I'd like to introduce you to my five-step process for becoming a winning poker player. Bookmark this page and come back frequently.
Step 1: Sign up with RAKEBACK!
The 'rake' is the amount the poker room removes from each pot, as a fee, for hosting/offering the poker game. The amount taken from each pot varies by limits, but is generally anywhere from $1-$3 on average per hand.
When you sign up with a poker room through Risk Oriented, you will receive a refund for every $1.00 that you pay in rake. This refund is known as rakeback. No matter what limits you play, whether you are a professional or just play poker for fun, receiving rakeback will greatly increase your win-rate, and allow you to make more money.
Click here for rakeback deals for Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars, UltimateBet, and more.
Step 2: Buy a Book!
Avoid buying bad books. There are plenty of reputable authors. Any of these will do.
Step 3: Get out there and play!
First, make sure you're playing the right game. It's not obvious. You should not necessarily play what you're best at. Instead, you should play the game your opponents are worst at.
Second, make sure you're playing the right limits. As you start playing bigger games, competition increases fiercely. Stick to games with a buyin under $25 until you're very confident.
Step 4: Get out there and play tighter!
If I could give you one piece of advice to make you a better player, it would be "Play tighter." No matter what you're doing, you could probably avoid some of your biggest mistakes if your hand was a little stronger on average. So, be disciplined and fold your weak hands and you will lose money less frequently.
Step 5: Track your play.
Programs like PokerTracker, Sharkscope, or Hold'em Manager can help you figure out how much money you have made or lost. The first step to being a professional is having this information. Professionals don't play in games where they routinely lose money, and they must be very careful to accurately know how much money they have made or lost.
