Poker Mistake

Playing Weak Hands In Early Position

Position is often not considered amongst beginners. It is especially easy for online poker players to not really notice the position they play in. Playing marginal hands in early position will definitely hurt your bankroll.

The problem is you don't know what the other players are going to do. So you bet your speculative hand and then find that four players behind you raise you. You probably wouldn't have bet that J 10 if you had known you were going to have four raises behind you.

When you are in early position play tight, when you are in late position you can afford to play more loose because you have more information (the actions of the other players before you) to base your decision on. Position is a major consideration which all beginners overlook. Learn about position if you want to win.

Poker Mistake - Revenge

A cocky young player joins the table and starts typing crap in the chat box. He plays crazy hands and annoys the hell out of you. Then he puts a bad beat on you and gloats. Sure you were just about to go to bed, but that's not going to happen now.

You want revenge, you want pay back, you want to show this little punk who the real table captain is. So you start chasing hands trying to get that magic revenge hand. Unless the poker gods are smiling on you that day you're probably going to end up giving him more money.

The fact is what you took as an arrogant young player running his mouth could just be a good steady player in high spirits who is playing well that night. He may seem annoying and arrogant, but that is no reason to go on tilt and start giving more money to him.

The fact is he is probably in a very good mood after all his wins and is certainly not playing on tilt. You on the other hand are so intent on winning your money back that you are not playing your A game. Poker is a game, let people get under your skin and you are going to be a loser.

Poker Mistake - Raising With Flush Draws

Clearly, the way that you are going to make the most money from the pot is if most players are still involved in the pot when you hit your draw. Raising is often going to push people out of the pot which is fine if you miss your draw, but if someone has a pair that beats you what have you gained? Keep people in the pot, make your draw and walk off with the pot. This is the way to play a good flush draw.

Poker Mistake - Check Raising

Unless you are pretty certain that someone is going to bet this is a bad stratergy. In most cases the correct strategy is to bet if you have a good hand. The only exception to this is if you hold the absolute nuts and you don't want to frighten players out of the hand.

But over use the check raise and you are not only going to annoy other players but you are going to be giving them free cards and allowing them to stay in the hand long after they should have folded. They are then going to teach you that those free cards came at a price when they catch a nice hand that beats you out of the pot.

Poker Mistake - Calling With Second Pair After The Flop

You hold J 9 and the flop is K J 3. It is never correct to check and call. You should either check and fold, bet, raise or fold. If you are second on the flop the chances are you will be second when the hand is over. The chances of improving your hand are the same as the guy holding the King, and he already has you beaten without improving his hand.

Remember, good players lay down good hands when they know they are beaten. Don't throw your money after a weak hand with a check call like this, it shows weakness and anyone with a half decent hand is going to make you pay for that weakness.

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