Bluffing is an art. It is a set of techniques used on the poker table with the objective to manipulate the decisions of the opponents. Betting or raising with mediocre hands in order to make the opponents think that you are holding a strong hand and fold their better hands is called bluffing.

If you are a conservative player who never bluff and play predictable (enters the pot only with a strong hand), the opponents fold their marginal hands quickly without contributing much to the pot. If a player bluffs too often, the opponents stop taking his bets seriously and call or raise without hesitation. That’s why it is important to adopt a mixed strategy as per the situation on the table.

There are different types of bluffs a player can choose to implement on the game table. The decision to pull off a bluff must be based on the number of opponents, their gameplay (skill set, experience, betting pattern, playing tendencies), position, stack size, table image, etc. Here we are going to talk about the most commonly used and profitable form of bluff in poker – continuation bet.

What is a Continuation Bet?

When a player raises preflop and continues betting in the rounds (flop, turn, and river) the bet is called continuation bet. If he calls the blinds, raises pre-flop and the opponent checks, he bets again to create the impression that he has a better hand than the opponent. Even if the flop does not help in improving the hand, the player feigns strength to make the opponent fold his cards.

Factors to consider before making a continuation bet:

1- It is better to use continuation bet in a heads-up game only. One or two players can be bluffed but if you play against multiple players, the chances are high that your bluff will ultimately become unsuccessful. If your “before the flop”bet is called by many players, it is an indication that someone is really holding a better hand than you.

2- You cannot determine what cards your opponent is actually holding. If the board comes of high cards (k, Q, J) and your opponent calls your bet, you need to deduce which card on the board helped him to create the hand and what is the possibility of him staying in the game for long. If you don’t find a clear answer, don’t bet anymore.

3- The bet should not be too low or too high. If the bet is low, the opponent can consider it an invitation and think about giving it a shot with an average hand. If you bet too high, you are risking more money than required, e.g. putting Rs. 1800 into Rs. 1000 pot rather than a relatively smaller bet of Rs. 900.

4- Choose the opponent to bluff by carefully examine his level of skills and playing style. Avoid making a continuation bet against calling stations. The opponents which rarely fold their hands can call your bet with any type of hand and steal the pot from you. Also use continuation bet as minimum as possible against highly experienced players easily figure out the strength of your in-hand cards by observing your game and call, re-raise, or check-raise your bets without a single thought.

5- Being “in-position” helps as you can see the actions of all your opponents before making your move. You can fold your cards before entering the pot if you hold a poor hand and you find the situation not suitable for a bluff.

It is not easy to deceive a skilled opponent in poker. But it is also not possible to have the best cards every time. It happens more than often that your strong hand which makes you enter the pot becomes worse at the river. In that situation, you can employ this bluffing strategy to attack your opponent with aggression to scare them away and take down the pot.

A “bluff” is manipulating opponent’s thoughts and strategies by expressing your fake motives and make them fold their good cards. When you have a strong hand, you limp to make your opponent believe that you have an inferior hand so that they invest more money into the pot. You play aggressive when you play with an average hand to make them lay down better cards.

Bluffing is a technique which may sound easy but its successful execution depends on observation, timing, and proper planning. As you need to create an impression that you have a great hand in order to encourage your opponent to act in your desired way and change their decision, it is crucial to develop a game plan. You can win pots even with junk hands but you need to carefully select the cards and your opponents before taking the risk.

Here are some valuable tips which can help you pull off a successful bluff on the game table:

Choose the Right Opponents

It is important to understand which type of opponent you are playing against before making your move. You need to observe the body language and the betting pattern of the opponents to evaluate their skills and experience and determine the strength of their in-hand cards. A calling station (a player who always calls) usually never fold his cards. A novice player will call your bluff without even giving a microsecond attention to your past records, bet size, etc. A passive player who regularly folds to aggressive bets is the perfect choice to pull off a bluff. Bluff only if you are up against maximum 2 players. If you run a bluff against more than 2 players, the chances increase that someone carries a hand good enough to call your bet.

Create a table image

Your table image helps you greatly in executing a bluff. If you are a tight player who plays very selective hands, your bluff will be respected on the table. But if you are a loose player who tends to play each and every hand, opponents will call your bet without a single thought. As a tight player folds very often, the chances of executing a successful bluff against him are very high. You can try to bluff him but if he calls or re-raises, it’s better to fold your cards if you don’t have a strong hand. The bluff simply won’t work against loose players as they enter the pot even with crappy hands.

Play the Position

Position plays an important role in contributing to the success of your bluff. If you are the last one to act, you can take better decisions by observing the action of your opponents. Your decision to bluff should always be based on the information you have about the opponents and their hand strength. You can also semi-bluff (betting with an incomplete hand with the expectation that it will improve in the future rounds) as per the situation on the tables.

Convincing opponents that you have a better hand than them is not an easy task. That is why it is important to learn the art of bluffing if you want to become a successful poker player.

It’s time to gear up for the intense poker action! It’s time to fulfill your dreams!

After its immensely successful first season last year, WPT (World Poker Tour) has again joined hands with Adda52 to organize WPT India Season 2. The highly anticipated WPT India 2018 tournament series is set to take place between 13^th to 19^th November. The venue for the event is Deltin Royale casino in Goa.

The INR 55,000 buy-in Main Event is scheduled for 16^th to 19^th November. It also features various exciting events including SHIP IT, Bounty, High Roller, Superstack, Turbo, and Kickoff. A side-event called Shootout/6 Max NLH is also scheduled which will replace last year’s Omaha event.

WPT India 2018 Tournament Schedule:

 Note:

1- Main event is Official AsiaPac and India Player of the Year event.
2- All number events are official India Player of the Year events.
3- 5% of the prize-pool will be held for staffing costs
4- All tournaments are freeze-outs unless otherwise designated

WPT India 2018 Satellite Schedule:

Adda52 is hosting online satellites for WPT India 2018 55K Main Event. Here is the schedule of satellites running on the website.

Day	Date	Time	Satellite	Buy-in
DayTue-Sat	Date12 Oct – 10 Nov	Time9:30 PM	SatelliteWPT India ME Satellite – RE	Buy-in3000
DayMon-Fri	Date26 Sep-5 Nov	Time2:30, 4:30, 7:30, 8:30 PM	SatelliteWPT India ME Step 1	Buy-in300
DaySun	Date21 & 28 Oct, 4 Nov	Time9:30 PM	SatelliteWPT India Super Satellite – RE	Buy-in12500
DaySat	Date21 & 28 Oct, 4 Nov	Time2:30, 4:30, 7:30, 8:30 PM	SatelliteWPT India Super Step 1 – RE	Buy-in750

Deltin Royale is India’s largest and most luxurious offshore gaming and entertainment destination which is owned and operated by Delta Corp. This majestic cruise casino is anchored on Mandovi River in Panjim, the state capital of Goa.

WPT made a spectacular debut in India with WPT Deep Stacks series which happened in November 2017 at Deltin Royale. The inaugural series Main Event draw 527 entries which generated an impressive total prize-pool of INR 27.5 Million. Poker Pro Vikas Mantri won the title after defeating Arjun Arora in the heads-up game. He took home INR 6.3 Million for his first-place finish.

WPT is one of the most renowned poker brands in the world which is looking forward to developing its presence in the Asia-Pacific region with WPT India. The tournament series is expected to repeat the success of its first edition and witness massive participation of poker players from across the country again this year.

With more than 15 Lac registered users, Adda52 is India’s biggest online gaming portal which is owned by Gaussian Networks Pvt. Ltd. – a part of Delta Corp (India’s only gaming company which is listed on both BSE and NSE). Speaking about the event, Mohit Agarwal, Co-Founder and CEO of Adda52 said , “We are excited to host the second season of WPT at India’s largest casino, Deltin Royale in Goa. With a population of 1.3 billion, India has a booming poker scene and the game is growing in popularity by the day. WPT India is a perfect fit for the Indian poker community and puts India firmly on the global poker tournament map.”,

So mark the dates in your calendar and register for WPT India 2018 satellites on Adda52 right now!

Terms & Conditions

1) Players need to register for WPT India Events at the venue. For registration, all players will require an active Adda52 Account.

2) Mobile verification is mandatory for participation in the satellite.

3) Satellite winnings are non-refundable / non-transferable and will not be refunded in case of Force Majeure.

4)Super Satellite Winner will get the ticket for all 5 events with 4 Nights Twin-sharing accommodation (first-cum-first-serve basis or a reimbursement of up to 10,000) & flights reimbursement up to 10K. In order to get the travel/stay reimbursement (as per eligibility), it’s must for the player to submit valid bills/invoices and boarding passes. No reimbursement would be processed in absence of valid invoice for stay, Invoice and Boarding pass for travel. For any quires please write to support@adda52.com.

5)The Tournament Director has the right to change table seating to accommodate players. His decision will be final in all matters.

6) All Satellite winners who come in the money will have to pay tax based on their Satellite Buy-in and/or rebuy-in amounts. In case the player does not play due to him being engaged in another event the amount will be refunded post deduction of TDS. All Satellite winner stacks will be put into the pool at the end of late registration.

7)‎All additional prizes announced by Adda52 will be credited to your Adda52 Account.

8)Satellite winners will have to carry the Adda52 pass to participate in the event.

9)‎It would be mandatory for all satellite winners qualifying for DPT Xpress to wear Adda52 merchandise (to be provided by Adda52) across the series.

 

There are a lot of reasons for the increasing popularity of poker around the world. One of the biggest reasons is the amusing slang names and crazy phrases used to refer a specific hand, action, situation, etc by poker players on the tables which make the game more fun and attract people of all ages, gender, and location towards this amazing game of wits.

Here is a quick look at some of the classic terms poker players use on poker tables globally.

All Pink

Flush which consists of Hearts and Diamonds.

All Black

Flush which consists of Spades and Clubs.

Chip and a Chair

The term originated when Jack “Treetop” Stratus won the 1982 WSOP Main Event after being down to a single $500 chip. According to the legend, he lost a huge pot and was thought to be knocked out from the event but he noticed that he had one $500 chip left which was hidden under a napkin. He continued playing and ultimately won the Main Event. The term “Chip And A Chair” means as long as you have a single chip and a seat at the table, you still have a chance to win the game.

Darth Vader

Nickname for pocket 4s of Spade and Club. It is originated because “Dark Fours” sounds very similar to “Dark Force” of Star Wars movies.

Double Infinity

Nickname for pocket 8s.

Golf Bag

Term used for a flush of clubs.

Motown

Pocket hand J-5, also called as Jackson Five. The name of the hand originated from the “Jackson 5” American music group which played under the Record label “Motown” for few years.

Maverick

Term used for pocket cards Q-J – suited or off-suited. It is originated from the theme song of Wild West TV series “Maverick” – “ Livin’ on jacks and queens. Maverick is the legend of the west.”

Royal Marriage

Term used for pocket cards K-Q suited.

Mixed Marriage

Term for pocket cards K-Q unsuited.

Snap Off

Term used for winning with an incomplete or average hand either by beating opponent’s weak hand or bluff or getting required cards in the betting rounds and completing the hand.

Snarker

Term used for the player who wins the game and then taunts the loser. Taunting in this situation is used as a strategy to decrease the confidence of the opponent.

Underdog

The player with the weaker cards who, due to unfavorable mathematical odds, is less likely to win a specific hand.

White Meat

Slang used for profits made in the game.

See Also – Interesting Poker Terms You Can Use to Impress Everyone-Part I

See Also – Interesting Poker Terms You Can Use to Impress Everyone-Part II

See Also – Interesting Poker Terms You Can Use to Impress Everyone-Part III

See Also – Interesting Poker Terms You Can Use to Impress Everyone-Part IV

Are you in search of the best books to study poker?

Poker is a great psychological game. It is an easy-to-learn game of skills but the road to mastery is long and hard. There are so many concepts and techniques in poker other than basic fundamentals and strategies which a player needs to learn to survive in the competitive world of poker for a long time. To ensure maximum fun and maximum profits at real stake cash games and tournaments, a player must have the proper understanding of topics such as game selection, time management, bankroll management, table positions, etc. Also, it is important to recognize which  psychological traits i.e. observation, emotions control, patience, and critical thinking are essential to achieving your objective. You can learn a lot about the game from the books written by great poker players turned authors about their experiences on the game table.

We have put together a list of some of the most influential books about poker strategies ever written. These books can not only help in shaping up your personality as a poker player but also in taking your gameplay up to the next level.

Harrington on Hold’em

Written by Dan Harrington, the book breaks down some of the best theories and strategies to be used when you play at different levels of a poker tournament (how to respond to re-raises, how to become unreadable, how to modify betting patterns as per the situation on the table, etc). It addresses the most common problem of poker players: making the same mistakes again and again involuntarily due to following a predictable playing pattern and not developing their own unique style of play.

Elements of Poker

Tommy Angelo talks about poker strategies in some of the most unique ways ever envisioned. The book is not about how to implement probability and mathematical concepts such as pot odds and hand ranges in the game. It’s about how to play with a cool and calm mind and take rational decisions without being affected by emotions. The focus of the book is primarily to tell readers how they can perform their best on the game tables consistently and make great profits.

Every Hand Revealed

The winner of 3 WPT open titles, professional poker player Gus Hansen total career earnings is more than $10 Million. In the book, Hansen recounts in detail the story of over 300 hands he was dealt in the Aussie Millions in 2007 where he outlasted 747 players to win the grand prize worth $1.2 Million. He revealed the mathematical and probability concepts he used in the game which helped him achieve victory over his rivals.

Super System

The legendary Doyle Brunson’s first book “Super System” was published in 1978. In the book, he shared his table experiences with the readers about everything they need to become a successful poker player. The book is also popular as “the holy grail of poker strategy” as not only the “Godfather of Poker”, but also some of the best poker players of their time such as David Sklansky , Mike Caro, Joey Hawthorne, late David “Chip” Reese, and Bobby Baldwin disclosed their secrets of success on the game tables in it.

Caro’s Book of Poker Tells

Reading “tells” is one of the most crucial factors for success in Poker. Mike Caro gives valuable insights in the book about how to observe and analyze opponents’ behavior through their body language, expressions, and movements in a live poker game to anticipate the strength of their in-hand cards and how to use this knowledge against them.

You can learn a lot from the experience of others by reading books. Some books help in understanding the basic principles of poker in a better way and some books talk about advanced tactics and strategies that can be used in a high stake poker tournament. We cannot compare one book with another as every book is targeted towards different players of different level of knowledge (Beginners, intermediate level players, or experts). So pick up a good book which suits your interest and skill-set as they will teach you lots of useful things and help you build a solid foundation for your game.

Adda52 proudly announce the return of it’s flagship tournament series -DPT (Deltin Poker Tournament). This time, it is going to be organized in the beautiful city of Gangtok, the capital of the state of Sikkim.

The venue of the event is Deltin Denzong – Delta Corporation’s own land casino which is located at Hotel Denzong Residency. DPT Xpress will be held from 27th  to 30  September at this magnificent poker destination which is located in front of the summit of Mt. Kanchenjunga – the 3rd highest peak in the world. The tournament series is going to feature 4 low stake tournaments in which players can participate with the buy-ins ranging from INR 5,000 to INR 15,000. The INR 5,000 buy-in tournament ‘Burn ‘N’ Turn’ will happen on the first day. It will be followed by INR 10,000 buy-in event ‘ Bounty Nuggets’ on 28th September. The Main Event will be held on 29th September with INR 15,000 buy-in. The 10k Bounty and 15K Main Event will be live streamed. The series will conclude with ‘Players Choice” event on 30th September where players can choose the format ((Teams Event, Heads-Up Event, or Satellite Event) for WPT (World Poker Tour) India Edition which will happen in November month this year.

Participants can also enjoy some exciting cash games during the tournament series.

Satellite tournaments are currently running on Adda52 where players can win entry tickets for DPT Xpress including flight expenses and stay.

Situated at an astounding height of 6000 feet, Deltin Denzong is just 4.5 hours drive away from Siliguri. The casino offers 169 gaming positions.

As per Mr. Manish Adnani who is the Business Head of Poker at Deltin Royale, “DPT has evolved as a product over the past 28 months since its inception in early 2016. Back then we just had one series the Deltin Poker Tournament which attracted regulars, pros and all kinds of recreational players. As the fabric and the space has evolved, we felt the need to have a Super High Roller series which took shape in the form of DPT Colossus in April this year clearly dissecting the High rollers from the rest of the pack. Having said this, there are players who do play cash games at least 3-4 times a week in A, B and C cities but never make it out of the closet to a DPT event as they generally don’t land up playing live tournaments primarily due to high buy-ins and the standard of the game with the pros and regs participating in these player fields. DPT Xpress is specially designed to get these players out of their closets giving them a taste of tournament experience with spectacular destination like Sikkim with exciting cash games.”

“The game has evolved substantially over the last decade however these structures are more like the ones where I grew up playing poker in Mumbai. We hope that the players enjoy this experience in Sikkim as it will be a lot of fun all around. We will be live streaming the Bounty and Main Event Final table and hope to give everyone an great experience. Going into 2019 we will have three distinct properties catering to the poker playing community in India.” he added.

More than 1100 poker enthusiasts registered for DPT’s previous edition which was held in July this year at Deltin Royale in Goa. The massively successful poker season was culminated with Awnish Singh won the Main Event title by defeating all opponents and received the 1  prize of INR 35 Lac. DPT Xpress is also expected to see a huge participation from poker enthusiasts from surrounding North Eastern regions as well as from different cities across India.

DPT Xpress Tourney Schedule

 Terms and Conditions for DPT Xpress Satellite Winners

1- Players need to register for DPT Xpress Events at the venue with their Adda52 accounts.

‎2- Mobile verification is mandatory for participation in the satellite.

3- ‎Satellite winnings are non-refundable / non-transferable.

4- ‎Super Satellite Winner will get the ticket to all 3 events with 4 Nights Twin-sharing accommodation (first-cum-first-serve basis or a reimbursement of up to 25,000) & flights reimbursement upto 15K.

In order to get the travel/stay reimbursement (as per eligibility), it’s must for the player to submit valid bills/invoices and boarding passes.  No reimbursement would be processed in absence of valid invoice for stay, Invoice and Boarding pass for travel.

‎5- The Tournament Director has the right to change table seating to accommodate player. His decision will be final.

6- ‎All Satellite winners who come in the money will have to pay tax based on their Satellite Buy-in and/or rebuy-in amounts.

7- ‎All additional prizes announced by Adda52 will be credited to your Adda52 Account.

‎8- Satellite winners will have to carry the Adda52 pass to participate in the event.

9- ‎It would be mandatory for all satellite winners qualifying for DPT Xpress to wear Adda52 merchandise (to be provided by Adda52)across the series.

‎10- By participating in the tournament, the players consent to providetheir image, interview etc., to be used as promotional content by Adda52 and it’s media partners.

‎11- Adda52 reserves the right to modify or withdraw the tournament at any time without prior notice. Adda52’s decision regarding the same shall be final and binding.

‎12- TDS applicable on all winnings above INR 10,000.

13- ‎As a gesture towards our hard-working dealers/tournament staff, we will have 1% Gratuity which will be deducted from the total prize pool.

‎14- Surrogate marketing will not be allowed. Guests would be requested to leave if found indulging any such marketing.

Here is the list of some more cool, colorful, and trending poker terms/slangs/nicknames for particular types of hands, situations, and players. Please remember that these are not a part of poker official terminology. These are commonly used amusing terms which players use on poker forums, at live tables, and even in the chatbox when they play online poker.

AJAX

Starting hand of Ace and Jack in Hold’em.

AMERICAN AIRLINES

Starting hand of A A in Hold’em.

AMMO/AMMUNITION

Term used for chips on a poker table.

BEE STINGER

Term used for the situation when a player loses a poker hand badly.

BLOODBATH

A disastrous session on the game table (mostly used when a player loses a lot in the game).

BROOMCORN’S UNCLE

The player who folds most of his hands before the first round of betting and ultimately goes broke on the ante.

BUMP

Term for player who wants to raise.

CARDRACK

Term for the player who is receiving good quality hands in a game. It is the opposite of “Card Dead”.

CHAMELEON

Poker who can change his playing style as per the situation on the table. They can adapt to the environment very easily and change the way they play according to their opponents and the hand.

CHOP THE BLINDS

When all players other than the small and big blind fold their hand before the flop. The players at the blind positions then end the hand by taking their money back.

DEAD BLIND

When a player leaves the table for a break and returns while the game is still running, he needs to post a dead blind (which includes small and big blind amount which goes directly into the pot) as a penalty if he wants to sit on the table again.

KING JOHN

Nickname for hand cards K and J. 

KILL A POT

Kill a pot means posting an overblind to increase the betting limits. Full kill is doubling the big blind and the betting limits. Half kill is increasing one half of the big blind and the betting limits.

LIMPER

The player who limps in the hand (who enters the pot by calling the big blind in the preflop round).

LAYING DOWN A HAND

Term when a player folds. It is especially used when the player folds a strong hand.

MISDEAL

Situation when dealer deals a hand incorrectly to the players which requires a re-dealing.

PIGEON

Term refers to the player who is considered as a “weak player” on the table.

PUPPY FEET/PUPS

Term used when a player has one or more club cards (which can be used to make a flush).

See Also – Interesting Poker Terms You Can Use to Impress Everyone-Part I

See Also – Interesting Poker Terms You Can Use to Impress Everyone-Part II

See Also – Interesting Poker Terms You Can Use to Impress Everyone-Part III

See Also – Interesting Poker Terms You Can Use to Impress Everyone-Part V

Poker is a great game. Regardless of whether you are a recreational or professional poker player, you need to earn some skills i.e. critical thinking, bankroll management, discipline, time management, emotions control, etc to survive in the competitive world of poker. Not only these traits can help you win a decent amount of money on the poker tables, they even work well in different fields of the real world.

Even in your professional life, certain poker skills can help you progress in your career and reach milestones.

Here we have listed the skills which are extremely useful in poker and which you can implement in areas of real life such as your career, finances, or relationships:

Reading people & situations

On a poker table, a player needs to keep a close eye on his opponents to find out the strength of their cards and predict their next move. As he observes opponents’ betting style, body language, and behavior on the table to extract information about their hand, he gradually starts developing a great understanding of human psychology which allows him to study people in a better way, even in real life. He starts thinking rationally and takes decisions only after carefully analyzing every aspect of the available information.

Money Management

Playing poker requires maintaining a strict and sensible bankroll to support the game. Bankroll is the money a player keeps aside to use only to play poker. A good player always plays within limits and avoids risking the amount of money which he cannot afford to lose.

The habit of managing money smartly is very beneficial in life. You should control the money, not the other way around. Poker teaches people the importance of living within the means. Unexpected expenses can knock your door anytime, so you must have the resources available to deal with them effectively.

Dealing with risk

Risk is inevitable. Poker players need to deal with a lot of uncertainties on the game table. Before making any move, a good player mentally calculates the probabilities and expected value. As he acts on the basis on incomplete information, he analyses the situation carefully as per his knowledge and experience to decide “when to fold” and “when to hold”. Similarly, in daily life, a person needs to take decisions after thoroughly evaluating all the available options. That’s where your understanding of odds helps you in predicting the consequences of your choices and expected rewards.

Dealing with Failure

A poker player knows that it is not possible to win each and every hand he plays. He also knows how important it is to manage emotions and handle stressful situations effectively to take rational decisions in the game and avoid tilt.

In life, you have good days and bad days. But is important to never stop and maintain inner peace and concentration to deal with emotional suffering caused due to failure.

Poker is an exciting game which not only entertains but also teaches so many things about life. Like poker, circumstances can change anytime in your personal and professional life. Poker playing helps players learn how to deal with unforeseen situations. What’s important is to understand how honest you are about your capabilities and how clear grasp you have on reality.

 

Poker, as it has been said main times, is psychological game. Other than your own hand strength, you need to find out what your opponent is holding to take the best decisions on the table. A good understanding of human nature and behavior can help you predict your opponent’s future moves, adopt a strategy, and take complex decisions on time. Regardless of whether you are playing online or offline, you need to decide your game play on the basis of limited information, so it is crucial to get into the minds of your opponents. Though this understanding comes naturally to some, it can also be developed with time.

Understanding of human behavior is one of the biggest weapons which you can use on a poker table. Here’s how knowledge of psychology can help you boost your bankroll and become a successful long-term poker player:

Calling Bluffs

Bluffing is a strategy where a player attempts to trick his opponents by providing wrong information about his hand strength. When you have average cards, you can either bet heavily and create the impression that you have a better hand than your opponent to make him fold his cards. When you have exceptional cards, you can act vulnerable and bet low to give the impression that your hand is weak to make him contribute more to the pot.

If you want to pull off a bluff like that successfully, you should evaluate the level of skills and knowledge of your opponent by analyzing the previous hands he played. Similarly, when your opponent runs a bluff, you need to see the pattern in his behavior and gameplay to call his bluff. Also, his table position, stack size, and body movements (legs jolting, shaky hands, avoiding eye contact, sudden excessive talking/keeping quite, etc) are few instances which can help you detect the bluff.

Gaining Information about the future moves

You can read your opponent’s hand by studying the way he behaves on the table. Every player has different personalities and behavioral pattern. You can pick up valuable “tells” by keeping a close eye on your opponent’s micro-expressions, chip stack arrangement, body language, table talks, etc. It is important to psychologically read the actions of fellow players carefully to understand their playing style (tight passive/ loose passive/ tight aggressive/ loose aggressive) to create a game plan against them.

Emotion Control and taking the best decisions under pressure

A good poker player understands the importance of controlling emotions on game table and take the right decisions quickly in adverse situations. Most players know very little about how to deal with ups and downs of the game mentally. Under the influence of emotions like anger and frustration, they take poor and irrational decisions on the table and ultimately lose the game. Many players make the mistake of chasing losses and risk much more money that they afford to lose. As you invest your hard-earned money into the game, you need to play with a focused and rational mindset. It is essential to become mentally tough to ensure performing your best in any situation if you want to survive in this highly competitive game for long.

Analyzing and Improving Your Game

Poker is a mind game, playing which requires determination, patience, and discipline. A player needs to consistently review the hands he played to find out the weak spots in his game. It is human nature to imagine that no one knows ourselves better than us. After a point of time, most players stop making efforts to improve their game or analyzing their hands to identify mistakes and correct them. It is good to have confidence in your own self-knowledge, but it is also crucial to understand your limits. If you want to become a stronger player, you need to be honest with yourself. Step out of your comfort zone and practice to improve your abilities.

Poker is not just a game of cards. It is a game of understanding human behavior and situations. What matter most is staying optimistic yet realistic about your strengths and weaknesses.

It is not easy to convince family members to support your dream of pursuing poker as a profession. There is a high possibility that they might not take it seriously or disapprove vehemently when you tell them about your decision of becoming a professional poker player. As it is difficult for them to distinguish between poker and other luck-based cards games, they object strongly to your decision of playing poker to earn your livelihood. For them, it is financially risky and cannot give you any stability in life.

Here are the key truths about poker which can help you get your family and close friends on board with your decision:

Poker is a game of skills

There is no scope of “chance-based” gameplay in poker. It is a strategy based game which requires logical thinking, patience, observation, dedication, and decision-making ability to beat the opponents and win the hand. A player makes his moves after properly assessing the situation on the table. You need to learn the rules, regulation, and techniques of the game. After the game, you need to review the hands to find out your mistakes. Also, it is important to practice the game consistently to identify your strengths and eliminate your weaknesses.

Poker is not an addiction

Poker playing is a passion, not an addiction. You cannot stay in the game for long if you play mindlessly. It requires maintaining a proper bankroll to support the game when you play real stake poker tournaments. Online poker playing with real cash is not a violation of law in most of the states in India. You can easily make deposits on the gaming websites and withdraw your winnings in your bank accounts without any worries about the safety and privacy of your personal and financial information.

Poker teaches a lot of things about life

Poker is not just a game. It is an intelligent sport which teaches you a number of things which can greatly benefit in your life. You can learn how to maintain focus, deal with failure, analyze risk, control emotions, and make rational decisions in stressful situations.

You can earn fame as well as great money

There are thousands of players in India who are playing the game professionally  online or offline. Gaming websites host various cash games and tournaments with huge guaranteed prizes where players can participate with minimal buy-ins. Also, players can join national and international live poker tournaments such as DPT, WPT, WSOP, etc and win mammoth cash prizes.

Nikita Luther (India’s first female WSOP bracelet winner), Muskan Sethi (India’s first professional poker player honored by President of India for her achievements in the field of poker), Nipun Java, Abhishek Goindi, Aditya Agarwal, etc are some of the top players who have achieved the status of legends in the world of poker. These players have loads of fans who love to see their game on the tables and want to become a successful player like them.

Poker is easily accessible

Our parents grew up in the era where computers, mobile devices, and internet were in their infancy or didn’t even exist. Poker playing was only limited to casinos. Now, due to technical advancements, there is no need to travel long distances to play poker. You can participate in online cash games and tournaments in your spare time. Even if you want to become a full-time professional player, there is no need to quit your job and shut your business down. You can participate in national and international live poker tournaments and make a lot of money by showcasing your knowledge of the game and skills on the tables.

What’s most important that you must have confidence in your expertise and knowledge before reaching out to the family to tell them about your decision. NEVER try to keep it a secret from them. Be honest and let them know that pursuing poker as a profession is not a sudden decision but a carefully thought-out career plan. Let them know how serious you are and how much personal happiness and satisfaction matters to you along with financial stability.

If you need the support of people who are close to you, you need to instill trust in them. Also, let them know that you have a backup plan ready in case things don’t work out as planned.

Once they see your success on the poker tables, they will understand that it was the right decision for you to make.