Whether on online casinos or in a traditional, bricks-and-mortar casino, one of the most popular casino games is undoubtedly poker. As well-known as poker is, it is actually a very complex game and playing it successfully requires a degree of knowledge and skill. Beyond the technical knowledge of the game, there are also other tips it is important to know when playing poker: from the mental strategies to use to the 200 casino bonus offered by some online casinos.
Here are the 8 biggest mistakes that people make when playing poker and how to avoid.
- Forgetting the long-term strategy
One of the biggest mistakes that poker players make is focusing on short term strategies and ignoring the long-term view. While you’re playing poker, your mind can start to draw conclusions based on short term patterns. If your opponents present rare high flushes that devastate your otherwise strong hands, you can start to think that these kinds of hands are not strong anymore. Conversely, your mediocre hands may triumph over your opponents weak ones if they are very unlucky, lulling you into a false sense of security. However, as natural as these reactions are, it is important to set them aside and concentrate on overall strategies based on the long-term odds. A good hand is still a good hand and a bad one likewise, no matter the hands that have preceded it.
- Overlooking your Position
One of the aspects of poker that is most underestimated is your position. Many beginner players in particular ignore this at their peril, because your position can have a significant impact on the outcome of the game. Certain hands and plays, such as a small pair, can be a terrible strategy if you are in the first two positions in front of the blind, but can be a reasonable play if sitting next to the button. Making the same play regardless of your position is overlooking an important aspect of poker that could make all the difference.
- Too Many Hands
Another common mistake that players make when playing Texas Hold’em poker in particular is playing too many hands. Being selective about the hands you play is an important strategy that is essential if you want to be successful. If you hesitate to get rid of weak or medium-weak hands, other players will quickly notice and exploit this weakness. Rather, only playing hands that are advantageous to you and your position is essential to winning at the game.
- Getting Emotional
It is understandable that you could let emotions affect your decisions when you play poker: human beings are emotional beings after all. However, letting your emotions impact your decisions when you play poker can get in the way of making smart decisions and cost you greatly. Particularly if you are already in a bad mood when you start playing you can make irrational decisions such as chasing losses or taking unnecessary risks. Furthermore, as you play pride, ego and fear can start to play with your emotions, encouraging you to make unwise and un-strategic choices. Once you start to feel these emotions affecting you, it is time to take a breath and return to your tactics and strategies.
- Putting Too Much Value on Marginal Hands
Another common mistake to watch out for is overvaluing certain types of hands. Some players can put too much value on certain types of hands such as high hand combinations like QT or KJ. These hands may look good on the surface, and can be advantageous if played properly. However, they are also easily defeated especially if you don’t have the experience to know how to play them properly. Make sure not to go into too heavy with these kinds of marginal hands.
- Falling into Betting Habits
All too often, poker players fall into betting habits, and patterns emerge in the way that they play their hands and place their bets. This can often be that they always place large bets and raise the bet when they have a strong hand, sizing the bet directly related to the strength of the hand, or only betting on a “made” hand. This quickly becomes a problem because other players will spot your betting patterns even after just a few hands, and learn how to take advantage of them. Be careful to shake up these habits to keep your opponents on their toes.
- Consistently Calling
You should also be cautious about calling on all of your bets. This is a habit that can emerge when you think that your opponents are always bluffing. Of course, sometimes they are, but this blind mentality can ignore the nuances of play and mean you miss important signs that may be telling you to bet differently. Rather, make sure to develop different betting strategies that adapt according to the situation.
- “Fancy Play” Syndrome
The term “fancy play” syndrome refers to a fairly common phenomenon where poker players use overly complex plays as a tactic to appear like an expert poker play and therefore disarm their opponents. However, this strategy more often than not gets players into trouble because these complex plays are simply not as effective as straight-forward plays. It is better to stick to the straight-forward plays which will help you to win.