Playing Too Many Hands
Playing too many hands is one of the worst things that can happen in poker. A lot of new players are like that and think that they cannot win unless they play, but this is how they get themselves in trouble and lose money on mediocre or poor hands. Long run profitability of starting hands is limited to approximately 20 percent of hands. The antidote: play tight on the pre-flop hands. Play more premium starting hands and fold weaker ones especially in early positions. It is a good trait to wait for good hands- patience is a lucrative virtue- you will save your bankroll and most likely have an advantage over other players.
Chasing Bad Draws
Poker can be an expensive game when it comes to chasing longshots, but hope is a valuable commodity. It is never advisable to chase weak hands such as inside straight draws or low flush possibilities since they are simply not worth it and even when you hit, you may still lose to a better hand. To prevent bleeding chips on weak draws, you need to learn how to calculate pot odds, count outs and have the right technique to do it accurately. Only keep playing pots in which chasing is mathematically correct and has a positive expected value. You should focus on drawing to the nuts (the best possible hand) and not putting yourself at risk with hands you should not invest in at all.
Ignoring Position
Overbluffing and Poor Bet Sizing
Bluffing is an art, but it is also easy to lose your bankroll by overdoing it or by selecting the wrong spots. Overbluffing is predictable and vulnerable to be called by attentive opponents. On the same note, unwise sizing of bets, whether betting too much or too little, reveals information and sets up undesirable situations. In order to avoid these traps, bluff sparingly and only on the basis of table dynamics, the tendencies of your opponent and the story your actions convey. In terms of bet size, use the normal size (50-70 percent of the pot) unless you have a good reason to deviate. This makes your moves more balanced and harder to take advantage of.
Letting Emotions Impact Your Play (Tilt)
Poker is about as much a game of the head as it is a game of the cards Playing when angry, distracted, or in an unbalanced state known as playing on tilt can result in catastrophic decisions such as chasing losses, making unconservative calls, or giving up a winning strategy. To prevent tilt, establish stop-loss and win targets per session, know when frustration is getting the best of you, and leave the table temporarily in case of need. Emotional control is a key to long-term success in poker and you have to create some routines that will keep you concentrated and calm, no matter whether you are losing or winning.
These five basic errors are so common that by simply eliminating them, you can safeguard your bankroll, enhance your own results, and establish the habits that win over the long run. Poker is a game that rewards patience, discipline, and constant learning, so always be aware of your game and adjust to keep ahead.