When you learn how to play poker, it is always useful to learn which strategies you should employ in different scenarios. But it is just as important to learn what NOT to do in order to reduce your chances of losing large sums of money.
The first thing you should strive to do is to stay away from strategies that can get you into trouble. We're talking about all the moves you've been dying to try as they look super effective, but in reality – they can cost you more than you've bargained for.
Learn which poker strategies can backfire in our Everygame poker guide, and make sure you make smart decisions at the table!
4 Poker Moves to Avoid
Beginner poker players often think the following strategies and moves can result in an easy win. But is that true? Let's find out.
- Bluffing – Every poker-themed movie in history has a dramatic bluffing scene that always has a positive outcome. That creates the illusion that this is a magical move you must master ASAP. And while bluffs can certainly be useful at times, most players don't use this strategy correctly, and they end up losing money.
Overconfidence and inexperience can lead players to bluff too often or try to deceive their opponents at the wrong moment, which (as you might have gathered already) is not good. The art of bluffing is a delicate skill you must hone and develop over time, so don't be too eager to bluff if you're not prepared to deal with the consequences. - Looking solely at the odds – There's an endless debate going on: is poker a game of luck or skill? Some people believe that poker is all about math, trying to rely only on statistics and odds to decide whether they should bet or not. And sure, there is certainly a technical element to poker you should learn all about before you start playing.
In fact, many players use odd tables to figure out when a hand is worth their effort. But at the end of the day, you can't eliminate the human side of the game. You can't forget that you're dealing with real people who don't necessarily follow the same rule book as you, and that might make the odds irrelevant. While math is important, there is no denying the fact that figuring out your opponent's psychological state is just as crucial. - Betting pre-flop – Sometimes, betting at the pre-flop stage might seem like a good way to assert dominance straight off the bat, supposedly scaring your opponents into submission. But in reality, this move is risky and doesn't always work.
Experienced players know that you can't determine the worth of your hand before the first community cards are revealed, so they won't fold. And if your hole cards aren't good enough, you might add a lot of money to the pot before realizing your chances of winning are non-existent. - Going all in – Showing your opponents that you're confident in the value of your hand might work from time to time, but it can also put your chip stack in serious jeopardy.
Sometimes, even if you are completely sure that you have a strong hand, there is still a chance your opponents might outshine you. If you get the wrong read on the situation and put all your money on the line at the wrong moment, you might find yourself out of the race sooner than you thought.
If you use these four techniques carefully and wait for the right moment to try and increase your wins, you might get the desired results with the help of these strategies!
In Conclusion
Some poker strategies might be popular, but they aren't as effective as you might think. Before you try to use any of the mentioned strategies to your advantage, make sure they won't backfire! You don't want that boomerang coming back to hit you in the face!