Hand Mapping and Evaluation
Whenever you play poker, you are relying on your ability to assess the situation and act accordingly. Most professional poker players study their opponents before playing big games; this might be a bit difficult to do because you are dealing with different opponents every time you play poker online. What you need is proper hand mapping and evaluation skills.
A good way to practice your evaluation skills is to play poker with yourself. If you mostly play poker online, this particular practice will help you make better decision indefinitely. Use a deck of card, play as if you are playing at a table of at least 5, deal the cards the way dealers would deal them, and start mapping hands. Only look at your own hand during the play.
You don’t need to worry about betting at this point. The goal is to learn how to predict your opponent’s cards as closely as possible and make your move correctly, and this particular practice can help you achieve the level of skills you need in no time. The more you practice your hand mapping skills, the better you will be when playing live games.
To enhance your skills even further, play with fewer ‘opponents’ – if you play as if you are playing at a table of 9, reduce the number to 4 or 3. This will help you practice decision making during tough times, especially after the turn and river. While you are at it, you can also take bets into consideration and assess the move you would make in different situations.