Biggest Mistakes Tournament Newbies Make

Written by Nigel

Alright, we all make mistakes. We are but human after all. Yet if you are aware of certain mistakes that you just might commit, wouldn’t it be better for you? That way, you can take measures to avoid making those mistakes. These statements could actually apply both in real life and at the poker table. Read on to know which mistakes to avoid when you are a beginner.

Not Understanding When Someone Else is Pot-Committed
So what does this mean? Andrew Glazer says it best: “If you have a hand with which your raise commits you to the pot, you might as well go ahead and move all in with it. If you’re winning, you’ll win more, and if you’re losing, there’s a bigger chance that your opponent will fold.”

Underbetting the Pot
This is pretty simple, if you are trying to win the pot even though your hand isn’t that good (or in other words you have a bad hand) then do it with a bang. Don’t bet cheap – others will just call your bet to find out what you had. That way they will gain information on you. Make it expensive enough so that they won’t gain anything.

Calling with Draws
I have to admit, I did this a lot when I first started playing. Hoping that the next card would complete my hand was just irresistible. However, statistically speaking, the chances of completing, say, a flush draw is very nil. You don’t bet big on such situations. More often than not, you will just lose this way.