So you didn’t do so well at that online poker tournament you registered for last week. Who hasn’t gone into a tournament with high hopes only to get taken out early in the game? It isn’t the end of the world and it certainly doesn’t spell the end of your online poker playing. What you need now is more arsenal. When it comes to poker, knowing the basics will only get you so far; like anything else in life — knowledge is power. So listen up before you ante up:

Know your math: Pot odds, probabilities, the importance of outs…there is some amount of math involved in playing poker. Stay on top by staying smart.

Exercise discipline: A good poker player expects to win and hopes that everyone else at the table isn’t having their luckiest day. And it takes discipline to know when to play and when to quit. Learning from your mistakes also takes great discipline.

Observe your opponents: Empathize with them, watch their body language and look for tells. With each of your opponents, try to figure out what they’re holding. Do you think they may have some idea as to what you’re holding?

Risk vs. Reward: It’s okay to take a long-shot risk if you know the return is going to be greater.

With these four simple behaviors to take to your next poker tournament you’ll be surprised at how long you’ll last and how many chips you’ll stack up! Good luck!