Ten Expensive Poker Betting Mistakes... And How To Fix Them

I am constantly getting newsletters and tips in my e-mail box and I am more than happy to share, hehe considering this is about the only way to contribute until I get my computer back and running.


These are the top ten most EXPENSIVE mistakes made
in poker... mistakes that YOU are probably making
RIGHT NOW.

Let's go through them one-by-one... and learn how
to FIX them immediately.

MISTAKE #1: Playing Too Many Hands

Most poker players are too loose with their
starting hand selection. You've got to stick with
PREMIUM hands... especially when you're at a 8-man
or 10-man table.

Quit limping in with bad cards in hopes of hitting
something on the flop. All those blinds add up...
and it's not worth it.

At an 8-player table, focus on playing hands like
pocket pairs, suited connectors, A-X suited, or
two face cards.

Leave hands like K-3, J-8, Q-2, and 10-7 alone.
Just fold them pre-flop.

The REASON most people play too many hands is
because they want ACTION. They don't want to just
sit and there and wait forever until they get good
cards.

But if you want to win, you must be patient.

In fact... if you're playing good poker, you
should often be bored. That's right: BORED.

MISTAKE #2: Playing Your Position Wrong

Positioning is EVERYTHING in Texas Holdem poker.

Good positioning means you get to see what your
opponents do FIRST before you have to act. Based
on their behavior and betting, you can make an
informed decision about what YOU want to do.

Good positioning is LATE positioning. That means
you're one of the last to act after the flop. The
most IDEAL position is the dealer (or button).

The mistake most players make is playing the CARDS
without considering their positioning. For
instance, the way to play pocket Aces in the big
blind is totally different than the way to play it
in the dealer position.

And that goes for all starting hands... and all
positions.

The basic strategy you need to know is that you
want to play MORE starting hands from a later
position. And you want to play these hands more
aggressively.

Most of your bluffs should come with good
positioning too... because that's when you'll have
the best read on the players at the table.

In early positioning you want to play FEWER hands.
Especially when you're immediately to the left of
the big blind (also known as "under the gun").

MISTAKE #3: Thinking You're A "Natural"

It's amazing how often I hear someone say, "I'm a
natural poker player..."

What IS a "natural" poker player anyway?

The truth is, poker is an extremely complex and
multi-faceted game. It involves math, psychology,
body language skills, self control, performing
under pressure, and a ton of other things.

The problem with thinking you're a "natural"--
just because you're good at reading people's faces
or something-- is that it LIMITS your ability to
improve.

No matter how good you are at poker, there is
ALWAYS room for improvement. And in each
respective area of the game, there's ALWAYS more
to learn.

Not only that, but poker has been around for a
LONG time... way before it started appearing on
every TV station.

A lot of poker strategy has been DEVELOPED. There
are step-by-step techniques, tricks, and "plays"
that you can use to win more money at the tables.

These strategies won't just "come to you" like a
little light bulb over your head.

Not a chance.

Instead, you've got to STUDY the game, talk to
other players, and be constantly LEARNING more in
order to push yourself to the next level.

MISTAKE #4: Getting Too Emotional

Emotional control is a big part of Holdem. You've
got to be able to "let go" and become unattached
from the outcome of the game.

The REASON emotions run strong in poker is because
your mixing MONEY, EGO, and CHANCE... all
together.

It's DEFINITELY a recipe for some strong emotions.

The key is to EXPECT IN ADVANCE that things will
get stressful and intense. EXPECT that you're
going to get "rivered" and "sucked out".

The reason it's important is because if you let go
of your logic and start playing based on EMOTION,
you'll never, EVER win.

Avoid TILT at all costs. It causes more poker
players to go broke than any other phenomenon.

Stay in control of yourself and be "unattached" to
the game. Don't let anything affect you... just
remain focused on winning.

Period.

MISTAKE #5 Playing The Wrong Stakes

The stakes you play is what determines the SKILL
you play against.

And if you're outmatched, nothing else matters...
because ultimately you're going to lose.

But if you're way better than everyone at your
current level, then maybe it's time to "step it up
a notch".

Playing the RIGHT stakes is a delicate balance.

I've found the most effective way to determine the
RIGHT stakes is to calculate your profit per hour
over time.

The difference in your "profit per hour" at a $5
Sit and Go versus a $10 Sit and Go can be
DRAMATIC.

But you may get WHOMPED at the $20 Sit and Go...
and lose your bankroll in a snap.

Here's an important tip...

When you try to move UP in stakes, don't be afraid
to move BACK DOWN if it isn't working.

The action plan I recommend is to build your
bankroll where you KNOW you can win... then move
up. If you lose your bankroll, move back down and
build it up again. Then move up in stakes and try
it again.

Repeat this process over and over and you'll be
continually improving... moving up to bigger games
and more money.

This process also LOWERS YOUR RISK. Follow those
steps and you won't be gambling with next month's
rent.

MISTAKE #6: Focusing Too Much On The Cards

Always remember this principle:

PLAY THE PLAYER, NOT THE CARDS.

Ultimately, the cards determine who's the winner
for a hand... but that's only when a hand plays
out until the VERY END and all cards are flipped
over.

GOOD poker players hardly ever make it to that
level in a hand. Because they either force their
opponents to fold or fold because they pick up a
read on their opponents.

The only times you should be flipping your cards
up at the end is when you KNOW you have the best
hand and you've just milked some sucker for a huge
pot.

Get it?

The PLAYER you're up against is what you need to
focus on. Not your cards.

Figure out his betting patterns, his habits, his
tells, his movements... EVERYTHING. And then play
him like a fiddle for all his chips.

MISTAKE #7: Being Too Predictable

Just as you should be studying your opponents,
your opponents should be studying YOU.

The biggest mistake you can make is become
PREDICTABLE. When you're predictable, you can't
win at poker.

Because every time you get good cards, everyone
will fold. And every time you get bad cards,
everyone will bet.

The key is to BE AWARE OF YOUR BETTING PATTERNS.

Bet strong hands a certain way for awhile... then
mix it up a bit. Do crazy things... bet odd
amounts... make the same pre-flop raise for both
8-7 suited and pocket 10's. Whatever.

MIX IT UP and kill any consistencies that appear
in your game.

Mistake #8: Not Knowing When To Quit

Know when to get up from a table... it will save
you a LOT of money over the long term.

This is crucial when you've either just WON a ton
of money or just LOST a ton of money.

Because in either case, the tendency from that
point forward is going to be to LOSE. You'll
either lose your profits or dig yourself in a hole
deeper... but either way, it's not good.

Losing streaks suck... because they take hold of
some weird part of your brain that virtually
always PREVENTS you from making a comeback.

No matter how determined you are... no matter how
SURE you are that your "luck" will change... it's
not going to happen. You'll lose more. So just
STOP.

With winning streaks, it's the same way. Having a
lot of "new money" makes it less REAL... and
there's a tendency to lose it quickly on stupid
moves.

So if you're WAY UP or WAY DOWN in a game, just
stop playing for the day. Go back at it tomorrow,
it's no big deal.

MISTAKE #9: Not Knowing The Odds

Knowing the ODDS and PROBABILITY in poker is a
standard ingredient for success.

You can win some games just by being able to read
your opponents and "guess" at what types of
betting decisions to make...

But ultimately, knowing the odds is what it takes
to be a REAL Texas Holdem poker player.

The good news is, you don't have to be a "math
genius" to know the odds of a hand. There are a
lot of shortcuts and tricks you can use to
calculate pot odds, hand percentages, outs, and
other important numbers.

MISTAKE #10: Not Getting Help

Like I said before, you weren't BORN knowing how
to play poker.

You had to LEARN it.

In every aspect of the game, you've got to
continually ask yourself the question, "Is this
EXACTLY what I should be doing in this situation?"

There are two main ways to improve your Texas
Holdem poker skills:

1. Learn from experience.

2. Learn from someone who has mastered the game.

The problem with experience is that it takes YEARS
and YEARS-- even DECADES-- of playing Texas Holdem
again and again...

It's a great way to learn... but just plain
inefficient.

On the other hand, learning from proven strategies
and "field-tested" techniques is the absolute
FASTEST way to pick up the game.

You can SKYROCKET your skills... OVERNIGHT... if
you study the techniques and concepts developed by
other players.

very good guidelines for the new heads and some reminders for the oldies...nice post

Great thread.

Nicely written. Short and to the point.

Some very valuable information.

Keep them coming.....

Just reading this, I suddenly want to play right now. I feel like i can win for some reason or other. Ill try to stick to these guidelines while playin, Cheers mate.

It makes me wanna play too...I need to print these out and memorize them. Curiosity, is what kills my bank roll

bringing back an old topic

Put me down for 4,6,7,& 8. I guess I'd better work on these.

Killer post from the Twizzinator!