Don’t play too many hands
Playing Too Many Hands – by far the biggest leak in most players’ games. When I first started, I remembered that the need to be in the action nonstop was REAL. If I was losing and needed to try and get back, if I was winning and getting cocky like I was invincible, I would end up playing hands such as 9♦4♠ or K♣2♥ just to see what happens.
Player 1: “Jesus, I tried to fold anything last night. I played every hand that I was dealt.”
Player 2: “That’s a trap. It is simply the nature of the game, and the more hands you play, the more frequently you will face these types of marginally correct decisions. Play all suited connectors, big pairs, big aces only – The Basics.”
Player 1: “But I just hate folding and then seeing I would have hit two pair or something.”
Player 2: “This is just results-driven hindsight. The more hands you play, the more money you are putting in the wrong spots over the long term. Why ever play the top 20% of hands, especially in early positions?”
Don’t ignore position
In the game of Texas Holdem, how you position yourself is critical. The finality to which you pick last is an enormous benefit because you now, in regard to your opponents, know more of what they are up to.
Player 1: “I had A♥Q♠ and opened it up from early position, but got reraised and had no idea what to do.”
Player 2: “And that’s the problem with playing big hands out of position. You need to be tighter in early position because you did not see how the whole table will react.”
Player 1: “I can open more hands in late position.”
Player 2: “Exactly. Because you get to act last, you can raise a bit more from late positions like on the button or cutoff, with a wider range. You can even steal the blinds more often than not. Play tight in early positions and start opening up as you get closer to the button.”
Avoid Bankroll Mismanagement
If you want to survive the poker swings, bankroll management is the key. I have seen too many friends lose their bankroll after talking a big game and then taking shots at stakes they have no business taking.
Player 1: “My bankroll is $500, but I can’t stop myself from playing $1/$2; maybe I can score a really big win.”
Player 2: “That’s risky. At $1/$2 you should have a minimum of $2,000 to cover variance. If you have $500, play cheaper games with $0.25/$0.50.”
Player 1: “Yea, well, building slow sucks at those stakes.”
Player 2: “It’s slow, but it’s about surviving the swings. If you play too high and run bad, it will break your bankroll. Therefore, you want to stay as close to 20-30 buy-ins as possible. It is pertaining to long-term survival and growth.”
Don’t chase losses
Talking about bad habits, one of the worst things a poker player can do is chase losses. This often leads to bigger losses and will put a hole in your bankroll before you know it.
Player 1: “I just got unlucky and lost a big pot and wanted to win it all back straight away. I ended up losing even more.”
Player 2: “Never chase losses. Call it tilt, call it what you want, but it means you are not thinking straight. You will be more apt to make bad decisions and play marginal hands.”
Player 1: “I mean, I know, but it’s hard to just leave it alone.”
Player 2: “If you need to, take a break. Give it a rest for a bit, or just go to bed. Return when you are feeling quiet and centered. It is better to lose a little bit of action than to act recklessly and lose even more.”
If you are tired or emotional, do not play
It’s like playing poker with both hands tied behind your back, one hand after you’re started crying, and the other after you’ve indulged late in the evening on a heavy-duty lasagna. Your judgment goes out the window, making you more susceptible to making decisions that can end up becoming very costly.
Player 1: “I played until 3:00 in the morning last night and by the end of the session I was literally giving my chips away.”
Player 2: “Yes, DO NOT PLAY WHEN YOU’RE TIRED. You can no longer focus or concentrate on what is important and it becomes very easy to make the wrong decision or not make one at all.”
Player 1: “But I was on that soft table and I didn’t want to move from it.”
Player 2: “Yeah, but it’s best to play your hand then and say goodbye. You should also never play when in a mood — whether it’s excitement, sadness, or even tilt! You will simply put your game in a tailspin, and end up losing more of the time than you are winning.”
Don’t overvalue weak hands
Weak hands are a commonly overvalued mistake, particularly among novice poker players. Hitting top pair hasn’t automatically meant winning the pot.
Hero: “A♦7♣. Flop comes with an ace so I bet up and ended up losing a large pot to the worst kicker.”
Player 2: “Top pair weak kicker is a hand that can get you in trouble, especially when there are a lot of raises behind. For example, if the board is A♠K♣8♦, and you have A♦7♣, you need to proceed with care. Your hand is very easily crushed.”
Player 1: “I had top pair.”
Player 2: “IMHO that could get complicated, but… it depends. When a tight player bets, and especially if that bet is a large one, they most likely have a better ace or are holding two pair. So then you must be willing to fold weak top pairs in these spots. You should always take the strength of your hand in relation to the board and the action.”
DO NOT try to make the changes
It is absolutely crucial to adjust to your opponents. It might be effective against one player but ineffective with another. Therefore, keep that in mind and tweak your gameplay accordingly.
Player 1: “I mean, I c-bombed this guy and he called me on every street.”
Player 2: “If he called you to the end, he was a total calling station. Suppress the concept of bluffing against these players. Rather, if novelty is still significant, then bet larger on the turn and river with your value hands, as they will pay off with worse.”
Player 1: “Man… I should have realized he never folded.”
Player 2: “Exactly. Observe the gameplay of your opponents. If a player is tight, you could bluff more. If they are loose and call too many hands, then bet your good ones for value. The ability to adjust your strategy according to your opponents’ plays is what makes you a great player.”
Player 1: “Is this competitive observing and adapting?”
Player 2: “Absolutely. Poker is a dynamic game. The top players never play the same way as per said, best players change their strategy every few lines according to the game situation. Stay aware, take note and change as required.”
Do not over or under bluff
The key here is a perfect bluff. But if this gamble pays off, bluff too many times and players will see through your deception. Bluff too infrequently and you become readable.
Player 1: “I bluffed a motherfucker all night and he called me every time too.”
Player 2: “Bluffing is an art. You do that too often and soon people will realize and call you down no matter what. You need to pick your spots.”
Player 1: “Then how do I decide when to bluff?”
Player 2: “Find spots where the board favors the range you plan to represent. For example, if the flop comes A♠K♣3♠ and you raised before the flop, you are quite likely to have an ace or king. Plus, keep your opponents’ tendencies in mind as well. Bluff more against the tight ones who fold the most and less against the loose ones who call everything.”
Don’t play without a plan
Playing a hand with no plan is like driving without a destination. Being aware of what you want to achieve with every bet, raise, or call is crucial.
Player 1: “Raising preflop then not knowing what to do on the flop.”
Player 2: “You have to plan every hand. For example, if you raise with A♣K♦, consider your actions on various flops, such as — if a 3♣ comes on a J♠9♦8♦ flop, you have an open-ended straight draw, whereas, if it comes down Q♥10♣2♦, you have a gutshot draw. Will you c-bet or check? If it falls A♠5♣3♣, chances are you are best and should therefore bet for value.”
Player 1: “You always have to take this into account?”
Player 2: “Exactly. Be clear in your mind about why you are betting, raising, or calling. What do they think you have and are you betting for value, protection, or a bluff? Depending on the circumstances, having actions planned out is good, allowing you to make better moves and stay ahead of your opponents.”
Save it for the pot odds and implied odds
Knowing pot odds and implied odds may be the difference between a call that makes you money and one that costs you a profit.
Player 1: “I had a flush draw and I called a really big bet and bricked it.”
Player 2: “What about your pot odds calculations? If the pot = $50 and the bet size = $25, your call is on a 2:1 pot odds. Not profitable if a flush draw has a 4:1 to hit, just based on pot odds alone.”
Player 1: “I hadn’t really thought about it.”
Player 2: “Take into account the implied odds as well — how much you can win if you actually hit a draw. It might be worth calling if you think you can win a huge pot if you do hit. But always do the math. If you understand your pot odds and implied odds, then you can become a better player with the ability to make better decisions and avoid costly mistakes.”
Player 1: “So it’s a question of balance between direct pot odds and potential for future income?”
Player 2: “Exactly. It’s a combination of both. Learn to quickly add these odds up. It helps you become a better decision-maker and overall player.”