ShareOnline poker tournaments are super popular in today’s world. If you’ve never joined one before, though, there are a few things you might want to know in advance. They offer huge potential for fun and enjoyment - so long as you do your homework and set yourself up for success.
Live Vs Online Poker Tournaments
First of all, if you’ve played in live tournaments before, you might figure you’re off to a good start. Certainly, some of the knowledge you’ve gained will translate across into the digital tournaments, but you should be aware that not all of it will. There’s going to be a learning curve when you swap to the digital realm.
What do we mean? Well, for example, if you’re going to play in online poker tournaments, you need to be aware that you’ll lose access to a lot of the physical tells you might depend on in live tournaments. If you’re someone who understands body language well and spends a lot of time reading your opponents’ tells, you might find the swap to online a surprising challenge.
There are still tells here, but they’re really different! You’re not going to be watching to see whether your opponents are shifting in their seats or frowning at their hands or looking pleased. Online, cues become a heck of a lot subtler. You’ll need to pay attention to things like how long the person pauses for, and look for behavior patterns over time. Do they always bluff in certain situations? Are they quick to fold when the going gets tough?
You might decide to make notes about the patterns you observe, particularly if you play in a lot of online tournaments. Doing so will stand you in good stead, letting you figure out what’s going on in this world even though the cues tend to be more challenging.
Check The Rules Before Joining
If you’re already a poker pro, maybe you think you know all the rules… but remember, poker has a ton of variants. Not checking could lead to unpleasant surprises. If you’re new to the poker universe, it’s well worth spending time familiarizing yourself with the rules, alongside other content that will help you get better.
The good news is, there’s lots of that available! Many skilled folks have put together guides that will help you get better and give you an edge in the game. You can check out the below video to give yourself a start, and also consider joining online forums or following experts on social media. You’ll learn a lot by watching them and this will translate into your games.
As well as this, you’ll probably pick up a lot of poker lingo by osmosis - always helpful before you go into a tournament. If you find it’s hard to remember, build yourself a little glossary you can refer back to.
Start Small
Maybe a big, high-profile tournament looks attractive to you? They have the glitz and glamour we associate with this game, so it’s little surprise if so. That said, they aren’t generally a super good starting point if you’re new to this world, even if you’ve played in live tournaments before.
Instead, start small. The big games will be waiting later, once you’ve got to grips with the ropes. For now, select smaller, low-stakes tournaments. Here, you’ll have a chance to figure out your strengths and weaknesses - which you can then work on to improve your game.
The great thing about the online world is that you’ll almost always be able to find poker tournaments you can join. There are tons of options out there at all levels of difficulty and commitment. Take your time, browse a bit, and find the perfect one for you. You won’t regret it - you want your first online poker tournament to be a positive experience, right? You’ll also play better if you don’t put too much pressure on yourself from the word “go.”
Track Your Progress
Go into your first tournament prepared to lose and prepared to learn from it! Have a notebook (digital or physical) at the ready and document the game. Afterward, run through your notes and explore when things went wrong and how. Did you play too aggressively? Were you feeling the pressure and rushing your decisions? Did you let the format throw your thinking?
This will inform your next session, and the one after that, and the one after that. Keep tracking your progress. Keep writing down events and analyzing them afterward. This is how the real experts get better at poker: self-reflection and study.
It will make it much easier for you to try different strategies and understand what works and what doesn’t. You’ll also have a sense of progress as you begin to improve and see your skills take shape. A poker log is an enormously valuable tool for those keen on online poker tournaments, so do yourself a favor and start yours with your very first round so you can have a complete record to guide you going forward.
