Ten Expensive Poker Mistakes Part 2

Monday, October 17th., 2005 (By the PokerStrategyKing)

In my last column, I went over 5 mistakes that will cost you money over time while playing poker. In today's column, I will continue on that them and give you 5 more mistakes. By fending off these tendencies, you will see your bottom line grow as you become a more profitable player.

#6: Not Knowing The Odds

Knowing the odds and probabilities in poker is a standard for success. You can be somewhat successful being able to read your opponents and basically guessing at the decisions to make, but the real players know the odds. You don't have to be a math genius to figure them out either. There are countless tools out there that can teach you simple formulas or percentage grids to know your chances of hitting your hand. Odds calculators are great at this.

#7: Focusing Too Much On The Cards

There is a key principle that all players should keep in mind, play the players, not the cards. Sounds simple enough right? While its true that the cards determine who's the winner for a hand but that's only when a hand plays out until the showdown and all cards are flipped over. The best poker players hardly ever make it to that level in a hand. Why? Because they either force their opponents to fold or fold because they pick up a read on their opponents and make plays on them forcing them into bad decisions. 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 poor guy for a huge pot. You need to focus on the player first and foremost, not your cards. You need to figure him out, tendencies, patterns and habits and then attack him relentlessly.

#8: Getting Too Emotional

Emotional control is a big part of poker. You've got to be able to "let go" and become unattached from the outcome of the game. If you become to involved emotionally, you can't win. Period. Emotions do tend to run high in this game as your mixing luck, money and machismo is one game. This could be a recipe for disaster for most players. You need to have in the back of your mind that the worst is possible. You will experience bad beats and lost hands on the river. If you expect this can happen, you won't because distraught when it does happen and you can succeed. If you forget these things and you forget about being logical, you can not win. You must stay in control of yourself and your emotions. By doing this, you can avoid going on tilt which is the single biggest bankroll drain there is. Be focused on playing your best and eventually the result will show.

#9: Not Getting Help

No one was born a poker player. You had to learn from somewhere didn't you? But it doesn't stop there. You need to keep looking to improve. There are two main ways to improve:

1. Learn from experience.
2. Learn from someone who has mastered the game.

The problem with experience is that it takes many years to master the game. It takes a very long time to lean through experience so you need to seek other ways to improve. Learning from proven strategies and "field-tested" techniques is the absolute fastest way to pick up the game. Reading articles such as these and books on strategy are the way to do this. When you make a mistake, ask yourself questions and challenge yourself if you've reacted optimally to situations.

#10: Thinking You're a Natural

It's amazing how often I hear someone say, "I'm a natural poker player..."What does that mean? Poker is an extremely complex and multi-faceted game which involves mathematics, psychology and many other things. When you're cocky and think you're a natural you will not seek ways to improve. You need to be humble and realize that there's always room for improvement, no matter how much success you've had before. New strategies won't miraculously come to you. You need to seek help.

I hope you find these tips helpful and ultimately profitable. Get out there and win.

Until next time, may the chips fall your way.

(For more poker strategy and tips, please visit the PokerStrategyKing's website at www.pokerstrategyking.com )

(For more poker strategy and tips, please visit the PokerStrategyKing’s website at www.pokerstrategyking.com )