If you want to be a successful poker player, you must focus on your mistakes. The player that makes the fewest mistakes will be the most successful.
So let's look at the most common mistakes made by novices:
1. Overestimating your ability
Don't overestimate your ability.
You will only be profitable when you’re playing in a game where you’re better than the average. The standard of the game will increase along with the size of the stakes.
Find a level you’re comfortable with and only move up once you’re sure you can beat your current level.
2. Poor bankroll management
The nature of online poker is that even a perfect play can see you getting unlucky. Even the best pros can go on sizeable downswings. Losing 5-10 buy-ins is not uncommon, so you need to always play within your bankroll limits.
A good guideline is to stick to a bankroll of at least 20 buy-ins for the level you’re playing. For example, if you play $5 tournaments, then you should have a bankroll of $100. Read more about Bankroll management.
3. Not paying attention
When playing online poker at home it’s easy to let your attention wander. Having the TV on in the background, chatting to friends, using the phone or surfing the web are all dangerous distractions.
Remember that you’re playing with real money and you should be paying full attention to the game.
4. Getting emotionally involved
Controlling your emotions is a key part of any game of poker. If you make the mistake of letting your emotions take control, then the fact that you’re playing online magnifies the mistake.
The speed at which the hands come to you, and the fact that it’s easy to be the tough guy when hiding behind your keyboard make it essential for you to remain calm at all times.
5. Drinking while playing
Forget that romanticised image of wild-west tough guys sipping whisky in the saloon while playing cards. Online poker is a game of strategy, logic and skill. Don’t let anything cloud your judgement.
Drinking makes it harder to keep your emotions in check. There’s always time for a celebratory drink at the end of your session after you’ve cleaned out all the other players.
6. Playing at the wrong time
It’s not just drinking that can upset your game. If you’re feeling ill, tired or otherwise distracted then it’s easy for your game to be affected.
Before you sit down for a session make sure you’re feeling ready. Your mind should be sharp and focussed on the job at hand.
7. Not making full use of what is available to you
The internet is an amazing place.
There's loads of good free stuff for the online poker player - odds calculators, hand simulators, strategy guides and more.
Even something as simple as the note-taking function on online sites is an underused but vital feature. Have a look around and use what you can to improve your game.
8. Becoming complacent
Booking a big win doesn’t mean you’ve mastered the game. There is always more to learn and the game is always evolving. Never sit on your laurels. Always strive to improve your game and learn new things.
9. Playing too many tables
Multi-tabling is an advanced strategy used by competent players to increase the number of hands they can play. As a winning player, adding tables can boost your profits.
As you add tables, however, the standard of your play will inevitably drop.
Only add tables when you’re sure you can keep up your winning style. If you’re not winning at one table, adding a second table will only increase your losses.
10. Not looking past the short-term
Poker is a game of skill with a large element of short term luck. A good player can be cursed with bad luck and lose money for a while.
However, the luck evens itself out over time, so it’s important not to pay too much attention to the short term. What is important is to analyse your play, and pay more attention to how you played rather than the results.
The downfall of many players is getting lucky after a bad play. They will then move up in stakes believing that they are unbeatable, only to lose money when pitted against superior players.
Be honest with yourself about your results. Know when you've won thanks to skill, and when it's been down to luck.
As our poker journey draws to an end, it's time to think about some of the other version of poker, other than Texas Hold'Em. Read Adding strings to your poker bow.
