Poker has been one of the most popular casino games for centuries. Today�s poker tournaments have a large number of participants and huge prize pools. However, it always comes to the same argument � what do you need to win such a poker tournament � special skills or just luck? Well, poker seems like an easy-to-learn game, but difficult to master. The truth is, it�s a game of strategy and you have to make important decisions � when to fold, when to bluff, when to call someone else�s bluff, etc.

There are many different poker games and variations. Although each variant has its own rules, the basics of the game are always the same. Once you master the basics, you will be able to develop a winning strategy. How much luck and what skills do you need to win a poker tournament, we will tell you in the following lines.

Skills You Need to Participate in Poker Tournaments

You have to master a number of skills if you want to be successful in poker tournaments. If you are not good at math, you will have a hard time because it is closely related to poker. Usually, players must calculate various things such as the odds of completing distinct card combinations based on the cards they are holding. When you are able to make such calculations, you will have better chances of winning a hand in online poker. Undoubtedly, the majority of professional players rely heavily on math in tournaments.

Another important skill is the ability to manage your bankroll properly. In poker games, the bankroll is the amount of money you have to bet with. Beginners can easily make mistakes and bet too fast, too much, or not bet enough. But the most experienced poker players have a great sense of these things. So, try to calculate what would be the most appropriate bet amount depending on your bankroll before rushing into live poker bets.

Poker is not just about the quality of your hand. Learning to read your opponents� hands is a major part of the game as well. When you play offline poker it would be easier to find out whether someone is bluffing because you can read their body language � how often they look at the cards, blush, etc. But this is not impossible in online poker either. You can still notice some signs from their game itself and try to figure out their strategy.

Of course, bluffing is another skill you should try to master if you aim to succeed in poker tournaments. It is about making the other players think you have a really strong hand when you don�t actually have it. Bluffing situations are different so you should indulge in more practice. There is one great advantage to bluffing in online poker � your opponents are unable to read your body language. However, don�t do it too often because they might sense your strategy. In case your hand looks very bad indeed, you probably shouldn�t risk bluffing and consider folding instead. It would be in your best interest to do it, especially if you have low odds of strengthening your hand with the other cards from the live poker table.

What Role Does Luck Play in Poker?

There is definitely a certain amount of luck involved in online poker. But you can�t have long-term success with the game without the skills. It�s not like slot machines where you just press a button and wait for a winning combination to come up. Or like bingo and the other lottery games where some numbers are drawn and must match yours. It takes both luck and skills to win poker tournaments. You can rely on luck only on a single hand. But in the long run, skilled players can even use weak hands and still beat their inexperienced opponents.

Popular Strategies

Today, there are many strategies for both beginners and advanced players that can be applied while playing poker games. Let�s start with the ones for newbies. First of all, you should learn to understand the importance of your position. The dealer�s position changes after each hand, so this advantage is shared between all players in order to keep the game fair. To benefit from this, you better play more hands from a �late� position ( i.e. after most players have made their move). Thus, players from �early� positions will have an advantage in their opening hands, but you will have more options as the play progresses, which is more important. Other popular strategies that you can apply in poker tournaments are:

• Make sure your bluffs are reasonable
  
• Learn what are Odds and Outs
  
• Try different play styles (Loose, Tight, etc.)
  
• Avoid tilt
  
• Calculate pot odds

Disclaimer:

• As per the Public Gambling Act of 1867, all Indian states, except Goa, Daman and Sikkim, prohibit gambling
• Land-based casinos are legalized, with certain guidelines, in Goa and Daman, as per the Goa, Daman and Diu Public Gambling Act 1976��
• Land-based casinos, Online gambling and E-gaming (games of chance) are legalized in Sikkim under the Sikkim Online Gaming (Regulation) Rules 2009
• Only some Indian states have legalized online/regular lotteries as per and subject to the conditions laid down by state laws. Kindly refer to the same here
• Horse racing and betting on horse racing, including online betting, is permitted only in a licensed premise in select states. Kindly refer to the 1996 Judgement by the Supreme Court Of India here and for more information
• This article does not endorse or express the views of Qrius and/or any of its staff.

Stay updated with all the insights.
Navigate news, 1 email day.
Subscribe to Qrius