Poker mistakes to avoid

Poker is all about maximising winnings. But it is also about minimising losses, and to do this successfully you must cut out as many silly mistakes in your game as possible.

Everyone makes mistakes. Mistakes are how we learn and become better in the future. But mistakes in poker are for beginners; when you reach a high level of poker you won’t be making many mistakes because you will have got them all out of your system and your game will be watertight. How to get to this promised land of a mistake-free game? The answer; practice, and more practice. Followed by, you guessed it, an extra helping of practice.

First things first, if you are willing to put your money down on the table – whether playing Texas Hold-Em or another variety of poker -, you must be confident that that pile of your hard-earned money is not simply going to be raked in by another shark at the table. You must be thinking that it’s going to be coming straight back to your wallet, and with added interest. Confidence is a key ingredient in a top player, so you must be sure that you are playing at the right level – a level which suits your style of play and your bankroll.

How do you know if you are playing at the right level? Simple. If you lose every time you play at a certain stake, guess what? Aim lower! There’s no point in fooling yourself that you can waltz into a $1/$2 game with little experience. It’s all about the grind, my friends. Start even as low as $.10/$.20 and work from the bottom upwards, rather than get forced down the levels because of dwindling cash reserves.

Once you have found your level you will be able to gauge your own standard of play more clearly. Get to know your strengths, and focus on targeting your weaknesses and working on them – by playing on free tables if need be, or by reading respected poker strategists – Harrington, Brunson, Caro. By playing at the right level, you will keep your focus easier and win more, boosting both your confidence and your bank balance.