Playing in a live poker tournament is an exciting experience. The World Series of Poker – the Mecca for any poker player – sees 1000 participants enter each year, with many more hopefuls falling by the wayside. With each event, amateur players across the globe head to whichever online casino is offering the chance to win themselves a seat at the next event. However, playing online is very different to facing down your opponents in the flesh, so it is important for amateur players to master the nuances of the former before venturing into the felt-lined shark pit.

Playing online, a key tactic is that of the “stall”. This simply refers to the time taken for a player to place a bet. For new players, this is an inevitable consequence of finding their feet in the game, but a player who stalls regularly will attract attention from the other, more experienced players. It is little wonder that in poker slang, inexperienced players are labelled “fish” and their veteran counterparts who look to take advantage of them are known as “sharks“.

In such a way, it could be seen to be a smarter play to bet quickly, giving the impression to other players that the less experienced around the table are actually more knowledgeable. However, this is dangerous for obvious reasons. After a few rounds of appearing knowledgeable, the other players will begin to fathom that this is merely an elaborate facade and will not take those plays so seriously. The best tactic to avoid falling in to such a state is a two-pronged attack.

Firstly, new players should arm themselves with all the knowledge of the game possible. Learn what makes a good hand – the nuances between cards, the blinds and antes that form the essential knowledge that poker pros know in their sleep. A good practice is to write out examples of each hand, from Royal Flush to a Pair, and use them as flash cards. Seeing it as revision, and getting friends or family to help will embed the knowledge deep inside the mind.

Secondly, research strategy. There are several books written by poker professionals such as Doyle Brunson, Phil Hellmuth and Chris Moneymaker (the pinnacle for an amatuer player by earning a seat at the WSOP before winning its Main Event) readily available online. Forewarned is forearmed, and in the shark pit being armed to the teeth pays dividends.

With knowledge as a shield, players can use the spear of their wits to hunt down their opponents. Learn the patterns of each opposing player, if they are tight or loose, or like a rock before suddenly going all-in. These patterns of behaviour will form a picture of the players at the table and, even if it means losing a few rounds, in the long-run it will give more attentive players the edge.

Taking note of comments made by players in the chat box is another way to gauge what is going on in the minds of the other players. Are they insulting? Do they exaggerate hands overtly? Never forget that everything you do in an online casino is watched by the other players, and act accordingly.

Using this article as a starting point is a useful way to begin, but always be aware that the learning process never stops. The phrase “you win some, you lose some” is never more applicable than in casino games, but with the correct knowledge and attitude you can find yourself not only winning more than losing, but even in with a shot of making it to the World Series of Poker itself.