Understand free poker before you regret – Tips for playing your first game

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If you’re looking for an enjoyable, mentally stimulating, hugely exciting game to play, which has been enjoyed for literally centuries upon centuries, then you could do far worse than begin with poker. Whether it’s online poker, or a game at your buddy’s place, poker is one of the most popular games you would ever play, though it certainly isn’t simple. People looking to learn poker may wish to brush up on the basics before they begin playing competitively. Even if they decide to go with free online poker where the stakes aren’t that high. Playing your first game of poker can be nerve-wracking, so to help make things a little easier, here’s a look at a few things you should know to help ensure you don’t regret signing up for your first game.

Don’t be afraid to ask – Remember, all poker players have to start somewhere, and as you’re trying to learn poker as you go, there is absolutely nothing wrong with taking the time to ask other players if you’re unsure of something. Now, if you’re playing with real players, asking people will be much easier, but even if you’re playing online, when you make use of the chat features you can still ask other players if you are unsure of something. The other players will almost certainly be happy to help, so before you go, if you aren’t sure of something, ask.

Remember to tip the dealer – Though not a rule, when you play poker, it is important to remember to tip the dealer. This is just good poker etiquette, specially when you are lucky enough to win a large pot, and in poker, etiquette is very important. It isn’t a mandate to tip the dealer of course, but if you can see that other players are doing so, you should ideally do the same, and you should try to get an idea of exactly how much you should tip.

Leave the table if you wish – This again applies to both online poker and live poker. If you are in the middle of a game, providing it isn’t your turn and you need to leave the table for some reason, feel free to do so. This is perfectly legal, though again, if you do need to get up and leave, say you have to go to the bathroom, try to do so as soon as you’ve had your turn, as that way you should have plenty of time to do what you need to do before it’s your turn once again.

Make sure players are clear with what you wish to do – One mistake that people looking to learn poker often make, is simply not being clear with what they wish to do, which can have a huge impact on you game and you may end up losing chips constantly, and this is the last thing you want. Be clear in your head, what hands you want to play and try and identify the weak and strong players on the table and plan your game accordingly.