When it comes to playing online poker, perfect players don’t exist. Indeed, mastering this game is a tall order because you must understand the statistics behind the game and learn how to gamble effectively.
Making mistakes is not only inevitable but also an essential learning process. However, you will constantly lose your bets if you make the same mistakes repeatedly.
In today’s post, we will analyze the top 5 common mistakes in online poker. While most of them are common amongst recreational players and novices, even experienced players make these mistakes often.
It is, therefore, worth reading this post to the end if you want to become a proficient online poker player.
Playing too Loose
Also known as playing too many hands, playing too loose is the most common mistake. It is also regarded as a mistake that drains the budget fast. Merely put, it means you are reluctant to fold even when your hand is weak.
Even with a weak range, it’s common for expert players who think they can outplay their challengers also to make this mistake. The issue with this mistake is that your poor hand selection will frequently make you lose pots at showdown.
Although most players see folding as a boring strategy, knowing when to fold is a vital skill you need to master to become a professional player. So, to avoid depleting your pockets, learn when to quit, what hands to play, and the hands not to play.
The general rule is to be patient and remember that playing more and more hands will not increase your winnings.
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Acting too Fast Without Thinking
This problem is common among advanced and recreational players. The truth is that players who gamble for a prolonged period go into auto-pilot and start making decisions without thinking about the consequences. Gambling without thinking is a costly mistake.
In most cases, you can avoid these mistakes by setting aside a couple of seconds to think. Another way to avoid making haste decisions entails training yourself never to act immediately once it’s your turn to play.
In general, you need to take a couple of seconds to assess all available options. Think about your opponent’s sizing, position, and action when playing online poker.
You shouldn’t see this tactic as a waste of time. Instead, it is a technique that deters you from acting hastily in circumstances where you need to think.
Use the few seconds you set aside to collect your thoughts and protect yourself from making a mistake, such as calling instead of raising or folding in situations where pot odds is the best option.
Playing with the same Strategy Repeatedly
Remember that there are countless strategies you can use when playing online poker, so avoid sticking to one strategy throughout your bets.
Some players prefer playing the bluff, while others opt to play the odds. Others are loose and play excessive hands. Another section of players plays tight games whereby they fold whenever they feel outplayed.
A typical mistake made by amateurs is to look for a single strategy they like and use it all the time. For instance, a player might prefer the tight-conservative gameplay strategy and then use it continuously.
Sticking to one strategy is a problem due to the following two reasons:
First, different gaming scenarios require different strategies, especially when playing against opponents. It’s essential to be fluid in your playing style if you want to be successful.
Second, you may become predictable if you keep using the same strategy recurrently. Keep in mind that some players closely evaluate strategies used by other players.
Sticking to Your Strategies and Failing to Adjust to Opponent’s Strategies
If you want to become a professional player, you should adjust your playing style based on the underlying situation.
Although it’s essential to have a reliable game tactic, you should leave room for adjusting from the strategy to a certain extent whenever a particular condition arises.
You might be doing yourself an injustice by failing to adjust to the changing dynamics. So, assess how your challenger is playing and take actions based on that.
If your opponent fails to fold out of the big blind, the best thing to do is make big raises and attack them with strong hands. However, remember that weak hands are useless when playing against these opponents, so avoid making raises with them.
As you gain experience playing online poker, there are many ways you can adjust your style to counterattack your opponent. Being ready to change your strategy throughout your playing will improve your overall game and boost your profits.
Failing to Check Heads-up Displays (HUDs)
All online poker professionals make the best use of the information comprised on the heads-up displays. HUD typically shows other players’ data, especially their strategies and past performance.
HUDs can help you enact the best possible decision if used correctly by showing you the moves your challengers are likely to make next.
However, it’s worth noting HUDs include a couple of risks. The most common risk is where players base decisions on deficient sample sizes. So, if the heads-up displays only show a tiny sample of the opponent’s hand, these stats may mislead you.
Therefore, while HUD can help you make decisions, you should never let it dictate what you do. Always trust your instincts and assess the players’ styles. Afterward, use this data as a guide.
Wrap Up
The above are the well-known poker mistakes done by advanced and beginner players. While some of them are reasonably hard to quit, it’s crucial to try your best and avoid them as much as possible.
Hopefully, this post has helped you learn a lot about the mistakes to avoid as you kick start your online poker career.
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