Whether it’s at a free online poker site or face to face with your pals, poker remains one of the most popular past times for millions of people around the U.S. The availability of online poker has made it one of the most widely sought games, and due the increasing interest seen over the last years, more and more people seem willing to give poker a try.
The fact that hands are relatively quick but require more strategy than many other casino games such as blackjack makes it a suspenseful and exciting game. On the other hand, one of the biggest challenges that people face when playing poker is trying to limit the number of mistakes they make during the play time.
Even beginners and recreational players turn a pastime into a profitable activity and win real cash. All they need is to improve their playing skills and get to know the right strategy, and learn how to identify the situations and signals they can use on their favor and avoid the situations that can dry their bankroll. For example, when you play real money poker, knowing when and how to pick and identify weaker opponents helps bring in the profits, both online and at a real table, is a must for all players regardless of their skills, knowledge or bankroll.
Although, there are a few mistakes that just about everyone new to the game tend to make, but that does not mean that you should send chips away without really needing to. Identifying and avoiding these mistakes help players rake the chips in and secure their bankroll rather than seeing them go into other people’s piles. So here’s a quick list of common mistakes you should avoid starting now:
Playing too many hands at the same time
A lot of beginners take on way too many opening hands. Playing hands that are junk makes you either miss the flop altogether or put together a weak hand. This means that when it comes to showdown, you end up being only the second best. Instead, it’s important to be selective about the hands that you play and commit to only raising when your starting hand is good. Early table positions such as 88+, KQ or AT+ are good starting points. It’s OK to play more hands in position, but make sure that they have the possibility of flopping something in the big range.
Putting all your money on the table
Why would you sit down with your whole bankroll at a poker game? Are you looking to make a big splash? All you’re showing people is how much you have to lose. Also, you are likely to be tempted to send good money after bad and lose your whole take with just one cooler hand or a suck out. A good rule of thumb is only putting 5% of your bankroll out on the table at once. This keeps you from big losses if a buy-in or two don’t go your way. You’ll also stay calmer throughout the game, because your losses won’t be that large. If you’re going through a bad series, why not take a break for a week or so? The best decisions at the table come with a clear mind.
Getting overemotional
If you get mad, you’ll make bad decisions. If you get excited, you’ll make bad decisions. If you get personal, you’ll make terrible decisions. Set stop/loss limits such as the number of buy-ins you are willing to lose before quitting.
Don’t try to do what pros do.
Those crazy bluffs that you see on television? Well, they are wild, but keep in mind that the only hands that make it to the screen are the interesting ones. Poker shows don’t show the boring ones. So those wacky hands and jungle like strategies don’t work the majority of the time – but you don’t see those times.
Climbing stakes too fast.
A lot of new players are excited by the chance to make a lot of money quickly, and so they move up in limits even though they’re not quite ready. Don’t move up until you’re winning consistently at your level.
These five tips help many beginners learn to stop throwing chips away and start building profits over time. Keep an eye out for people making these errors – and make them pay. And remember, you can always try these strategies when playing at a good and reputable free poker site before you’re ready to make the transition to real money poker.
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