Poker is among the most popular games in the Las Vegas gambling scene requiring strategic thinking and agile decision-making. The Vegas poker community features individuals from all walks of life. All casino games have an element of luck, but strategic thinking becomes essential with poker. Maria Konnikova, a professional poker player, in her book The Biggest Bluff: How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself, and Win”, she highlights the importance of strategic thinking in poker.
When playing poker, players need to ensure their strategies are most effective. Unfortunately, there are instances when mistakes are made, which turn out to be costly in the end. Novice and professional poker players must always avoid these lethal mistakes. In this detailed guide, we reference the professional knowledge provided by Maria Konnikova regarding mastering the art of playing poker. Below are the popular seven preflop mistakes to avoid when playing poker.
Playing innumerable hands
“Mastery is always a struggle for balance. How much time do you devote to the craft, and how much to yourself? And can you really do one without the other?”
― Maria Konnikova
During a poker game, you can either fold or deal the hand. Knowing the balance of when to deal or fold a hand is a priceless poker gaming strategy unknown to many. Playing many hands will ultimately make you bleed money in the long run. Every poker hand has a distinct value; identifying the exact value will help you spot the hands that are worth it. Overvaluing poker hands can make you pick the wrong or even multiple hands.
Overlooking the importance of Positional Advantage
“Poker isn’t just about calibrating the strength of your beliefs. It’s also about becoming comfortable with the fact that there’s no such thing as a sure thing—ever. You will never have all the information you want, and you will have to act all the same. Leave your certainty at the door.”
― Maria Konnikova
What is your position when playing a game of poker? Professional poker players know the importance of positional advantage and always act last since they are “in position” post-flop. Players who are in “out of position” act first. Experienced poker players play most of their hands while “in position.” They will also fold many hands when forced to play “out of positions” and become more active whenever they are “in position.” Being “in position” is advantageous, especially after a flop.
Ignoring the Other Player’s Tendencies
“We can’t control the variance. We can’t control what happens. But we can control our attention and how we choose to deploy it.”
― Maria Konnikova,
In every game, every player wants to arise as the winner. Every player will come equipped with various strategies to ensure they win. While paying attention to the cards is crucial, you need to pay closer attention to the behavior and tendencies of the other players. Reading the poker hands of your opponents is much easier when you can predict their actions. It will give you a competitive advantage, thus making more informed decisions when playing.
Making Over or Under Bets
“Never do anything, no matter how small it may seem, without asking why, precisely, you’re doing it.”
― Maria Konnikova,
When playing poker, you will place different bets. The bet is preflop has a substantial effect on the outcome of the poker hand. Over betting occurs when a player places a bet higher than the pot size. If any of your opponents call, you risk losing your entire stack. An under bet is valued at less than 40% of the pot and might not provide your strong hand with ample protection. Master and understand the game’s context before placing any poker bet.
Being Rigid in the Game
“Attention is a powerful mitigator to overconfidence: it forces you to constantly reevaluate your knowledge and your game plan, lest you become too tied to a certain course of action. And if you lose? Well, it allows you to admit when it’s actually your fault and not a bad beat.”
― Maria Konnikova,
As a poker player, you can never predict the game’s outcome 100%. Many external and internal factors determine the outcome of the game. Therefore, you need to have a poker strategy that can adapt to the ever-changing arena of the game. Embracing adaptability will allow you to master the game and make crucial adjustments. Sometimes adaptability can involve folding or even stopping to play the game.