People usually think that poker operates on an esoteric level where holding cards is not central to the game. However, the truth is that this game is all about showing the best hand to your opponents. There are several such myths about poker, making it a much-misunderstood game. Here are some of them:
§ Good poker players usually bluff: Bluffing is fun, any poker player will tell you that, but it’s also an important part of a winner’s weaponry. Bluffing may be fun but getting ‘bluffed out’ of the game isn’t funny, so players will find all kinds of excuses to call you, whether they should or shouldn’t. This leads to the conclusion that you finally have very few lucrative bluffing opportunities in any game.
§ Sign-up bonuses are mind-boggling: The more sites you see the more familiar you will become with the huge banner ads claiming to give large sign up bonuses. Actually, a Poker Stars Bonus is not more than $500, and it’s not money given away to you for free either. The truth is that you have to deposit your own money and play many hands and so clear the bonus amount given to you.
§ Several large hands are dealt simultaneously: People mistakenly think that sites give players many large hands all at once if only to have a high rake and so have huge pots to win. The only reason it happens online is because there are more hands every hour here, so you’re sure to find some mad ones too.
§ Winners are always the best players: This may be true for just about 80% of the game, but unfortunately it doesn’t hold good for the entire game. After all, good PokerStars players don’t always have the best run of luck. Bad players too can get lucky towards the end of the game and can stay so sometimes for a few weeks and months.
§ To be a good poker player is an inherent skill: Great poker players know the number of hours they have spent perfecting their game. So, it’s not right to say that great poker players play well due to an inherent gene. Great poker players study the game and invest a lot of time and money in it. They acquire the necessary skills and attitude the game requires and learn how to beat their opponents.
§ Poker cards dealt out are not random: Nothing could be further from the truth than this. Random card generators are used by online card rooms to deal each hand. For better shuffling than what is done in a brick and mortar poker room, the online software programs are written with various levels of sophistication.
Once the hole cards are dealt, the remaining cards are kept randomized till the flop is announced. At this point, the card generator randomly chooses three flop cards and lays them on the board. This process is repeated for turn and river, so the board cards remain unknown at the start of each hand.