A quickie but goodie for you today, class.

 The game has begun. You’ve received your cards and now it’s time to select your hand. This is the most critical part of your game, since this determines the final outcome.

When making the decision of hand selection, try not to think of the highest overall winning combination. Instead, use your cards to decide your highest-valued hand by considering the most practical winning combination. It’s often that people go for hands that are hard to come by; we think it’s better to stop and take a look around, since there’s usually an easier way. When it comes to going for the practical winning combination, you can use the poker tools of bluffing and semi-bluffing to keep your opponents off guard. In fact, these tools are necessary when you’re playing at more than just a beginner’s level. For an in-depth look at all of the psychological tools at your disposal, check out our strategy section.

In the meantime, have fun.

Good luck and have fun.