3 online poker tips you can't live without

Playing poker online has become increasingly popular over the last decade and has not showed any signs of decline. The heart of the game has changed considerably over the years and now provides lucrative opportunities for talented players through easily accessible games to play online recreationally. The advantages are obvious; games are available all day, every day and schemes such as an online poker bonus reward your first deposit.

Here are three things to remember when playing:

1. Aggression

A crucial part of playing poker and one often over-looked, is the ability to bring aggression to your game. When you raise, you create two avenues to win: either your opponent can fold, or they can call and you can showdown the best hand. Calling gives you only one option to win: call all your opponents’ raises until you can establish their betting patterns (and hopefully showdown the best hand). In short, it's much better to place your opponent in an environment where they feel pressured, cannot make a decision and are therefore inclined to fold.

You must show aggression in poker to be successful. Whether you’re bluffing or have the best hand, create doubt in your opponent’s mind and you will make it very difficult for them to know whether to call.

2. Bankroll Management

Maintaining a consistent bankroll is essential to poker, whether playing recreationally or professionally. Poker consists of huge swings in fortune, and unless you have the bankroll to provide for these results then you will surely go bust.

The reason for this? As it is, poker is a game mostly based on skill, but you also have to account for an amount of luck. When the luckruns dry and the cards run cold, it will be skill that eventually evens out for the player.

It's not entirely uncommon for a poker player to play 10,000 hands and break even or suffer a loss, to turn around and double or triple their original stake. Losing 20 buy-ins is also surprisingly common, and it's recommended that you have enough to cover this loss at any point.

Remember that while it's skill that will show results over time, you need a bankroll to be able to demonstrate it.

3. Position

There's no point as understated in poker as position, and no point as difficult to explain in short terms. Having position means you act last, which also means you get the benefit of viewing all your opponents’ moves and gaining an understanding of where they are in the hand. Use this to your advantage; be aggressive, on the button and tight in early position.

Bonus tip: Have fun!

Above all, poker is a game. Approach it as you would a game of chess; a puzzle to be solved, rather than an endless supply of spare money, as tempting as it would be. It's this mindset that provides you with the energy to continue playing when you're tired and when the decks run cold. Take the impetus off finance and place it firmly on learning, knowledge and fun, and the rewards will appear.