Playing online poker and making profit is something we all want to achieve. In the summer 2007 I wrote down my personal “10 commandments” that I needed to reminder when playing online. I moved recently and found the note in a box and wanted to share them with you.

Please keep in mind this is written to myself not as a guide to all players in the world. These commandments might not apply to you. I suggest all of you who plays online poker try and play for a period of time and question yourself “What are my leaks and what do I need to change and improve?” Some players play when they are drunk others play under-rolled, some are too tight and play with scared money. You might forget to value bet on river others 3bet in desperation when they should fold. List goes on..

My 10 commandments

  1. Stop after making 1st tilt-call
  2. Only play when you have time for it
  3. Play 4 tables and avoid surfing online
  4. Avoid playing too many hands out of position
  5. Avoid calling preflop with marginal hands
  6. Do not slow play with draws on the table.
  7. Remember to C-bet on flop.
  8. Avoid playing the pro-regulars as much as possible
  9. Notice the opponents’ positions. (Button plays, blind squeeze plays or simple “pure” raises)
  10. Only flat call deep stacks with fx pairs. (Against deeps stacks if you hit a set you might get their stack. If it is a short stacked player you don’t get implied odds to call in many cases.)


We all have our own daemons. Facing them and getting them down in writing is a good start. The first 5 members to post their own 10 commandments in the forum will get $20 on PowerPoker.com if you are signed up via Coinflip.com. This applies to anyone :)

Cheers, Erik