There are endless types of errors and mistakes waiting for you when you play poker but today we’ll highlight a couple of the really big, what can be called “strategic” level, errors. These are “in hand” mistakes such as betting when you should fold but the type of error that can be fatal to the bankroll and keep you stuck on loser. Doing them in poker free online, is bad though at least you’ll only lose your virtual currency, but should you repeat them in real money games it can get messy.
On a positive note they are not to hard to fix once recognized, they are mental and not skill related so hopefully, if you do them you can stop it quickly.
1. You are losing but keep playing to try and make the losses back.
A huge beginner error that gets made time and time again. Fact - If you are losing it’s more likely that you will continue losing if you don’t stop.
As a beginner you don’t have the basic concepts of poker very well established in your head, and you probably haven’t read any strategy guides or lessons on poker yet, or if you have the information is still very shallow and unpractised. This lack of core skill and experience is nearly always the reason behind the losing sequence.
Experienced poker players can and do have bad streaks but they know it will not last. They know they just have to keep doing the right thing and they’ll come out ahead long term.
In contrast, beginners who keep playing into a losing sequence will nearly always find it gets worse. If you are losing the majority of your hands it is time to stop and figure out why.
In most case it is down to bad play. Bad calls, going allin with a marginal hand, getting annoyed (tilting) and playing silly hands and giving all your chips away…and many more
Conclusion - when you are in a losing run, bail out and work out why.
2. You have made it to the money stages. I can close this tournament and go to sleep
‘In the money’ means reaching the prizes in a tournament. For example - You are playing a freeroll. There are 300 signups and the 75th gets $0.02 and the 1st $30. If you can make it into the top 75 players you’ll get, at the least, the minimum prize.
So, in this example - It is deep stack and has been playing for several hours. With 76 players left you are scraping with just 2000 chips left and blinds of 500/1000. You know you have to survive to get paid for so many hours of playing. Suddenly, a player is eliminated and you are one of the 75 players, you’ve made it.
‘Nice’ you say, ‘I can go to watch TV now!’. Yes, you can but after hours is $0.02 as opposed to 0 for coming 76th really worth it? You’re basically giving up after reaching a minor way point. That’s rubbish.
If you make it to the money, even if you are weak, please, please keep playing - why not?! If you close your poker client just after the last non-paid player is eliminated, you are likely to be eliminated very soon, and you’ll get the smallest prize of all.
But, consider this: Next, you get a good hand and go all-in in your last shoot and get doubled up. Then you’ll be a lot better off and who knows maybe be able to double up again and advance on as more players are knocked out.
Now, you have an above average chip stack and can steal blinds. Some players will now fear your all-ins. Play well and get some good cards and you could make final table and a decent pay off.
It’s just a small change in mental approach but one that can make a giant difference to your poker fortunes. You have nothing to lose in such a scenario so play on and who knows how it may go!
TIP: Even when you think you’re finished, try a little further. If you don’t then, especially if you play cash tournaments, the opportunity cost of the tiny wins that didn’t become big wins will erode your bankroll.
You need to always fish for whales, a lot of the time you’ll catch minnows but just now and again the whopper will come in.
Good luck at the tables and be sure to practice on the free poker online training tables first before risking real money.