Poker is a fun game – but it’s one of those games that stop being fun when you realize how much money you’ve lost by being ‘carelessly fun-loving’. And, really, no matter how much others say that winning is not important, don’t believe them. Winning will be important when you find that your bankroll has decreased in size considerably because you were unable to avoid these three common mistakes.

 

First and foremost, if you want to play poker, you’ll have to work on your focus. Do not get distracted when you are playing. If you miss a significant tell from another player, you might find yourself missing a perfect opportunity for victory. Even if there are so many distractions – sparkling lights, busty women, free martinis – try to keep your focus on the game. If you don’t, someone who can will automatically one-up you. Many players have lost in what would have been victories because they got careless and were unable to focus. Furthermore, if you are really intent on winning, try to keep focused on the game even when you are not playing. For example, when you fold because you have a not-so-impressive hand, do not let your attention wander. Use the time to truly study your opponents. Don’t just let it go to waste. Study their tactics, their strategies, their mannerisms, their attitude – study anything that will help you boost your game and get an advantage over them. 

 

A very big no-no in poker is revenge playing. A lot of players find themselves falling into this dangerous hole when they play and lose a few times. Often, when they see that they have been losing consecutively, they automatically think that they will win eventually, and thus play to get back the money they lost. But in this state of mind, they only tend to make more mistakes, and then they lose even more. 

 

Remember, poker is not a game of luck. It’s a game of skill. So when you find yourself in a losing streak, don’t think that it’s because you’re unlucky. Most likely, you’re in a big losing streak because you played very weak hands. In poker, it is not uncommon to fold repeatedly, especially if you are getting bad hands. Good hands are the only ones worth playing. So, if you get an outrageously poor hand, like a 2 and a 9, fold. You have very little chance of winning, and you will only lose money if you call the bets of others who probably have much better cards. This is especially true if you’re in an early position in the game. Those seated at the late positions have more room to maneuver, even if they have mediocre hands. Furthermore, if you find yourself folding for more than 7 consecutive times, don’t let it affect your game. Don’t be tempted to play the next mediocre card that comes along because it’s the best you’ve had all night. Play only the hands that actually have a good chance of winning, and you’ll find yourself much richer in the long run.