Poker Strategy for Girls: Tips for Beginners
by Staci Marquez-NicholsPoker strategy for Texas Hold 'Em can be complicated and intricate, so the best thing you can do is learn what are some of the most common mistakes. Then as you develop as a player, you must study the areas you are weak in. There is no one way to play any hand, any table, or any situation.
Some common mistakes made by new players are:
- Playing too many hands. When you're new to poker, use Phil Hellmuth's mantra, "Tight is right!"
- Not knowing why you are calling a bet...don't just call because you want to see what happens. Are you calling because your hand is strong? Are you calling because you think you're being bluffed? Are you calling because you need one more card to make a monster flush or straight?
- Forgetting the training wheels. Start by playing low stakes limit games. When you are consistently winning at that level, move up to no limit. As you continue to advance and have an adequate bank roll, move up the stakes.
- Getting tunnel vision. Don't forget to watch the other players and try to figure out what hands they have. It's easy to just focus on how much you should bet, if you should call, and how many outs you have...but don't forget about everyone else.
- Not varying your play. It is essential to switch gears constantly in the same game. You will frequently hear players say, "These are the same cards I got last time." So what! Play them differently this time and see what happens.
- Not taking advantage of position. How you play a low pocket pair in early position should be very different than how you play it on the button. Paying attention to position will also help you make better folds.
- Bypassing a proper poker education. You must study the fundamentals of the game. Just like basketball, top pros still practice shooting free throws constantly. Poker is the same--the fundamentals will make or break your game. In your frenzy to become an advanced player, mix practical experience with some poker strategy books or videos.
- As a female player, learn the differences between men and women at the table. We think differently. We read people differently. We re-act to situations differently. You can use all of this to your advantage!
So how can you accomplish these things? Subscribe to a serious, strategy-based poker blog. Read poker books. Play, play, play. Get to know yourself as a player.
CONFIDENCE IS KEY
Research shows that 50% of the poker players online are women, so why is it when you go to a casino you don't see a poker room full of girls? My best guess is that women find comfort behind an anonymous computer screen. Walking in your average poker room is like walking into the free weights section of the gym--you feel like an alien, like you took a wrong turn and ended up in the frat house.
There are a myriad of reasons why being a female at a poker table is highly advantageous to you. While you will feel like you’ve played better when you project confidence, beginner mistakes will get you more action. It’s a win-win situation (if you can play smart and remember the 8 tips above).
Additionally, many women feel that in order to be confident at a poker table, they must project a certain image (they can't ask questions or fumble with their chips). On the contrary, doing these things will help you get more action at the table. To feel confident at the poker table, I highly recommend you watch some of the best women professionals in the world play. You will see that they are both feminine and killers!
One last note, everyone--man or woman--is nervous their first time at a casino! Practice makes perfect!
For more on poker strategy for women, go to Poker4Girls.Net.