There is no other feeling in this world like the feeling of flopping a royal flush. Knowing that you just can not lose. That you can put everything you have in the pot knowing you are about to make a lot of money. Hey you might even want to bet a three night stay with your wife. I would advise not to do that unless you have a royal flush. Since it could result in some pretty harsh feelings. Which you don't always flop a royal flush. If you did no one would ever play with you because they would know you couldn't lose. But you're in luck! I'm going to give you the basic skills necessary to start making the big bucks.

I'm going to assume that you already know the basic rules since this is an article for basic strategies. So the first tip I'm going to give you is for tournament play. Now in most tournaments the blinds start out real low. Then increase about every ten minutes. Now in the beginning of the tournament it is going to help you out a lot if you get a a good hand so you can win a large amount of chips, thus getting ahead of the competition. Since the blinds are super low just call every big blind so you can get into the flop. That way you have more of a chance to get lucky and obtain that super good hand. I see so many people folding on the starting blind in small blind position. That is just pure stupidity. I would suggest using this method until about the fourth level of blinds. Since it can put a huge hinder on your chip stack if your calling every big blind and you have you haven't really improved your starting chip stack.

When you're in a tournament and you're pretty close to payouts. Say twenty people away. Unless you are about to lose, just simply fold every hand except highly promising hands like AA or AK. Just let the other players battle it out. There is no worse feeling than playing two hours in a tournament then losing five spots away from payouts, it's devastating.

Don't just call highly promising hands like AA, KK, AJ, etc..., unless you have a really low chip stack. When you play at a table long enough people are going to be able to read you. They will know that you only call highly promising hands, so they will have a good idea what you have. Switch up pre-flop raises. Don't bet four times the big blind every time you have an ace. People will know that you have an ace. So if two aces pop up on flop and your bet they probably will fold.

I hope this helps with your professional poker career. Hey maybe you will be playing in the WSOP one day. Going up against the moneymaker and the other stars. Just make sure you don't let your emotions get the best of you. It could cost you a great deal of money. Good luck at the tables!

Learn more about this author, Cody Gambrel.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Beginner's guide to poker?
We want to hear your view. Write now!