The Art of Gambling Online

Are you a gambler that consults a starting-hand chart every time you play a game of online poker? If so, that’s okay, but you should be warned not to grow dependent on a tool which is good in so far as helping new players become familiar with the game, but bad when used as a crutch to implement a gambling strategy.

On second thought, it may not be a good idea to use a starting-hand chart even if you are new to online casino gambling. Far too often, players get fixed in what I like to call auto pilot, or seeing things one particular way. In other words, many players like to follow a strict set of guidelines (charts) that dictates every move they make. And it actually makes sense why so many gamblers do this. First, in dealing with anything that is unknown (even as simple as the outcome of a poker hand) following a poker chart feels like a safe move because you are not making the decision for yourself. Secondly, many strategy books strongly urge players to follow charts, and try to back up their pomposity with complicated numbers and seemingly good odds. They urge players to study as much gambling knowledge as they can, and warn that if they do not, they will lose every penny to their name.

Of course, good gamblers do need to study up on their games of choice and to implement a sound strategy when gambling in the online casino. But there is a balance to how this is executed. I like to compare gambling to art – Yes, gambling is an art. And just like any great artist who stands apart from the rest of the crowd, this artist always has a firm grasp on the so-called boundaries of his craft. Only then does he begin to stretch and mold those very boundaries he was taught to follow.

Take an actor for instance. A certain degree of preparation for the part he is playing goes according to a particular system or strategy, and entails such tasks as memorizing lines, developing character, emotion, and a whole other gamut of technical rehearsals. At this stage the actor is primarily preparing in an intellectual mode. However, when the curtain opens (game time in the casino) he must not be fully existing in an intellectual place, for all the audience will see on the stage is a lifeless talking head, repeating lines of memorized text. In the same manner, a gambler must learn to balance his intellectual book-knowledge mind with his more intuitive mind, or street smarts if you will. Just because the poker chart tells you to fold, does not mean you have no chance of winning the game. If you are perceptive to other factors, such as who is in the blind and who is sitting strong, and are perceptively reading other player’s behavior in general, you might just see a reason to stay in the game.

Therefore, don’t just live off of a gambling chart while in the online casino. It may take some time and effort (as all good things do) to find the best strategy for you, but you will find one if you are dedicated to doing so. Remember, there are strategies out there that take into account these things I mentioned above. And there are strategies that want you to memorize a bunch of numbers and nothing else. The key is to memorize the numbers ahead of time, pay close attention to people, and to be in the moment when the cards are on the table.