Beginner Mistakes in Poker: How to Avoid Them

Every poker player started with mistakes. Even legends like Phil Ivey and Doyle Brunson were once beginners and made stupid mistakes. The difference is that they learned from their mistakes and stopped repeating them.

At Makao online casino, you can play poker with live dealers. To make your path to mastery shorter, let's analyze typical beginner mistakes and ways to avoid them.

Mistake #1: Playing Too Many Hands

The Problem

The most common mistake is wanting to participate in every hand. Beginners think: "What if a good flop comes?" and call with any cards.

Why this is bad:

• Most starting hands are unprofitable
• You lose money on blinds and calls
• You get into difficult situations with marginal hands
• Opponents easily read you as a weak player

The Solution

Playing poker profitably means playing fewer hands, but better:

• Start with top 15% of hands (pairs from 77+, AJ+, KQ)
• Fold weak hands without regret
• Remember: fold is also a decision, and often the right one
• Expand range only from position

Mistake #2: Ignoring Position

The Problem

Beginners don't understand why position matters. They play the same from any position - the same hands, the same bet sizes.

Why this is bad:

• Without position, you act blindly
• You don't know what opponents will do after you
• You lose informational advantage
• You overpay for marginal hands

The Solution

How to play poker considering position:

Button is the best position. Play more hands from there and fewer from early position.

Mistake #3: Wrong Bet Sizing

The Problem

Beginners bet too little or too much. Typical mistakes:

• Mini-raise (2 BB) - doesn't protect hand
• Huge raise (10+ BB) - scares away weak hands
• Same size with any hand - easily readable

Why this is bad:

• Small bets give opponents favorable odds
• Huge bets don't get called
• Predictability = exploitation

The Solution

Standard bet sizes:

• Pre-flop raise: 2.5-3 BB (+1 BB per limper)
• Continuation bet: 50-70% of pot
• Value bet: 60-80% of pot
• Bluff: size should "tell a story"

Use the same sizes for bluffs and value - this creates balance.

Mistake #4: Hand Attachment

The Problem

A beginner gets a beautiful starting hand (AA, KK) and can't let it go, even when it's obvious they're beaten.

Typical scenario:

• You have KK
• Flop is A-7-2
• Opponent bets, you call
• On turn and river they continue betting
• You call and see opponent's AA

Why this is bad:

• Top pair doesn't mean victory
• You pay for information you already have
• Bankroll melts on such hands

The Solution

Know how to let go of strong hands:

• Evaluate board texture
• If opponent shows strength on dangerous board - fold
• AA and KK - not automatic win
• Losing one hand is better than losing entire stack

Mistake #5: Playing on Tilt

The Problem

After a loss (especially "unfair" bad beat), beginners start playing emotionally:

• Increase bets to "get even"
• Play more hands
• Make impulsive decisions
• Bluff in inappropriate situations

Why this is bad:

• Emotions = bad decisions
• One bad beat turns into bankroll drain
• You play the worst version of yourself

The Solution

Tilt control:

• Set stop-loss before session starts (2-3 buy-ins)
• After major loss - break for at least 15 minutes
• Remember: variance is part of poker
• If you feel angry - end the session

Poker face is important not only for opponents, but for yourself.

Mistake #6: Lack of Bankroll Management

The Problem

Beginners sit at tables with money they can't afford to lose:

• Entire deposit on one table
• No reserve for variance
• After loss - deposit again and repeat

Why this is bad:

• One bad day = loss of everything
• Fear of losing affects decisions
• No way to recover

The Solution

Bankroll management rules:

• Minimum 20 buy-ins for chosen limit
• Buy-in = 100 BB for cash games
• Lost 5 buy-ins - drop to lower limit
• Play with comfortable money

Example: for 50/100 table, you need minimum 200,000 bankroll.

Mistake #7: Bluffing for Bluff's Sake

The Problem

Beginners watch poker on TV and think bluffing is cool. They bluff:

• In inappropriate situations
• Against multiple opponents
• With hands that have showdown value
• Without "story" that explains the bet

Why this is bad:

• Bluff doesn't always work
• Many opponents don't fold
• You lose money on empty bets

The Solution

When to bluff:

• Against one opponent (not three)
• When board fits your range
• When you have "story" - consistent actions
• When you block opponent's strong hands

Bluff is a tool, not a goal. Beginners should bluff less.

Mistake #8: Slow Playing Monsters

The Problem

Beginners are afraid to scare opponents with strong hands. They check with flush flop or set, hoping to "trap" opponent.

Why this is bad:

• You give free cards
• Opponent can improve and beat you
• Pot stays small
• You don't get maximum value

The Solution

With strong hand - bet:

• Build pot with value hands
• Protect hand from draws
• Slowplay justified only on very dry boards
• Better to win small pot than lose big one

Mistake #9: Lack of Learning

The Problem

Beginners think poker is a simple game: don't analyze hands, don't study theory, and repeat the same mistakes.

The Solution

• Study poker combinations and mathematics
• Analyze difficult hands
• Observe opponents and adapt

Play Poker at Makao Online Casino

At Makao online casino, you can play poker with live dealers via HD streaming. These are real tables, professional dealers, and fair play - not slot machines .

Start with low limits, work on mistakes, and gradually improve your game. Every professional was once a beginner - the difference is they learned from their mistakes.

Conclusion

Mistakes are part of learning poker. It's important to recognize them and work on correction. Play fewer hands, consider position, control emotions, and manage bankroll. Over time, typical beginner mistakes will be in the past, and your game will reach a new level.

Information is for informational purposes only. Makao online casino is not responsible for game results. Poker is a gambling game, winning is not guaranteed.

Makao online casino: gambling games for persons over 18 years. Play responsibly.