Practice Texas Hold'em
Many argue that Texas Hold 'Em is a skilled game. However, it's not only the skillful who win the hands. It is wise to practice your playing skills because it will only help you improve your game. There are many ways to practice playing Texas Hold 'Em - there are casinos, video games, cell phone games and most definitely, the Internet. The greatest aspect of every single one of the above mentioned ways to practice is available 24 hours a day and you can practice Texas Hold'Em online. There is also quite a few home games that I hear happening recently.
Though there are many things to practice when playing Texas Hold 'Em, the first thing you need to practice is watching your opponents. One of the best ways to go about doing this is when you sit down at a table - don't play the first few hands (unless it's a hand that you just can't think about lying down prior to the flop). This is a great tactic for you as well - if you don't play right away and you wait for what you consider a good hand or you're in the blind - people will start to watch you. If you raise, or re-raise and haven't played many hands - it will intimidate others into folding just because you've been labeled a tight player. Watch how the other players bet. Do they overbet? Do they simply limp in and call? Do they make minor raises? Do they always raise or re-raise when they are in the position of dealer or one of the blinds? Do they play every hand because they always want to see a flop? All of these bets mean different things to various people. But, once you learn how others bet, it will help improve your own personal game. Many players will also alter they way they bet as a way to try and throw you off, but most players still are consistent with many of the bets that they make. Many will tell you that when people overbet, for instance, it's because they simply don't want anyone to call.
The next read on your opponent will often be the style of chip stacking that they do. Many players will pile their chips in stacks that are easy to grab for the bets they like to make. It is said that players who scatter their chips messily don't truly care about the money that they have in front of them. It is also said that when people separate their chip stacks, they are normally not willing to lose the stack on the other side of the pile that they're playing from. Keep in mind - these tells are not necessarily true about every player you encounter, but a majority of the time - they help.
Pay close attention to what your opponents do with their eyes. Normally, players will repeat the same things on instinct. Some players can look you right in the eye every time they play, but many will look away, check on their chip stack, put their sunglasses on - or take them off - talk to the person sitting next to them, smile, or taunt you. People work both ways - some are extremely quiet when they have made a hand and want you to call, whereas others will not stop speaking because they want you to call. All of the maneuvers that players make are intentional and usually done to confuse their opponent, you.
Another read on your opponent is watching what they do with their hands. Do their hands shake? Some people shake every time they bet, so don't be mislead. However, many people shake when they have high or winning hands. See if your opponents play with the chip stack in front them - do they shuffle the cards under their hands, do they flip the chips through their fingers. Now, pay attention - do they do it all the time or only when they are staying in the hand? Do they always do it or only when they're thinking they're beat and should fold.
There all many types of Texas Hold 'Em players out there - some have skills and can bluff you into folding your winning hand and some, my friends, are just plain lucky. Watching others play Texas Hold 'Em is a great way for you to practice your skills and become one of the sharks at the table.
