Winning poker players scout playing styles of opponents as diligently as football coaches study film of upcoming opponents. On the Internet, take full advantage of anonymity by playing spy. Observe any game before taking a virtual seat. The players won’t even know you’re there, and you can take lots of notes while you’re watching the game. Some players even sit there for extended periods of time, not playing, but checking out the opposition and gathering information. I do this all the time on Paradise, especially when I’m scouting out the bigger games.

When hands are turned over at showdown, notice who’s holding what, and try to recall betting patterns earlier in the hand. With a little practice ¾ OK, OK, with a lot of it ¾ you’ll be able to characterize opponents after a round or two. Got ‘em nailed? Got plenty of notes in your hard drive? Great! Now jump into the game and put that knowledge to work!