Beginner Poker Strategy Articles

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10 Quick Poker Strategy Tips That Will Help Your Game

We’ve compiled 10 tactics and strategies that will make you a more confident and profitable poker player.

4 Valuable Pieces of Poker Tournament Advice for Beginners

Highlights of the most important tournament tips from Upswing's tournament articles.

Enjoying the free strategy articles, but want to take your game to the next level? Upswing has a poker training path for you in the new Lab 2.0 from the beginner-friendly Launch Pad, to the advanced Mastery Path, Lab 2.0 gives you a clear path to sharper and more profitable play.

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Poker Training Course: Upswing Lab 2.0

Enjoying the free strategy articles, but want to take your game to the next level? Upswing has a poker training path for you in the new Lab 2.0 from the beginner-friendly Launch Pad, to the advanced Mastery Path, Lab 2.0 gives you a clear path to sharper and more profitable play.

Basics, Rules, and How to Play Poker

How to Play Poker (Texas Hold'em and more)

Basic rules and game flow for new players to learn how to start playing.

Poker Hand Rankings

List of poker hand rankings. Learn what beats what, learn texas hold'em starting hands, and download a free cheat sheet.

Popular Articles

Pot Odds Explained and How to Calculate Them

By Dan B.

Pot odds are a fundamental part of poker and it’s important to learn how to calculate them. Don’t worry though,…

10 Quick Poker Strategy Tips That Will Help Your Game

By Dan B.

10 Quick Poker Strategy Tips That Will Help Your Game If you’re looking for easy to remember and quick poker…

Starting Hands in Texas Hold’em Poker (The Ultimate Guide)

By Geoffrey Fisk

Success in Texas Hold’em starts with good preflop hand selection. If you’re playing a winning strategy, you’ll be folding preflop…

All Beginner Poker Articles

How to Choose Between Small vs Big Bet Sizes

By Dan B. | September 27, 2019

Imagine you’re playing $1/$2. You raise preflop with 8♥ 7♥ and get called by the player in the big blind. The flop comes and your opponent checks. Now, you know you want to bet with your low flush draw, but you aren’t sure which size to choose […]

How to Set Up a Six-Figure Run in the Sunday Million (Analysis)

By Ernest Gorham | August 30, 2019

If there’s one online poker tournament that everyone wants to final table, it’s the PokerStars Sunday Million.Tournament crusher Moritz ‘Mo’ Dietrich recently did just that, taking home $145,084 after making a deal with two players left. Mo reveals the strategy […]

[QUIZ] Can You Dominate Live Poker Games?

By Dan B. | August 27, 2019

If you frequent live poker games with a $2, $3, or $5 big blind, this quiz is for you.Your goal is to choose the most profitable play based on the situation and reads provided. At the end of the quiz, you’ll get assigned with a live poker player based on your score. […]

3 Small Stakes Hands Analyzed by High Stakes Veterans

By Patrick Harvey | August 23, 2019

If you’ve ever wanted to pick the brain of an experienced high stakes poker player, keep reading. In a recently…

What is Expected Value (EV) in Poker? This Basketball Analogy Will Make it Clear

By Mike Brady | August 22, 2019

Today we’re going to discuss expected value — what it means, why it’s important, and how to apply it. Expected…

How to Maximize Your Winnings Versus Multiple Limpers

By Dan B. | August 16, 2019

You are playing in a darn good game if you’re often facing multiple limps. To help you maximize your winnings…

[QUIZ] Are You a Double Barrelin’ Cowboy at the Poker Table?

By Dan B. | July 30, 2019

Are you a double barrelin’ cowboy or a city slicker when it comes to c-betting on the turn? We’re about to find out! You’re about to “play” 10 hands that reach the turn after you’ve c-bet on the flop. You’ll have two simple options in each hand: bet or check. […]

How to Win When Your Opponent Straddles (3 Crucial Tips)

By Dan B. | July 2, 2019

Adding a poker straddle to the game creates a whole new set of dynamics which are not so easy to…

Advance Your Multiway Skills with Nick Petrangelo (Free Video)

By Mike Brady | June 21, 2019

High stakes tournament BOSS Nick Petrangelo is here to bolster your multiway pot game. He’s also got a special announcement about a new project he’s been working on. Watch below! […]

How to Win on Low Flops When You’re Out of Position

By Dan B. | May 17, 2019

If you’ve ever looked down at a low flop and been unsure how to proceed, this is the article for…

Should You Stop Cold-Calling in Cash Games?

By Dan B. | May 7, 2019

Some poker players think you should only 3-bet or fold and never cold-call versus a single preflop raise. Other poker…

Why Are Most Poker Players Wimpy Bluffers?

By Konstantinos "Duncan" Palamourdas | April 30, 2019

(Photo: PartyPoker) In part 1 of this article series, I told you about the Honesty Principle. The Honesty Principle: As…

Why Do Random & Silly Bluffs Work?

By Konstantinos "Duncan" Palamourdas | April 16, 2019

Have you ever wondered why pure bluffs work when they do? By pure, I mean situations where the player who…

3 Tips for Winning with Gutshot Straight Draws

By Dan B. | April 9, 2019

If you’ve ever been unsure of what to do with a gutshot straight draw, you’ve found the right article. Today…

The Only Two Valid Reasons to Bet in Poker (Every Other Reason is Wrong)

By Dan B. | March 29, 2019

Why do we bet? This question has fascinated the best poker players for decades now. The legendary David Sklansky probably…

This Proven Method Will Boost Your Live Poker Winnings

By Dan B. | March 22, 2019

You want to increase your live poker earnings, right?  Today you will learn a battle-tested method for doing just that.…

How to Read Poker Hands in No Limit Hold’em (The Professional Way)

By Mike Brady | March 19, 2019

Hand reading is one of the most misunderstood concepts among casual poker players. The mistake these casual players make is…

Best Poker Odds and Equity Calculators

By Geoffrey Fisk | March 19, 2019

Understanding poker odds and equity is crucial to a winning poker strategy in 2019. Luckily for us, poker players have…

[QUIZ] Phil Hellmuth Sees Poker Players as Animals. Which One Are You?

By Mike Brady | February 25, 2019

When Phil Hellmuth sees a poker player, he sees an animal (according to his book Play Poker Like the Pros).The specific animal he sees — whether it be a mouse, an eagle, or something else — is based on that player’s style.Ready to find out which animal Phil […]

5 Strategic Mistakes Poker Players Make (And How to Exploit Them)

By Dan B. | February 22, 2019

Exploiting your opponents’ leaks is how you really take your win-rate to the next level.  This article is written so you…

Free Poker Cheat Sheets That Will Make Playing Poker Easier

By Mike Brady | February 20, 2019

Why Bad Beats are a Poker Player’s Greatest Gift

By Konstantinos "Duncan" Palamourdas | February 12, 2019

A smart friend once suggested to me that perhaps poker would be better if every time players were all-in, the…

5 Quick Guidelines for Playing Versus C-Bets on the Flop

By Dan B. | January 29, 2019

Poker is a bit like American football. It’s important to have a solid offense (playing as the aggressor), but if…

Avoid These 3 Mistakes to Keep Your Poker Journey on Track

By Konstantinos "Duncan" Palamourdas | January 25, 2019

If you want to be a successful poker player in 2019, you need to prioritize your fundamentals. (That’s what I…

This is How You Should Study Poker If You Want to Win in 2022 (Part 1)

By Konstantinos "Duncan" Palamourdas | January 18, 2019

Q: What is more important than hard work? A: Harder work! Malcolm Gladwell made that very clear in his 2011…

3 Theoretically Winning Calls That Lose in Practice

By Dan B. | January 11, 2019

Should you favor a theoretically sound strategy or play exploitative poker? This question has been a hot debate in the…

[QUIZ] Which Upswing Poker Training Course is Made for You?

By Mike Brady | December 24, 2018

Have you considered upgrading your skills with an Upswing Poker training course? Read on! Take this quick quiz to find out which course is best for your poker playing needs, or keep scrolling for a breakdown of each course. […]

The Ultimate Guide to 6-Handed Poker | 6-Max Cash Game Strategy

By Dan B. | December 18, 2018

6-max (or 6-handed) poker games are by far the most popular online cash game format. They’re so popular, in fact,…

How to Play Short Deck Hold’em | Short Deck Poker Rules & Strategy

By Geoffrey Fisk | December 7, 2018

Short Deck Hold’em only hit the poker mainstream in 2018, but it looks like it’s here to stay. Short Deck…

2 Strategies You Need to Crush Passive Tables

By Dan B. | November 27, 2018

Playing against passive opposition might be easier than you think. It’s very easy to realize equity against these players because…