Mistakes to Avoid When Playing Texas Holdem at US Poker Sites

Texas Holdem is easily one of the most popular games played at online US poker sites. With so many people playing, it’s not surprising that there are a lot of rookie mistakes being made. If you’ve got an account at one of the many US player poker rooms, you’ll want to avoid this mistakes when playing Texas Holdem online.

Going in on Every Hand

You don’t have to get in on every hand – and not just to save your chips, either. Sitting out a hand or two gives you a chance to observe the play and get to know how other players tend to play their hands. That gives you an edge when you decide to get in on a pot.

The players who do best at Texas Holdem in US poker sites only see the flop between 20 and 30 percent of the time. When should you go in? According to the pros, you should play your hand when you’re holding quality cards, or conversely, if you’ve got middling cards, but the majority of other players have folded.

What kind of “quality cards” are we talking about? Some players will tell you that you shouldn’t even think about it unless you’re holding a high pair, but there are some other power positions that qualify as quality – a couple of suited face cards, for example.

Bluffing

Lots of players in US player poker sites pride themselves on their bluffing abilities. That’s not usually a good strategy in Holdem, where there are enough community cards that most players can figure out whether or not you’ve got the goods in your hand. If you’re going to bluff, time it right.

Aggressive Playing

You’ve got a decent hand, so you should play the heck out of it, right? Not necessarily. If you raise too much too early in the game, you could end up knocked out of the game way too soon if someone overtakes you on the flop or the turn.

Chatting

Save the chatting for when you’re not playing or at least, when you’re not playing for money. Chatting is a distraction, and even more so when you’re playing online. Most US poker sites have a chat facility so you can exchange banter with others playing at your table. It’s a good way to lose. Just play your cards.

Of course, you’re bound to make mistakes when you first start playing at online US poker sites, but if you pay attention to what’s going on around you, you’ll soon be playing like a real pro.

How to Fund Your Account at US Poker Sites

While there are no online poker sites operating inside the United States, there are a number of offshore poker sites that are happy to accept US players. One of the biggest issues that US players run into when playing at US poker sites is funding their accounts. Since the US Department of Justice started cracking down on banks and money transfer companies, most credit card companies and banks won’t transfer your cash to offshore US player poker sites. That doesn’t mean you can’t play, however. It just means you have to find other ways to fund your player account at US player poker rooms. These are the most popular methods of adding money to your account at US poker sites.

Credit Cards

Most US player poker sites accept credit card transfers to fund your account, but your credit card issuer may not allow the transfer. Your chances of having your deposit accepted are better if you’re using an international credit card that’s commonly accepted in foreign countries.

The only real way to find out if your issuer will transfer money to a specific site is to try it. Alternatively, you can check online discussion boards on sites that provide US poker site reviews, where online players exchange information with each other. You’ll find lots of discussions about which credit cards from which issuers have been accepted at various US poker sites.

Debit Cards

Most reloadable debit cards are issued by major credit card issuers, so you’ll run into the same issues and have the same workarounds. This is especially true if you’re using a debit card issued by your bank and connected to your bank account. Prepaid reloadable debit – the kind you can buy at your local convenience store or department store – are often a better bet for this kind of use. Again, the discussion boards and websites that provide online US poker site reviews can help you find debit cards that will be accepted at US player poker rooms.

Western Union/Wire Transfer

Nearly every online poker site that accepts US players will accept a wire transfer via Western Union or another international money transfer service to fund your account. Most of them have instructions onsite to explain how to set up a wire transfer to get money into your player account.

Online Transfers

Online money transfer services, such as PayPal, are another way to fund your account – though you won’t be able to do it through PayPal because the company will not do transfers involving gambling. You’ll find a list of money transfer services each site will accept online at the US player poker sites.

If you enjoy playing poker online, it’s important to figure out a trusted and trustworthy way to transfer money to fund your player account. Websites that offer reviews of US poker sites are an excellent resource to help you figure out how to safely get your money from your bank account to your online player account.

Three Things You Should Know About US Poker Sites

Until a few years ago, it was fairly easy for US players to find places to play poker online. Thanks to new laws and law enforcement, it’s not as easy as it used to be. If you enjoy online poker and want to play for money, you’ll find that it can be difficult to find US poker sites – sites that will accept US poker players. It’s not impossible, though, and you can safely play poker online – for real money – if you adhere to a few simple rules.

Know Where You’re Playing

Before you join any of the US poker sites that advertise on the Internet, take some time to research them. There are many websites that do US poker site reviews, so read up on the best places to play – and the places to avoid. In addition to site reviews, most of these websites also offer you a lot of advice and keep you on the news – which poker sites are still accepting US players, which may have gone out of business and which have changed their rules. Keep in mind that many of these sites are supported by their referrals to US player poker sites, so go beyond the reviews to the player forums where you can ask questions and read up on the experiences of others on different US player poker rooms.

Be Prepared with Different Ways to Fund Your Account

Before you can start playing, you’ll have to fund your account at the sites where you sign up. This can be the trickiest part, since many US-based banks and credit card issuers won’t allow transfers to foreign gambling sites. Some prepaid debit cards will work, but they’re not always a sure thing. That’s where US player poker sites forums come in handy. Many players keep track of which debit cards have been accepted at specific US poker sites recently. The most common – and most commonly accepted – way to fund your account at US player poker rooms is through a Western Union or MoneyGram money transfer.

Get All the Bonuses You Can Qualify For

Most US poker sites offer bonuses – extra money to pad your account so you can play longer. Each site has different rules, so read up to find out which bonuses they offer and how to qualify for them. Keep in mind that when you sign up through some sites that feature US poker site reviews, you can get special bonuses to get you started playing, so shop around before you sign up.

Getting Money Into US Poker Sites

Since 2006, the U.S. Department of Justice has made it significantly harder for U.S. residents to play poker online, but there are still many US poker sites that are happy to do business with you. The biggest trick is funding your account so you’ll have money to bet and play. The DOJ has gone after banks and credit card companies that transfer money to gambling websites, so your bank or credit card issuer may not transfer money to many – or any – of the US player poker sites. That hasn’t stopped poker sites from doing business with US players. It just means you have to find other ways to put money into your account.

If you’re a US player, poker rooms will be happy to work with you to get your money to your account. These steps can help you find US poker sites and get set up to start playing and winning money playing poker online.

Check Out US Poker Site Reviews

Look for websites that provide US poker site reviews to keep up with which sites and organizations will accept US players. This is a constantly changing list with new rooms added and some rooms dropped frequently. Keeping up with the news on these websites can make it a lot easier to find places to play.

Read Poker Discussion Forums

Bulletin boards and discussion forums are another good place to find US poker sites and get the lowdown on the best ways to fund your account and withdraw your winnings. In addition to players, you’ll also run into affiliates of the various US player poker rooms, who may or may not identify themselves as such but who can often set you up with bonuses to start off your playing with a little extra in the pot.

Try Internationally Accepted Credit Cards

If you have a credit card that’s accepted internationally, try using that to fund your account first. In many cases, you can find out without trying by asking or searching for your card issuer on a poker discussion forum. If someone has tried it, they’ll often report back to the group whether it worked or not.

Try a Pre-paid Debit Card

Pre-paid debit cards are among the most easily and commonly accepted methods of transferring money to US poker sites, but it’s not foolproof. Look for a list of debit cards that have worked to transfer money at the particular sites you’re interested in joining to help you figure out which are the best ones for you to use.

Talk to the Site Directly

Many US poker sites accept Western Union or MoneyGram money transfers, but you need to communicate with them directly before you send the money. A company representative will give you the details you need to send the money directly to the online casino so that you can get started playing as soon as possible.

Beginner Tips for Playing US Poker Sites

Do you want to up your play and your winnings on US poker sites? Try these tips from top players on some of the best US player poker sites in the world.

Don’t Let Your Emotions Rule You

One of the biggest mistakes beginning players on US poker sites make is playing by “feel”. You’ll hear some experienced players tell you they play by gut feel. Keep in mind that their years of experience have fine-tuned their gut to notice things they no longer consciously note. If you let your emotions dictate the hands you play and how you play them, you will lose far more than you win. Learn everything you can about odds and play the math instead.

Play by the Game Not the Hand

Too many players think in terms of the short term when evaluating themselves and their game. Get it through your head that you are going to lose some hands no matter how good you are at strategy. It’s just the way the odds fall. Plan out your strategy for the long term and don’t let short-term losses throw you off your long-term game.

Set Your Bankroll and Quit When It’s Gone

Long-time players on US poker player sites see it all the time. A new player goes all in, loses his starting bankroll and – instead of backing off for now – ups his bankroll. Before you pick up a hand, decide exactly how much money you have to play with and no matter what happens, stick with your bankroll. Playing beyond your bankroll is a sure way to lose big time.

Follow the 5% Rule

Never play with more than 5% of your bankroll on the table at one time. It’s Bankroll Management 101. Use one of the many funding options available for US poker sites to set up a balance in your online poker player account and never bet more than 5% of what’s in it on any one hand. The slow and steady approach is the best way to win in the long term.

Only Play When You’re at the Top of Your Game

You can’t make good decisions if you’re hungry, thirsty, uncomfortable or distracted. Treat poker seriously if you’re playing with real money. That means only playing when you’re ready to play. Take time out to eat, stay hydrated, sit in a comfortable chair and avoid playing when you’re distracted by worries or other things.

When you play poker online at US poker sites, play responsibly, play within your bankroll and when the game stops being fun, stop playing. Stick with those rules and your online account will grow rather than shrink.

Tips for Playing and Betting on US Poker Sites

US poker players face particular challenges when looking for US poker sites and US friendly poker sites. Thanks to the convoluted Internet gambling law that specifically targeted online poker sites, many of the best known casino and betting sites do not accept memberships from US players. Some of the most reputable and safest poker sites don’t allow registrations from US players. The hammer that came down on three of the largest online poker sites on the day that has become known as Black Friday put the fear of government intervention into the legitimate online gaming industry, leaving the field wide open for less scrupulous sites to scoop up those US players who are determined to play. In the aftermath of the 2011 legal action against US poker sites, how do US players find US poker sites that are safe?

It IS Legal for US Players to Play Poker Online.

First, it’s a common misconception that it’s illegal for US citizens to play poker or to gamble online. The law does not affect individual US poker players at all. It is not illegal for a US player to play poker online. Instead, law enforcement adopted a cynical tactic of targeting banks and online payment facilitators that allow US citizens to fund their accounts at US poker sites. They claim that they are protecting you, the US poker player, from cheats and thieves and money laundering.

Finding US Player Poker Sites

Despite the difficulty, there are many online betting sites and online poker sites that happily do business with US poker players. The trick is in finding these friendly to US poker player rooms. The best option is to research your choices and get all the information you can on poker sites that are friendly to US players.

Read US Poker Site Reviews

There are a number of well-regarded websites that provide US poker site reviews and provide insight on how to make the most of your money and fun when playing on them. Reading reviews of US player poker sites is the first step in finding places where you can play online with real money. Read the reviews offered, get to know the best ways to safely fund your account and talk to other US players who play poker online to learn about the sites that are legitimate.

Once you’ve settled on a few US poker sites to try, read all the house rules and regulations carefully. Get to know the sites that offer bonus games and special poker rooms and perks for US poker players. Once you’ve settled on a reputable, legitimate US poker site, register with them and have fun playing.