Poker Tips for New Players

Common Mistakes Made by Beginners in Games like Texas Hold ‘Em

Sep 27, 2009

Poker is a popular game, but people who are new to playing in casinos tend to make many of the same mistakes. Here are some ideas to help rookies improve their game.

Poker games like Texas Hold ‘Em to Omaha are gaining widespread popularity and many people want to go from playing with friends to playing poker in the casinos or online. Here is some advice to help players up their chances for winning at the tables.

Keep Ego in Check

Many people can play well and win with their buddies, but it is another thing to be playing in casinos. What often leads to a loss of money for new players, is a rookie who thinks he knows it all. A player wants to come off as confident, but not cocky. It’s good to tone down the bravado and big talk and instead be observant and see what can be learned from watching more experienced players at the table.

Playing with Financial Sense

Before hitting the casinos, it’s good to take a realistic look at how much money is in the bank account and how much can be spent at the tables. New players might feel like they need to be spending big bucks to represent themselves well, but it’s better to play within one’s financial limits.

Playing beyond one’s means can lead to a lot of stress and poor choices. Poker is supposed to be fun, and when a palyer is worried about how he will win back his money so he can afford his rent then the fun is definitely gone. Playing responsibly will allow the player to concentrate properly on the game and free him from money worries and potential troubles.

Playing with the Big Boys and Girls

Watching TV and movies, people see big stars going into casinos and sitting at a high stakes table and winning big. For rookies at a casino, the outcome will most likely not be a happy ending if they try to do the same. It’s much better to start small and work one’s way up. Look for smaller limit games and play against people who are at about the same skill level. Think of poker like doing a triathlon. A person can’t expect to just sign up and win a triathlon without first putting in the time and training to be able to complete the race first. It takes a lot of work to build up the skill, endurance and strength that’s needed.

Throwing Away a Hand Can be a Good Thing

Many rookies think that they should be playing as many hands as possible, and that if they are not playing the whole game then they are not playing. It might seem boring to be throwing away a lot of hands, but if winning is the goal, it is important to wait for the good hands and the best situation.

It’s also a good idea for new poker players to read up on ways to identify and best play a premium hand. There is a lot of information out there from the Internet to books that can provide tips and improve skills.

Play from a Good Place

A player needs to be aware of his mental state while playing poker. Good players are alert, observant and focused on their game. When someone is on a winning streak he can feel on the top of his game, and just the opposite can happen when he has lost several hands. Rookies can feel like they have lost their edge and can start to make poor choices even though they know better. When a sense of desperation sets in, it’s time to take a break from the game.

Tips for playing poker include playing with humility and within one’s financial limits. Start out at smaller tables and be choosy about the hands one plays. And, when a player feels himself losing his cool along with his money, it’s a good time to walk away from the table.

Reference: Negreanu, Daniel. Hold’Em Wisdom for All Players. New York, New York: Cardoza Publishing, 2007.

The copyright of the article Poker Tips for New Players in Poker is owned by Tamiko Nicholson. Permission to republish Poker Tips for New Players in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.