Poker players are creatures of habit. The best poker players are the ones who do the right things in preparation for the game they are about to play as well as when they are actually on the tables.
Having bad habits as an online poker player means having holes.
When you have these holes in your game you will be exploited. In this article, we will reveal some bad poker habits that are costing you wins and money at the poker room.
Bad habits to avoid while playing poker online
Looking to the right before you fold
You don’t want to expose your intentions by displaying any bodily reaction to your cards until everyone who has yet to act has done so.
When you neglect to glance to the right to figure out when it is your turn to fold, you are handing your opponent’s free information – not only about your poor hand, but about future strong hands.
Counting chips like you are going to bet
This is a rookie mistake and a bad habit when playing online poker. Getting ready to put in a bet when you have a good hand by getting the chips ready early.
There is no need to do this. You can and should delay the quick action of the game by waiting until it is your turn to act before you count out any chips you’re going to use to call or raise a bet.
Playing strong flops slowly
Beginner and intermediate players at online poker frequently do this unconsciously. They attempt to appear “smart” by playing their really powerful hands slowly.
When they hit a set on the flip, for example, they refuse to show their hand’s power by checking or calling a wager.
Slow play is one of the bad poker habits to develop for poker players because, most of the time, the better course of action is to be assertive.
The environment, not your playing habits, should determine whether you are aggressive or passive. Turn off the autopilot and consider the most lucrative course of play for each circumstance.
Talking when you hit your hand
When you strike powerful hands, there is frequently a significant inward release of energy. One of the most common manifestations of that energy release is to begin chatting.
Many players, novice, intermediate, and senior alike, can’t seem to stop themselves from engaging in fun banter when they’re feeling very confident about their prospects of winning.
Stop this leak by resisting the impulse to speak while you’re feeling very powerful.
Playing Too Much Without Taking Breaks
Playing poker online is extremely addicting and engrossing. It’s easy to become engrossed in the game and lose sight of everything else around you. If you have such a tendency, attempt to break it as soon as possible.
Unlike some of the other terrible poker habits on our list, this one is rather easy to break.
All you need to do is establish a schedule in which you take a break and eat or drink something every hour or two. Take a five to ten minute break. Just move about and clear your head so you can return to the table with complete concentration.
Glancing at chips on a strong flop
Many players instinctively gaze down at their chips after hitting a good hand on the flop. It is a classic tell that has netted intelligent players millions of dollars.
Avoid this tell by intentionally avoiding this eye movement after staring at the flip, whether it helps or hurts your hand.
Prematurely getting ready to fold
Several players develop the practice of raising their cards in preparation for folding before their turn to act.
While you don’t want to put off action excessively, because folding takes only a microsecond, there is no need for preparation. Early indication that you are ready to fold communicates weakness to players who have not yet acted. It is a bad habit.
While this may not matter to you in that particular hand (after all, you’re folding), it may come back to haunt you in future hands when your refusal to act in this manner may prevent players with marginal hands from joining the pot. Because you are not going to fold, they may conclude that you are powerful and fold themselves, losing you of their money..
Drinking alcohol
Drinking impairs your capacity to think clearly. Drinking on a regular basis is one of those bad habits that is really damaging to your game. Yes, a beer or glass of wine every now and again is fine but remember that drinking excessively reduces your chance to win.
Playing interactive games at the table
Sometimes, you notice many players focusing on interactive games on their tablet rather than the activity at the table.
They do it all the time. While poker may get tedious, especially when poor or inexperienced players take forever to act, having an appealing diversion that keeps your mind off the game can only be detrimental.
Overly focused on the Poker game without occasional stops
Have a static activity like a crossword puzzle or a book (on your iPad or phone if you wish) that won’t stop while you’re at the poker game. Any other continuing activity that will continuously lure you away from the poker game — because you can’t resist the impulse to keep up with the action of the other game — is detrimental to competent play.
Resting on elbows and slouching
These and other poker table movement and posture behaviors can be exceedingly taxing and even harmful over time. At the absolute least, slumping down on your elbows and compressing your head and neck into your shoulders will deplete energy and cut short what could otherwise be a lengthy and productive session.
Instead of engaging in these bad habits, intentionally raising your head and body and relaxing your shoulders is the way to go instead..
Smoking
Sure, I realize it’s an addiction, not simply a habit. Yet, I mention it here since it has a similar impact to habit. Players who would otherwise be engaged in the hand are regularly distracted at the tables by their need to smoke, and (of course) are frequently compelled to leave the poker game, poker room, and building that houses the poker game to satisfy that desire.
While taking regular, planned breaks from the behavior makes sense, doing so out of a smoking compulsion or addiction does not.
Playing in a Bad Mood
Poker is an enjoyable game that you should always treat as such. One of the primary reasons you may be losing money is because you are playing while you are in a poor mood. Fortunately, breaking this terrible behavior is rather straightforward.
Simply quit playing if you’re tired, in a poor mood, hungry, angry, or concerned by any factors that could influence your decisions.
If you feel like you’re pushing yourself to keep playing, it’s best to stop and store the money for when you’re in the correct frame of mind.
Playing Too Much Without Taking Breaks
Poker is extremely addicting and engrossing. It’s easy to become engrossed in the game and lose sight of everything else around you. If you have such a tendency, attempt to break it as soon as possible.
Unlike some of the other terrible habits on our list, this one is rather easy to break.
Playing without establishing a clear schedule
All you need to do is establish a schedule in which you take a break and eat or drink something every hour or two. Take a five to ten minute break. Just move about and clear your head so you can return to the table with complete concentration.
Talking when you hit your hand
When you strike powerful hands, there is frequently a significant inward release of energy. One of the most common manifestations of that energy release is to begin chatting. Many players, novice, intermediate, and senior alike, can’t seem to stop themselves from engaging in fun banter when they’re feeling very confident about their prospects of winning.
Stop this leak by resisting the impulse to speak while you’re feeling very powerful.
