Online Texas Holdem

Here’s a question any good poker player should know the answer to: How can you make a read on a player, without being able to see him? When it comes to online poker, this is the situation players are regularly faced with and there is, believe it or not, a method to get a read on someone even if the only thing you can see from them is a cheesy avatar.

What it will often come down to for getting a read is a player’s betting patterns. Keep in mind this is not just with the current hand you’re engaged in, but also with previous hands. The key to practicing this talent, is sticking to one player at a table to begin with. Pay close attention to his or her actions: Watch how aggressive he is with his betting; pay attention to the hands of his are shown; and especially watch to see if he folds when someone re-raises overtop of him.

Equally as important as betting patterns, make sure you understand what hand possibilities there are on the table, assuming of course there are community cards showing. Particularly, pay attention to any draw that may be on the table (flush/straight draws) as many people will often pay small amounts to see if they can draw into a good hand. If you have top pair but there’s straight draw on the board and your opponent is known to fold on big bets, it may be time to bet hard and take down the pot while you still can.

Also, watch out for “the nuts” or the best possible hand based on what’s on the table. You can often watch your opponent’s betting to get an idea as to whether or not they have the winning hand, and attempt a bluff based on how much they are throwing into the pot verses how much they have in past occasions.

Keep in mind that reading an opponent will always be hit or miss. Oftentimes players, like me, will slowplay a winning hand purposely if they are being bet into by another player. Regardless, if you can master reading an opponent’s betting patterns, you will not only increase your chances of winning in online texas holdem, but also in live play.