To play poker like a pro player is to simply play well using optimal strategy, practicing good bankroll management, and making positive odds-based decisions. That is a rather simple explanation, but it encompasses the most important points for a professional poker player to follow.

Essential Live Poker Rules for Beginners

When you’re just getting started on your poker journey, there are the basics of the game that should roll off your tongue as easily as the alphabet. Know the poker hand rankings backwards and forwards and use the basics of poker bankroll management before you start playing any real-money poker.

BetMGM Poker Ambassador Darren Elias has been playing at the pro level for many years, but he never forgets his beginnings in the game. His most important tips are contained in Darren Elias’ 5 live poker rules for beginners, for example:

• Know how to get into the poker game or tournament you want to play.
• Follow the action, whether live or online.
• Understand when it is optional and mandatory to show your cards.
• Avoid making mistakes like the string bet in live poker.
• Know the minimum raise requirements in all games you play.

Mastering these basics will provide a solid foundation for a career as a poker pro.

Developing a Winning Live Poker Strategy

The key to developing a poker strategy that maximizes your wins is experience. Over time, as you play more often and analyze your play, you will discover what works and doesn’t work. Much of it will depend on your comfort level and playing style. For example, if you’re an aggressive player, your winning strategy will make the most of your aggressive tendencies. 

In the early days of formulating the strategy that works best for you, it’s important to look at the variety of strategies available. You don’t have to pay for coaching or buy an expensive course to do this, as there are many free coaching resources online. Find the ones that interest you, incorporate the basic tenets of those strategies into your game, and determine if you’d like to invest time and/or money into mastering them. 

In the meantime, you can benefit from noting the most common live poker mistakes to avoid:

• Failing to study the game and continue improving your strategy.
• Giving off poker game tells and visibly reacting to cards and actions.
• Going on tilt and allowing that to influence your play.
• Not folding, not recognizing that there is no need to play every hand.
• Focusing on outsmarting your opponent by watching them play.
• Making string bets, acting out of turn, or betting the wrong amount.
• Stacking your chips in standard stacks of twenty, keeping the larger denominations visible to the other players.
• Choosing the wrong tournaments without abiding by bankroll and strategy guidelines.

Live Poker Etiquette: Dos and Don’ts at the Tables

Players who get their start online or play primarily online can neglect to make the necessary adjustments to live poker play when necessary. Not only are there certain poker rules used in live poker only, there are many aspects of the game that elude online-only poker players. There is definitely a difference between live poker vs online poker etiquette.

Elias is on the case, highlighting some of the most common poker etiquette mistakes that players make when playing live for the first time.

• Not respecting players involved in a big hand by being quiet.
• Playing out of turn.
• Making opponents wait while making unnecessarily long decisions.
• Taking time from a game for a minor floor decision.

Online players must slow down the action overall when transitioning to live poker, as they can’t multi-table, talk on the phone, or do chores around the house. They must learn to focus in a live setting and remain focused for long periods of time. In addition, using poker card protectors in live games prevents mistakes and forces the player and the dealer to make a concrete decision.

Online vs Live Poker: Key Differences and Considerations

As mentioned, there are numerous differences between playing online and playing in live poker rooms, card rooms, and tournament areas. The etiquette required in live play is one thing, but there are also differences between online vs live poker betting. Some of the key points about live betting are:

• Slow down and make calculated decisions, as other players will judge your play.
• Without the use of poker software, players must calculate odds and bets manually.
• Take notes, as there are no hand replayers in live poker.

In addition, there are many more ways to detect poker tells in live poker settings. Online tells are relegated to betting amounts, time, and the occasional chat box comments. Live tells, on the other hand, are much more prevalent, as you can analyze every physical movement of your opponents. Recognizing common poker tells online and in live games is key to playing your opponents as well as the cards. 

Playing Live Poker with Friends: The Ultimate Guide

Many poker players learn the game and improve their skills by playing with friends in home poker games. Some play with family members, others in college dorms, and many more at parties and “poker night” settings. While those games can be fun and casual, you can still make players adhere to rules and play correctly.

A comprehensive live poker guide for new players will point out the importance of the following:

• Creating a comfortable but dedicated area with a poker table, chairs, poker chips and cards.
• Setting a blind structure and chip denominations that make the game fun but serious enough to be real poker.
• Inviting friends who will take the game seriously but not make it uncomfortable.

And if a home game is good enough, you can consider spinning it off into a poker club. This can be done online or live, and it is a great way to maintain friendships and allocate time each week or each month for poker.

Why Choose BetMGM Poker?

Live poker is the ideal setting for most poker players. It creates camaraderie, prepares players for large events, and combines a hobby with the potential for making money. No matter why you play, though, online poker provides the best place to play the most hands, practice, and develop poker strategies.

Play poker online at BetMGM for legal, regulated, safe poker, as well as smaller stakes than live poker offers. And by using the BetMGM welcome bonus code, you can start with bonus money while playing your favorite online games.