Monday, April 19, 2010

5 Common Newbie Mistakes

Novice players often make bad decisions that cost them money at the poker table. Here's some common pitfalls and how to avoid them.

1. Playing too many hands. When you first start out you should stick to premium hands. As you become more experienced and learn to make better decisions you will gradually open up your starting range.

2. Not enough aggression. Many new players are intimidated or unsure about their hand strength so they choose to check and call with hands they should bet and raise with. This allows others to hit their draws cheaply and it doesn't maximize value when you do have the best hand.

3. Too much aggression. Another type of player has heard that aggression is good in poker. Aggressive raises and re-raises puts a lot of pressure on opponents and can induce them to fold. However, if one does not control this aggression it can lead to disaster.

4. Chasing too much. A flush or straight draw on the flop looks nice, but it's not a made hand. New players don't always understand the odds of making their hand or how to play it when they get there. Use a poker calculator to help you learn the odds. www.pokerstove.com

5. Not sizing up opponents. If you don't pay attention to your competition you are costing yourself money. Everyone has their own style and you should try to be aware of what others are doing so you can make more informed decisions when the time comes.

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