HomeThere are number of common mistakes that most poker players will probably make at some point. These mistakes are usually made when starting out as a beginner, but you’ll also find experienced players making them too. A big of part of improving as a poker player is making mistakes and learning from them – but making mistakes can be costly. If you are aware of the more common mistakes that players make, then you can avoid making them yourself. Over the next few articles, we’ll take a look at some of these mistakes and hopefully help make sure that you don’t make them.
Today we look at two similar mistakes that most beginners make.
Playing Too Many Hands
Virtually all poker players fall into this trap when they first start playing and it is a flaw that you will find in most beginners. It might be true that any hand can win, but in the long run it pays to be a bit more selective in the hands you choose to play. You will find that many of the top players will fold their hands more often than playing them, so don’t be afraid to muck when you don’t have the cards. We will talk more about your starting hand selection in a later article.
Chasing Draws
As we’ve mentioned above – beginner poker players often just don’t like to fold their cards. This is particularly true when they have a draw of some kind. Having a draw means that you need a particular card, or cards, to make the hand you want. For example, you might have 4 spades and need one more for a flush. Sometimes it is correct to call a bet in the hope of hitting your draw – but not always. If an opponent is making big bets and everything suggests they have a big hand themselves, then it is fine to lay down your hand and wait for a better spot.
Check back next week for more mistakes to avoid!
