When trying to do something for the first time - skateboarding or carpentry or well, anything really - it's best to learn as much as you can in order to properly understand it. This goes double for the game of poker.
I love to play the game, but at one time I knew nothing about it and boy did I make some mistakes! Have a seat, sit back and have a laugh or two as you read the 5 dumbest things I ever did at a poker table, and hopefully it will save some other newbie from making the same stupid mistakes that I did.
Dumbest Move #1 - I sat down at a table in a local casino with my $50. I was ready to play. But half way through the first hand, I couldn't even make the bet! Why? Well, because at the time I didn't know that poker tables have different table limits. And I was sitting at a table that had a $10/$20 limit.
I had enough to ante-up and that was about it. The thing was: I had a great hand, with three kings and an ace. The kind of hand that, with sufficient cash, I could have won by strategically raising. But I learned my lesson and always check the table limits before I sit down now.
Dumbest Move #2 - When I started playing poker online, I never used the 'muck' option. This is what obscures your losing hand so the other players can't see what cards you had and figure out how you play. I think that not using the muck option has probably cost me thousands of dollars. You have been warned.
Giving away your playing style is pretty much the singlest stupidest thing you can do in poker. Giving your opponents that advantage means you are effectively just handing them the money. Not clever.
Dumbest Move #3 - I used to play every hand. This is something many new poker players do. You should, of course, fold and wait for a good, strong hand to come along. That way you'll have a better chance to win.
Basically, don't play every hand. Just don't. I know it's a thrill playing poker, but if you're hand isn't worth playing, then don't play it. If you conserve your bankroll, there will be other hands to play. Be a little clever and you might just walk away with more cash than you sat down with.
Dumbest Move #4 - Staying in a hand because you've already put money in the pot. Many players feel that just because they've bet on one round, they should stay in the hand, whether or not they have a strong hand. Bluff, by all means, but don't stay in a hand 'just because'. That will end up with your losing your money.
For example, if you have a pair of twos but nothing is coming up for you and someone else is raising over and over, then fold. Cut your losses and wait for the next hand. If you know you aren't going to win, don't throw good money after bad. Save your money.
Dumbest Move #5 - Know the Game! I can't say this enough, the worst goof up I ever did was when I joined in am Omaha Hi/Low tournament. Now I had never played the game before, so I read up on how to play before the tournament started and thought, ok, I understand the basics of the game and the rest I will learn as I play.
So off I went, Mr. know it all, and sat at the table and started playing the game. Well about a half hour into the game I kept losing when I thought I should of won, and I won when I thought I should have lost. I had no idea what was going on and lucky for me I was having enough luck that day to get me to intermission when I took the time to go and reread the rules of the game.
At that point, I saw how you really play the game. I found that I was folding great hands and wasn't even aware of it. I might have won so much money that day. But I didn't really understand the rules. Never will I act the know-it-all and play a game for real money that I had never played before. What was I thinking?
So, those were my five dumbest mistakes. I'm sure you'll agree that they were pretty dumb so hopefully if you are new to playing poker, you won't make the same errors. Make sure you know the game, the rules and the table limits and you won't go too far wrong.
I love to play the game, but at one time I knew nothing about it and boy did I make some mistakes! Have a seat, sit back and have a laugh or two as you read the 5 dumbest things I ever did at a poker table, and hopefully it will save some other newbie from making the same stupid mistakes that I did.
Dumbest Move #1 - I sat down at a table in a local casino with my $50. I was ready to play. But half way through the first hand, I couldn't even make the bet! Why? Well, because at the time I didn't know that poker tables have different table limits. And I was sitting at a table that had a $10/$20 limit.
I had enough to ante-up and that was about it. The thing was: I had a great hand, with three kings and an ace. The kind of hand that, with sufficient cash, I could have won by strategically raising. But I learned my lesson and always check the table limits before I sit down now.
Dumbest Move #2 - When I started playing poker online, I never used the 'muck' option. This is what obscures your losing hand so the other players can't see what cards you had and figure out how you play. I think that not using the muck option has probably cost me thousands of dollars. You have been warned.
Giving away your playing style is pretty much the singlest stupidest thing you can do in poker. Giving your opponents that advantage means you are effectively just handing them the money. Not clever.
Dumbest Move #3 - I used to play every hand. This is something many new poker players do. You should, of course, fold and wait for a good, strong hand to come along. That way you'll have a better chance to win.
Basically, don't play every hand. Just don't. I know it's a thrill playing poker, but if you're hand isn't worth playing, then don't play it. If you conserve your bankroll, there will be other hands to play. Be a little clever and you might just walk away with more cash than you sat down with.
Dumbest Move #4 - Staying in a hand because you've already put money in the pot. Many players feel that just because they've bet on one round, they should stay in the hand, whether or not they have a strong hand. Bluff, by all means, but don't stay in a hand 'just because'. That will end up with your losing your money.
For example, if you have a pair of twos but nothing is coming up for you and someone else is raising over and over, then fold. Cut your losses and wait for the next hand. If you know you aren't going to win, don't throw good money after bad. Save your money.
Dumbest Move #5 - Know the Game! I can't say this enough, the worst goof up I ever did was when I joined in am Omaha Hi/Low tournament. Now I had never played the game before, so I read up on how to play before the tournament started and thought, ok, I understand the basics of the game and the rest I will learn as I play.
So off I went, Mr. know it all, and sat at the table and started playing the game. Well about a half hour into the game I kept losing when I thought I should of won, and I won when I thought I should have lost. I had no idea what was going on and lucky for me I was having enough luck that day to get me to intermission when I took the time to go and reread the rules of the game.
At that point, I saw how you really play the game. I found that I was folding great hands and wasn't even aware of it. I might have won so much money that day. But I didn't really understand the rules. Never will I act the know-it-all and play a game for real money that I had never played before. What was I thinking?
So, those were my five dumbest mistakes. I'm sure you'll agree that they were pretty dumb so hopefully if you are new to playing poker, you won't make the same errors. Make sure you know the game, the rules and the table limits and you won't go too far wrong.
About the Author:
Learn more about online poker by watching these poker tips on video or check out some fundamental blackjack tips to help you win..
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