There’s never been a better time to learn how to play poker.
With a plethora of resources available online, plenty of casinos across London, and some 100 million players across the globe, a newbie can be up and playing in next to no time.
Of course, the sheer number of poker players means that playing standards have never been higher than they are right now. While newcomers must expect to go through the learning curve, how long that learning period takes is within their control to a degree.
In many cases, simply avoiding the errors that new poker players (less than six months) typically make can make all the difference.
Let’s take a look at some of the most widespread mistakes.
1. Playing Too Much
By “playing too much,” we don’t mean playing several times a week. It’s generally best to play as much poker as you can when you’re learning since that’s what’ll push you forward the most.
No, what we mean is playing too many hands. Newcomers are eager to get involved with the action, forgetting that patience is a big part of the game. If you’re playing more than 20% of your hands when you’re sitting down at a table (either online or in the real world), then you’re playing too many. Learn to tell the difference between when a hand is worth pursuing and when it’s worth folding.
2. Learning Solely By Doing
You’ll learn the most through playing poker, but you won’t learn everything. There are aspects of poker that you can’t learn at a table; you can only learn from a book. It’s recommended to spend a few hours a week studying the game, the classic strategies, tips to get ahead when competing against friends, the difference between tournaments and cash games, and anything else you can consume.
The best players spend 50% of their poker time playing, and 50% studying. Even if you can’t commit to that much, you’ll find that even a little bit of studying effort can significantly improve your game.
3. Playing One Type of Game
Most people start their poker journey by playing cash games, which is the most common (and the original) type of poker. But it’s not the only one. There are also multi-table tournaments and Sit and Go games which may be better suited to your gameplay. As you grow in confidence in your gameplay, it’s recommended to try out other formats to see how you fare. Every poker player discovers that they prefer one type of game at some point or another, and the sooner you understand what yours is, the better.
It’s also worth keeping in mind that there are different poker variants to choose from, too. Texas Hold’em is the most widely played, but you can also try Omaha Hi, Omaha Hi-Lo, or 7-Card Stud. Even if you ultimately decide that Texas Hold’em is the game for you, you’ll become a better poker player by branching into the other variants.
4. Failing to Understand How They’re Feeling
Poker is a thinking-person’s game. While it’s normal to feel a rush of emotion at various points during a poker game, those emotions aren’t exactly going to help you play better. Newcomer players often underestimate the impact that the way they’re feeling can have on their performance.
If you’re angry, you’ll make bad decisions. If you’re overconfident, you’ll make bad decisions. And if you’re tired because you’ve been playing poker for several hours? Yep, you’ll be tired.
Learning to understand how you’re feeling is paramount for reducing errors.
5. Playing Over or Under Their Level
There’s a right and wrong way to improve at poker, just as there is with everything else. Playing against opponents who are below your level will not improve your gameplay. Similarly, playing against players who are significantly better will make growing even more challenging. Try to have an honest understanding of your level and find games that present a nice challenge.
Now that you are clear about what to avoid when playing poker as a newbie, you should be ready to enhance your game.
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