One of the reasons why Texas Hold Em Poker is so popular these days is that it is very easy to learn and to play. Sure you could say the same thing about free bingo, roulette and blackjack but they just don’t have the numbers that Texas Hold Em has. Although with females, bingo seems to be considerably more popular.
Anybody can learn to play Texas Hold Em in a few hours, but you should remember that it’ll take years or even a life time of play to master the game. Texas Hold Em consists of a series of basic moves and hands. The structure of the game is simple and is quickly memorized.
You’re probably asking yourself; If Texas Hold Em is so simple, I’m a smart person, why can’t I play like the professional poker players that I see on TV? The answer to this question is obvious; those players have years of experience, they’ve played thousands of games of poker. The real secret to success at Texas Hold Em or any poker game like Omaha Hi Lo, is practice. You need to sit down and play a lot of poker.
Years ago, it was hard to do this because poker was illegal in most areas and most people had to travel hundreds or thousands of miles to reach a legal game. Only a handful of professional card players had mastered the poker strategy. Men like Phil Hellmuth, Doyle Brunson and Amarillo Slim were became masters of poker because they made their living playing poker.
Today, anybody who has access to a computer with a good internet connection can learn poker strategy and Texas Hold Em the way the great players of the past did; by playing lots of poker. The way to get good at Texas Hold Em is to play a lot of Texas Hold Em games online.
Once you’ve memorized the basics, sit down at the computer and start playing online Texas Hold Em. If you’re worried about losing your money online, most poker sites have free games that let you play with mock money. Playing a few of these mock games everyday can teach what you need to become good at the game. When you feel confident enough, you can move up and start playing for money.
When you start playing for money, don’t expect to play like Chris Moneymaker. Don’t try any fancy online poker strategies. Just follow the basics and play for the really good basic hands. Don’t get ambitious and concentrate on the cards and your opponents. Keep playing everyday until you find a strategy that works for you.
If you feel really confident, then play a few hands against a pro. Most online poker sites let you do this. You probably won’t win but it’s a great way to test your skills and build your confidence.
An excellent way to improve your Texas Hold Em play is to play some other poker games like Five Card Stud, Razz, Seven Card Stud and Omaha Hi Lo. This will familiarize you with the basics of poker and help your Omaha game. Mixed games in which players play hands of different games are also helpful.