THE MOST COMMON POKER MISTAKES: HOW TO AVOID THEM AND IMPROVE YOUR GAME

Whether you’re hitting online poker tables or land-based ones, there are a few common poker mistakes that you absolutely must not make.

It doesn’t matter at which point your learning process is; check out these poker-related lessons to avoid committing some silly mistakes that might be costing you your bankroll and table image!

Common Poker Mistakes Made by Beginners and How to Fix Them

Playing poker — be it Texas hold’em, No Limit hold’em or any other poker variant — might be challenging at first, but after you’ve learned the ropes, there aren’t any excuses to keep making mistakes!

Here are the most common poker mistakes and how you can go about fixing them.

Disregarding your position

What many beginner poker players might not account for is table position when first playing poker. However, late position is key to winning poker hands, while early position almost guarantees that you will lose money.

Understand that acting last after the flop gives you more information and control over the hand. Learn the concept of position and adjust your starting hand selection accordingly.

No bankroll management

Have you been playing hands until your bankroll suffers? This should never be the case! Playing too many hands will not only weigh on your gambling budget, but it will also weigh on your mental state.

Many beginners fail to manage their bankroll properly. Whether it is playing too many hands or risking too much of their funds on a single hand or tournament, this practise doesn’t end well. Develop a bankroll management strategy that determines the appropriate buy-ins and limits for your skill level. This helps you avoid going broke and allows for long-term growth.

Playing every hand

One of the most common mistakes is playing too many hands, especially weak ones. This leads to being involved in too many pots and can result in losing chips. To fix this, focus on playing premium hands (strong starting hands) and fold weaker hands to avoid unnecessary losses.

Not observing your opponents

A big mistake recreational players commit is not paying attention to their opponents’ behaviour and tendencies. Instead of focusing solely only your own cards, pay attention to your opponents’ actions, betting patterns, and any tells they may have. This information can help you make better decisions and gain an edge over your opponents.

Disregarding your mental game

Poker can be an emotional game, and beginners often let their emotions affect their decision-making. Avoid tilting (letting frustration or anger impact your play) and remain calm and focused. Make decisions based on logic and strategy rather than emotions — this is important in any poker game, let alone cash games!

Bluffing too much

Granted, bluffing is an essential part of poker, but beginners tend to bluff too frequently or at the wrong times. Bluffing should be used selectively and based on your read of the situation. We recommend bluffing when only one opponent is left in the round, or when you have a weak hand.

In the same way that bluffing is dangerous to you if done incorrectly, bluffing becomes very effective once you gain experience and understand your opponents’ playing styles.

Mistaking marginal hands for strong ones

First off, a marginal hand is neither a strong hand nor a weak one, simply medium-strength hands. Thinking that you have a monster hand (an extremely strong hand) when it is, in fact, one of the weak hands in the round can and will make you the losing player.

Learn to objectively evaluate the strength of your hand relative to the board and the actions of your opponents. Avoid going all-in or investing too many chips with weak holdings.

Not practising

Casual poker players tend not to study or practise playing poker at all, but other players who would like to take things seriously must definitely get some practice in frequently.

To improve, dedicate time to learning poker strategy, studying hand histories, watching instructional videos, and participating in practice sessions or low-stakes games. Continuously improve your understanding of the game to avoid making basic mistakes.

The Psychology of Poker Mistakes

Noticing how emotions affect your play is one of the biggest revelations you can think of when playing poker. Emotions play a significant role in decision-making and they have a very significant impact on your performance.

As we’ve mentioned above, disregarding your emotional state is a huge mistake. You must keep your head in the game if you want the best chances of winning that big pot! If you simply cannot get a hold of your tilt, we’d suggest taking a break from the game altogether.

Avoiding Tilt and Other Mental Errors at the Poker Table

As we’ve mentioned above, tilt is a state of emotional frustration or anger that will affect your decision-making ability, if not in the short term, in the long run.

Before looking at how to avoid tilt, let’s examine what causes it. Tilt often occurs after a significant loss or a series of bad beats, and it can lead to impulsive and irrational actions. You might notice yourself adopting an aggressive style after suffering from tilt, or even chasing draws to make a winning hand.

To manage tilt, it’s important to recognise its signs and take a break when necessary. Step away from the table, regain composure, and return with a clear mindset.

Another common emotional mistake is the fear of losing money or anxiety about making mistakes. Overcoming this isn’t complicated. It’s important to develop confidence in your abilities and trust your decision-making process. Focus on results in the long run rather than short-term outcomes.

On the other end of the spectrum, we have overconfidence. Being overconfident can lead to careless mistakes and poor judgment. When players are on a winning streak or believe they have superior skills, they may become complacent and make reckless decisions.

Maintaining a balance between confidence and humility is crucial. Continuously evaluate your play, seek feedback, and avoid underestimating your opponents.

Mistakes in Hand Selection: How to Choose the Right Starting Hands

One of the key lessons in poker is to avoid playing every hand. While this doesn’t mean that you should only play a pocket pair, you should be very selective about the hands that you spend your money on.

First off, you must learn the poker hand rankings well. Know which hands are stronger than others, such as pocket aces being the best-starting hand and a weak hand like 7-2 offsuit being the worst. Understanding hand rankings allows you to make informed decisions about the relative strength of your starting hands and value hands efficiently.

In general, weak hands, such as low offsuit connectors (2-7, 3-8, etc.), generally have limited potential and can put you in difficult situations. Avoid playing these hands, especially from early positions. While they may occasionally grow in value once post-flop play begins, the pot odds are usually against them, and their bad odds will often lose you money.

Most experienced players, therefore, opt for solely playing premium hands. Some examples of premium hands are pocket aces, kings or queens and suited connectors. These hands have good potential to make strong post-flop hands and win pots. You should generally be more willing to invest in the pot with premium hands, but it’s important to never bet all your money on them and always consider other players’ hands.

Strategies for Avoiding Mistakes in Position and Reading Your Opponents

If you really want to start beating some pros, you’ll have to consider your position and your opponents’ behaviour.

When in a good position, you have more information available from your opponents’ actions, which can guide your decision-making. This is why late positions are preferred to early ones, and it is also why you should cold calling here. Cold calling means betting after there has been a bet or raise if you haven’t yet placed any money in the pot.

When it comes to reading your opponents, this is something that comes with experience. Take note of any deviations from their usual behaviour. For example, a sudden increase in bet size or a re-raise from a typically passive player may indicate a strong hand. Use this information to make more informed decisions and adjust your own betting patterns accordingly.

If you’re playing live human beings, there are more cues that may expose your opponents. Such cues can include body language, facial expressions, hand movements, and changes in tone of voice.

While tells are not always reliable, they can provide additional information to help you make better reads. However, be cautious as some players may intentionally give false tells or try to deceive you.

Bluffing and Deception: Common Mistakes and How to Improve Your Bluffing Game

Bluffing is the number one tool of deception in poker, no matter the poker game selection chosen. Whether you’re playing live games or online poker, bluffing is the cornerstone of your play, so you should treat it as such.

Are you bluffing and not succeeding? We at HotSlots can help you stop making the same mistakes, so let’s figure out how to fine-tune your bluffing!

One of the most common mistakes is bluffing too often. Bluffing should be a strategic tool used selectively and in the right situations. Bluffing too frequently can lead to predictability and being easily exploited by observant opponents. To improve, focus on choosing bluffing spots wisely and avoid falling into a pattern of bluffing too frequently.

Timing is crucial when it comes to bluffing. Bluffing at the wrong time, such as when there are multiple opponents or when the board texture doesn’t support your story, might lead to failure.

Semi-bluffing can sometimes be key. Semi-bluffing is bluffing with a hand that is weak but can be strong in future streets. Good tools for a semi-bluff are a straight draw or flush draw, since a lucky card in future rounds might make them a strong hand. Avoid making a bluff catch every time, that is, bluffing with a hand that can only win if the bluff is successful.

Bankroll Management Mistakes

Now, we move away from just poker mistakes and explore some grave mistakes a player can commit when playing any casino game. Bankroll (or budget) management is extremely important, here’s why.

One of the biggest mistakes is playing with an insufficient bankroll. It’s important to have an adequate amount of money set aside specifically for poker to withstand downswings and avoid going broke. A general guideline is to have at least 20-30 buy-ins for cash games and 50-100 buy-ins for tournaments.

If you experience a significant downswing or your bankroll drops below the recommended threshold for your current stakes, it’s crucial to have the discipline to move down to lower stakes. There’s no shame in playing at lower-stakes tables if your skill level requires it!

Finally, we arrive at the worst thing to do: chasing losses. is a common mistake where players try to quickly recoup their losses by playing at higher stakes or taking on more risks. This can result in a downward spiral and further losses. It’s important to separate emotions from your decision-making and stick to your bankroll management plan. Accept that losses are a part of the game and focus on making good strategic decisions.

How to Analyse Your Play and Learn from Your Mistakes

Luckily for you, there are many ways how to improve your poker play. If you’re playing online, you’ll have a trove of tools at your disposal to keep tabs on your progress, one of which is called “hand history.”

Most games offer this option through their Heads Up Displays (HUD), which allows you to check what hands you were dealt and how you played them. Furthermore, some players use poker tracking software to get a deeper look into their statistical performance, but this isn’t really needed.

If you want to stick to the basics, pay attention to recurring mistakes or patterns in your play. It could be overvaluing certain hands, making incorrect bet sizing decisions, or misreading opponents. There is something called “Fancy Play Syndrome“, which means overthinking or overestimating your opponent’s line of thinking.

The Importance of Discipline and Patience in Avoiding Mistakes at the Poker Table

Discipline and patience are said to be the pillars of a serious poker player. The game of poker can be a rollercoaster of emotions: drawing hands in late streets, challenging opponent raises, losing the pot preflop despite having a strong hand — these are just some of the moments that might shift your mental state and compromise your hands in the long run.

There is no quick way to “fix” your discipline and patience — definitely not in this game. Having said that, racking up some practice will definitely play a role in how successful you are when controlling your emotions. The more you’re faced with different scenarios in poker, the more likely you are to learn how to handle them.

Play Poker Online Without Mistakes: How to Adjust Your Strategy for Virtual Tables

If your go-to has always been Texas hold’em at your closest land-based casino, then you’ll definitely experience some transition if you’re interested in trying the online version of the game.

Familiarise yourself with the online poker platform you’re using. Each platform may have its own features, interface, and options. Take the time to understand the buttons, settings, and layout of the virtual table. This will help you navigate the online environment smoothly and avoid costly mistakes due to confusion or misclicks.

Playing online can expose you to various distractions, such as notifications, browsing other websites, or multitasking. To avoid mistakes, it’s important to minimise distractions and create a focused environment. Dedicate a quiet space for playing the game, turn off unnecessary notifications, and resist the temptation to engage in other activities while at the virtual tables, especially when you aren’t involved in the current round!

Online poker tends to be faster-paced than the live version. The automatic dealing and action buttons can lead to hasty decisions if you’re not careful. Take your time to analyse each hand and consider your options before making a move. Don’t rush into decisions solely because of the speed of the online game. Use the allotted time wisely to make well-thought-out choices and avoid impulsive mistakes.