Keen to improve your poker technique? Whether you want to learn the rules of poker from scratch or whether you want to truly get to grips with the more sophisticated points of online poker strategy, videos and Twitch streamers are both on hand to help you out. In order to make the most of the experience, it is important to choose your videos wisely and to know how to use Twitch streamers appropriately. This guide will tell you how.
First things first: what is a Twitch streamer?
Not everyone is familiar with the world of Twitch streaming, but it can be very useful for anyone who wants to play online poker or looking for newcasinos-online, so a brief explanation of what a Twitch stream is will be an excellent starting point to this discussion. An affiliate of Amazon, Twitch is a platform that primarily enables video gamers to live stream themselves as they play. A gamer who streams via Twitch is referred to as a Twitch streamer. Twitch is not the exclusive province of video game lovers, however: online poker enthusiasts are also using it to demonstrate their skills and to create a community. With a Twitch stream, you can usually see a live video stream of the player themselves in addition to a live stream of the game that they are playing.
A couple of handy terms for anyone who wants to delve into the world of Twitch streamers
If you want to use Twitch to help you to improve your poker playing ability, it is vital to learn the lingo. Here are two key terms that you really should know.
IRL
IRL stands for ‘in real life’ and this feature of Twitch is for you to get to know your favourite Twitch streamers as they post and stream details about their lives.
Twitch Partners
Twitch streamers can partner up with other Twitch streamers, creating content together and fostering an online relationship.
5 top tips for using video content and Twitch streams well to learn online poker
Navigating the various streams and videos that are out there does not need to be difficult at all. Simply follow this 5 point guide for online poker success!
1. Choose only high quality streams and videos
You don’t want to waste your time watching videos from an amateur who does not know what they are talking about. At best, you will have frittered away an hour of your life that you will never get back, and at worst you will get some advice that is downright damaging to your gameplay. Read reviews of streamers and video makers and see who is providing the most reputable and the most popular content. That is not to say that there are not some hidden gems out there – just ensure that you select your viewing material with a critical eye.
2. Know what you want
A video on controlling poker steam is not going to be worthwhile to you when you do not know the rules yet. Come to videos and to Twitch streams with a clear idea of what it is that you want to find out about online poker in any given moment and seek out the streams and videos that will help you.
3. Ask questions! Engage!
Use the comment function on videos and the ‘IRL’ aspect of Twitch to engage with your video and streaming tutors. Ask questions, complement them on videos that you have enjoyed and become a member of the community.
4. Watch a pro play
There are two key types of video content to look out for: online tutorials which involve theoretical discussions of poker strategy and videos that let you see a great poker player in action. The beauty of Twitch is that it combines the two. There is no better way to learn online poker than to watch someone who is amazing at it dominating the table, and the beauty of Twitch (and many videos too) is the fact that this is combined with explanations of the decisions that were made.
5. Favourite and record
You don’t want to miss any of that prime content, and you may not be able to pick up everything that you want to know from a video or a streamer from a single viewing session. Use screenshots, take notes, grab and record particularly helpful sections of videos and curate your own library of the best poker videos – whatever helps you to imbibe as much wisdom as possible.
Become part of the online poker community
Interactive, informative and (sometimes) slightly strange, videos and Twitch streams are a great aspect of the online poker community. No matter what level you are – from beginner to veteran player – you can have an amazing time immersing yourself in this aspect of the online poker world.