1.Concentrate your table position
and strong starting hands

This is a common rule and one that you should stick to. This is due to the fact that many online players are involved in far to many pots and see way too many flops, often with weak starting hands.

It is OK to play marginal hands in late position when there is no action in front of you. The way to beat these super-loose online players is to just tighten up and wait for the right cards at the right time so you can send him back to the cage.

2. Avoid playing too lose online

Again, this goes back to tightening up your play against these super-loose online players. In the long-run you, as a tighter more disciplined player, will be more successful and take down more pots.

These loose-as-a-goose players try to see way too many pots, maybe because of the low limits, maybe because of the action. Whatever the reason, tighten up your play and take down those pots.

3. Practice reading the flop

Since the speed of online play is part of the appeal. Being able to immediately scan a flop and determine the "nuts" or best possible hand, is crucial. Does the flop have a possible straight or flush draw? Who may have hit the flop? More importantly, who missed the flop all together?

Try sitting out a few rounds the first time you start a game or new table session to get a feel for the style of play you're up against.

4. Take notes when you play

I reckon this one really important. On most sites there is a little "notes" box that you can click on and jot down small tidbits of information along and along during a game. An example of this would be keeping a list of hands that a particular player shows down.

Another example would be to keep track of your own play so that you can review it at a later time and fine-tune your play. Also, when playing online you will notice that at certain limits and in certain rooms, it is common to see the same players so keeping track of their betting patterns and what hands they show down is extremely helpful.

There are a few great programs out there that auto track lots of information, but you must not become dependent on this kind of software and use make sure you use as an aid, not a crutch.

5. Play smaller tournaments first

The reasons for this are many, but mainly to gain confidence at the lower levels if you are able to dominate them. Playing in these small buy-in tournaments, one can receive a ton of experience for just a little bit of cash, with incentive to win some pretty decent prizes if you make it to the end.

6. Schedule your tournament play

There are so many tournaments online, scheduling them and remembering which ones you have scheduled is difficult. Also when scheduling, remember to leave your schedule open so that you can be assured sufficient time to finish a tournament that you start rather than having to watch the clock.

7. Don't play poker when
you are sidetracked.

Don't play when you are in the midst of an argument or to avoid doing something that is weighing on your mind. You cannot, and will not play your best game if you are preoccupied with something else.

If you must play when preoccupied, do so at a lower limit table so that you can handle the swings in your bankroll without really being affected by them.

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