How to Read Your Opponent

It is much more difficult to read your opponent when playing on-line poker, but visual tells aren't the only tells, ya know. And this is why Texas Hold'em is so great. The board gives you a pretty good starting point.

It should be a given, but explore the possibilities based on what's on the board. If the guy raises you and there's a pair on the board, he could have three of a kind, or a fullhouse, etc. This is something you'll always want to pay attention to, even when you yourself have a killer hand. Unless you've got a straight flush, never assume your hand can't be beaten, especially if going all-in.

Also, you need to watch how he bets, or more the size of his bets. Many players will bet certain amounts (relative to the current pot) when they are strong, weak or on a draw. This underlines the importance of working backwards through a hand after a showdown. The bet sizes in addition to their frequency should give even more information about what hand your opponent has.