Is it really possible to make a mistake when you’re at the poker tables? We don’t mean the obvious errors like misreading your hand or forgetting how many chips you have – everyone does this now and then. We’re talking about strategy (and mindset) today, and in this world, what looks like a mistake to some might actually be a clever plan in disguise.
Bearing that in mind, we’ve talked previously about the four main categories of poker mistakes people do make – some more often than others:
– calling too often
– bluffing too often
– folding too often
– not betting for value often enough
Now let’s take a closer look at some of the more specific errors people are making at the tables. Solutions are provided for each of these common poker mistakes; the sooner you make these corrections, the better your long-term results will be.
To help you improve your poker game as quickly as possible, we’re going to focus on the mistakes people are making the most. Our top three are mostly strategic errors that you can fix right now, while the last two are more about changing your poker mindset, which might take a while longer.
Calling too often is the most common general category for poker mistakes, and players generally do this because they “get married” to their hole cards. They call pre-flop with too many speculative starting hands like baby pairs and suited (or even non-suited) connectors, then they keep calling post-flop when the board isn’t in their favour, ignorant of their odds and/or unwilling to break their marriage by folding.
Solution: Practice Folding
This is another classic “calling station” error, but even if you think you play Game-Theory Optimal (GTO) poker, it’s likely you still chase down some draws that you should be folding, if only because you’ve calculated your pot odds incorrectly. Then you’re in the same pickle as beginners who haven’t even learned what pot odds are yet.
Solution: Use the Rule of Four and Two
Understanding pot odds is a must. The chances of winning the hand have to be worth the amount of chips you’re investing. In Texas Hold’em, the “Rule of Four and Two” will help you approximate your pot odds. Simply multiply your “outs” (the number of cards left in the deck that will complete your draw) by 4 on the flop, and 2 on the turn.
This is another mistake that plagues even some expert players from time to time. Finding the ideal bet size requires some serious training, or countless hours of learning the hard and expensive way. Meanwhile, beginners often telegraph their holdings by betting too small when they’re weak, and too big when they’re strong.
Solution: Pick a Size (or Several) and Stick With it
If you’re a newbie, opt for just one bet/raise size every time, maybe 50% of the pot. That will make it virtually impossible to tell if you’re bluffing or not. If you’re more of an intermediate player, consider using three post-flop bet sizes (maybe 33%, 50% and 75%), saving the biggest bets for the “wettest” boards with the most draw potential. And if you’re an aspiring poker wizard, look to GTO concepts like “1 minus alpha” for guidance.
Now we’re starting to cross the border into mindset territory. Many beginners don’t see too far beyond their hole cards; they haven’t even considered what mistakes their opponents might be making, let alone how to exploit them. But you will also find some experts who stick to a balanced GTO strategy at all times, regardless of what table they’re at.
Solution: Pay Attention
Always watch your opponents closely and make note of what they do at the table. Not only will that help you cut down on those functional errors, like misreading your hand, it will also help you extract the maximum number of chips when your opponents make their inevitable mistakes. It’s okay to “stay in your shell” if you’ve already built a profitable GTO strategy, but remember: a maximally exploitive strategy is also balanced if you do it right.
This is the big one: tilt. Sometimes the mistakes we make happen because we don’t have the right poker strategy; sometimes it’s because our judgment has been clouded by emotion. Maybe you lost your stack in the last hand and you’re trying to get even with your opponent – or maybe you just doubled your stack and you’re chasing that rush by playing every hand.
Solution: Step Away From the Table The instant you recognize that you’re on tilt, stop playing. If it’s a cash game, cash in those chips and don’t start playing again until you’re mentally ready; having a “stop-loss” of two buy-ins will prevent you from tilting off your bankroll. If it’s a tournament, consider taking the next orbit off by folding your hole cards regardless of what they are. Pro tip: If you focus your attention on your opponents, you’ll be less likely to get caught up in your own emotional feedback.