Today I'd like to share with you a few of the basic skills required to achieve success in the game of poker.Texas holdem poker is a game of luck and a game of skill. However, the game is more dependant on skill than it is on luck. Maybe you've noticed this on television. The true poker expert is generally in the finals of every major poker tournament. This is not an accident. No one gets lucky all of the time.

Texas holdem poker is one of the most interesting games you will ever play. But if your as bad at it as i used to be at it, and lose nearly every game you play, the game will quickly start to lose its appeal, and it won't be fun anymore.

So how do you win at texas holdem poker? What are the secrets? I used to think it was just about the luck of the cards you were given, and how good your poker face was. But there is so much more to the game. World class poker professionals will tell you that your skill in poker is dependant on the following six factors.

1) Your cards

Unfortunately, you can't control what cards you get. This is where skill kicks in. An experienced poker player will raise their bets, bluff, and will win hands despite not having a strong pair of cards. But as any good player will tell you, its better to fold more often, and wait till you have a good solid hand before placing big bets, or going all in.

2) Knowledge of the hands

You must become an expert at understanding which hands have a better chance of winning. Otherwise you will miss out on opportunities. I remember a time when i had a full house, and my friend had a flush. I didn't even realise i had a full house. I just thought i had a triple, and a double. If i knew how powerful my hand was, i would have certainly gone all in, even if i sensed my friend had a flush. A very silly mistake.

3) Your Betting Style

A player who raises often, and displays a no fear attitude, usually causes the other players to fold because they fear you have a great hand. My friend ben usually raises on every single betting round. Most of the time, this causes me and my other friends to fold, because we fear he may have a big hand.

4) Your facial expressions and body language

Your opponents are always trying to read you to determine whether or not you have a good pair of cards. if someone is checking all of the time and seems nervous, more than likely they don't have a good hand.

5) Reading your opponents betting styles, body language, facial expressions

I remember a time when my friend alex kept checking and seemed very nervous. When the final card was turned over, i could sense that he had nothing. At that point i yelled out "all in". And it was obvious to see that i had made a great call, because he was very quick to fold. Reading your opponents takes time and great practice. But its a great skill that will result in a lot of wins.

6) Practice, practice, and more practice

Since playing poker with my friends every weekend, my game has dramatically improved. Not only have i gained valuable experience, but i've also picked up on the mistakes that were limiting my game. Whether playing at your friends house, or live via the internet, practice has always been the key to success. When playing poker online, there is only one difference - you cannot see your opponents faces. Therefore, you have to rely on reading their betting styles and patterns.

Perfect those six factors and you will soon be a very feared player in the game of poker. And always remember that great poker players are not born, they are made. Anyone can become a truely fantastic player. All it takes is practice, practice, and even more practice. Best of luck my friends, and until next time, happy poker playing.

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