HomeSo far we have looked at some common mistakes that involve playing too many hands, or overvaluing particular cards. Today we look at a few more mistakes that are often made. These have less to do with the actual cards, and more to do with some of the psychological aspects of playing poker.
Losing Control
Emotion can play a big part in the game of poker but you should always try and stay rational. A lot of poker players – even experienced ones – will too often let their emotions get in the way of their game, particularly when the cards are not going well. This is referred to as “going on tilt”, and is something we’ll talk more about in a later article.
Playing at the Wrong Time
As mentioned above, you always want to be thinking rationally when you are playing poker. Therefore it is important to play when you are in the right frame of mind. Many poker players make the mistake of playing when tired, or maybe after a few drinks or at some other time when they might not be thinking straight. To give yourself the best chance at the poker tables, you ideally need to be feeling your best.
Playing too High
You should always be playing poker with money that you don’t mind losing. Some poker players will play at stakes that they can’t really afford and this is a big mistake. If you are playing with scared money, you are unlikely to be able to relax and play your best game so make sure you stick to the stakes you can afford. This is known as good bankroll management – another subject we will go into more detail about another time.
Please check back next week for two more big mistakes you should be avoiding.
