wrong is in the betting. Take Texas Hold em, for example. If you go all in before the river cards are dealt, you will probably scare a lot of the other players out of that hand. If you remain calm and patient and bet small enough to keep them in, but large enough to make a good payday, you will come out on top. Use patience in your betting to increase your winnings.

Summary

Poker is not for everyone. Some people just dont have what it takes to make a good gambler. For those of you who want to find out if you have what it takes, get in the game armed with these five tips, you wont come home empty handed.