In the world of poker, there are subtle and not-so-subtle signs that distinguish a seasoned player from a novice. For those looking to profit, identifying the “weak spot” or “fish” at the table is key. Certain common errors can immediately signal to professional players that you are a target. If you’re looking to improve your game and shed the “fish” label, here are seven critical mistakes you need to stop making.
1.Bluffing with Junk
A classic mistake that outs a novice is bluffing with a hand that has no potential. This often happens when a player simply doesn’t know when to cut their losses, especially with “absolutely nothing” on a draw-heavy board. This strategy is particularly ineffective against weaker players who are not inclined to fold.
For instance, imagine you hold an Ace of Hearts and a Queen of Spades, and the board reads 7 of Diamonds, 6 of Clubs, and 5 of Diamonds. You have no pair and no draw. In this situation, the correct move is to fold and wait for a better opportunity.
2.Playing Trashy Hands
Many players consistently lose because they play weak starting hands like King-9, Queen-8, or 7-5. To give yourself a mathematical edge, you should be more selective. A solid starting hand strategy includes:
- All pocket pairs (Aces through Twos)
- Strong Aces, such as Ace-King, Ace-Queen, Ace-Jack, and Ace-10
- Broadway hands, which are any two cards ranked 10 or higher, specifically King-Queen, King-Jack, and Queen-Jack
- Suited connectors like 10-9 suited, 9-8 suited, and 8-7 suited
- Suited Aces, for example, Ace-8 suited and Ace-9 suited
While this approach might seem conservative, it ensures the odds are in your favor. As you gain more experience, you can gradually expand your range of playable hands.
3.Letting Tilt Take Over
“Tilt” is the frustration a player feels after experiencing a series of “bad beats,” where they lose a hand despite having a strong statistical advantage. Allowing yourself to get angry over these situations will devastate your poker results by leading to emotional and poor decision-making. It is essential to remember that getting unlucky is a fundamental part of poker. Even with a powerhouse hand like Pocket Aces against Pocket Sixes, you are never 100% guaranteed to win; it all comes down to math and probability.
4.Not Three-Betting Premium Hands
When you’re dealt a premium hand, you need to capitalize on it. These hands include Pocket Aces, Kings, Queens, Jacks, Tens, Ace-King, and Ace-Queen. A frequent amateur error is simply calling when another player has already raised. Instead, you should three-bet (re-raise). Three-betting before the flop builds the pot when you have a significant mathematical advantage, setting you up to win a much larger pot later on. For example, if you have two red Kings and an opponent raises to $10, you should re-raise to a minimum of $30.
5.Missing Value on the River
A common pitfall is failing to make a value bet on the river when you likely hold the best hand. Players often get nervous, fearing their opponent might have hit a flush or a two pair, and check instead of betting. A value bet is a bet made with the strong conviction that you have the superior hand.
Consider a scenario where you have Queen-Jack of Hearts and the final board is Queen of Diamonds, 10 of Spades, 7 of Diamonds, 4 of Spades, and Deuce of Diamonds. You have top pair, but a flush draw has been completed. The correct play is to bet about half the pot. Hands like Ace-10, King-10, Jack-10, 10-9, Pocket Jacks, Ace-7, or Ace-4 are all likely to call your bet, meaning you miss out on significant value if you don’t make it.
6.Fancy Play Syndrome
Many amateur players try to get “tricky” or “fancy,” often by imitating plays they’ve seen from high-stakes professionals. However, these complex strategies are often ineffective and costly when used against recreational players (the “fish”). These players are there for fun and often play “trashy junky hands,” making them less susceptible to sophisticated bluffs or deceptive plays.
If you have Ace-10 of Diamonds and the flop comes 10-10-6, giving you three of a kind with the best kicker, the best strategy is a simple, big raise. This straightforward, obvious play can paradoxically cause recreational players to overthink, wrongly assume you’re bluffing, and “flip out” against you.
7.Bluffing a Maniac
Aggressive, “maniac” players who love to bluff present a unique challenge. A common mistake is to “fight fire with fire” by re-raising them, which often amounts to overplaying your hand. Instead of folding or getting into a bluffing war, the better approach with mediocre hands is to “flat call.” Maniacs frequently bluff with hands like straight draws or other random holdings that you can beat. By simply calling them down, you give them the rope to continue bluffing off their chips, which will ultimately be more profitable for you.