Most common beginners poker mistakes

Is has been commonly recognised that there are tell-tale mistakes which help to mark out a new player from those who are more experienced…

The first of these common mistakes is, simply, play far to many hands; most players who are new to playing poker are very keen to actually ‘play poker’ and believe that the more hand they play, the better they are doing. This is not the case, as the sign of a quality poker player is one with the patience to not go in on every hand (most professional poker players will play as few as 30% of the hands which they are dealt).

Another equally common mistake is for players to play games which are above their allotted bankroll. Many new players will get ideas above their station and start betting with money that they cannot afford to lose; it is always a good idea to work out a suitable budget and stick to it.

The third most common mistake amongst new poker players leads on from the initial two; players lose emotional control of the game. Many players who have seen a few bad hands will quickly lose their cool, causing them to spiral into a pattern of bad decisions which are a product of the temper they are feeling.

Failing to utilise pot odds is another common trait amongst beginners; the concept of pot odds should always inform an experienced player of how much they should be calling or raising a hand (there are many articles available on the internet which go into great detail about it).

A final, yet surprisingly common mistake amongst new players is attempting to mimic the actions of others; it is best to establish a game-plan and stick to it. Simply parroting the moves of others is a cheap trick which will be seen through in very little time…