Starting with the famous ‘poker face’ the intricacies and rules of the game of poker can appear to be highly complex for the novice player.  Once the rules have been mastered, poker is an extremely enjoyable and rewarding game.

The expression ‘poker face’ actually derives from the fact that all humans subconsciously give themselves away when lying, either through a facial expression, looking to the left, or even twitching.  In poker it is an important part of the game to be able to lie to, or to bluff opponents in order to maximise the chances of winning.  The unwitting twitch is called ‘a tell’ in poker.

As with all gambling card games, poker is as much about skill as it is about chance.  There are a lot of internet guidelines dealing with this subject but all commentators urge a player to never play when they feel sad.  Since poker is a game of skill and strategy, it is unlikely that a player will be able to concentrate on the game when in a foul mood.  In addition, bluffing would be difficult if the facial expressions were determined by an inner sadness.

Beginners are advised to try not to keep on playing if they have been losing.  The novice may well believe that they will be able to retrieve their lost chips after a succession of unlucky rounds of play, this is usually not the case and players are advised to start play on another occasion.

Variety of strategy is also advised.  If a player becomes predictable then opponents will be able to read their technique and therefore defeat that player once they have realised that the method of play employed never varies.  Analysts recommend that all players try to constantly update and upgrade their skills in order that they do not become too predictable.

If a player is a novice it is advisable for them to try and play for free, most of the online poker sites have schools, tutorials and freerolls where the player can experiment with their newly acquired skills.