Nov

20

Common Mistakes Made in Online Poker

Filed Under Poker |

There are a number of common mistakes that novices as well as experienced poker players make when playing online poker. Anyone who wants to be successful in this game has to practice certain strategies so that more pots and ultimately games and tournaments can be won. Learning to avoid these common mistakes is key in enabling you to get an advantage over your opponents.

Distraction:

Winning a poker game is about having skill and an element of luck; however you also need a lot of patience and concentration. You absolutely need to concentrate on the detail and what is going on in the game - what is that old saying - the devil is in the detail and it is never truer in the case of a poker game - on or offline.

When you are distracted you tend to stop using your skill and leave everything to. If you are a novice, then you should learn to handle more than 3-4 games at a time - many online poker rooms enable you to do this - especially the rooms on the Cryptologic network with their pro view system. Also ensuring you avoid the usual distractions of the phone, radio and TV whilst you are playing - you may miss that very important tell or same move by an opponent which you could use to bring them down.

Use of auto-play functions:

The main function of the auto-play button is to speed up the game, thus meaning more hands are raked in the room and thus making them more money. When you use this button - know that it is being used at the cost of your poker chips. In online poker, players are often located far from each other and some of the only tells in this game are the duration taken by a player to act on his hand.

Delay in check: weakness
Instantaneous check: weakness
Instantaneous call: strength
Quick bet: strength

The first tell is all about understanding of the psychology of this game, but other three are based on auto play buttons. Clicking on the automatic check button when you have a weak hand will convey your weakness.

Too much talking:

There are many online poker players who talk a lot because according to them this will not serve as a tell. They fail to realize that besides the use of the auto-play button, talking can be the biggest online poker ‘tell’. So stay quiet and ignore the tittle tattle at the table - it will only distract.

Never make enemies in poker:

Try to avoid making enemies in this game because it is not a good idea. Avoid saying anything to your opponents when you win a pot, instead just drag the chips in a gracious manner. Don’t whine when you lose a game because making enemies will mean-they will gun for you.

To show cards:

Showing your cards can be seen as a mistake in online poker - it can be considered to be a bad thing - and I never do - unless of course I have gone all in and have no choice. But if you show it can annoy other people and they can often start gunning for you - just muck them everytime and keep playing - this was people will never be able to tell whether you had the nuts or were bluffing to hell!

Andy Denton runs a number of websites including one specifically on poker strategy and poker site reviews - www.haveaflutter.com/ and also has extensive experience of working in the financial services industry. He is a regular poker player both on and offline.


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