If you find yourself constantly losing when playing poker online, you must ask yourself: why? What am I doing wrong? New players, and even veteran poker pros, sometimes make mistakes that will take down even the most experienced player.
But what can you do about it? How can you avoid repeating the same mistakes over and over again? Well, awareness is the first step toward solving any issue that might come up. Now is your chance to find out why poker players tend to lose, and hopefully - you will be able to avoid the same mistakes.
Who Do Poker Players Lose?
According to Daniel Negreanu, there are 5 reasons why players keep losing at the tables:
- Bad luck – Although there is nothing you can do about it, sometimes you simply have bad luck, and you have to ride it out. But statistically, bad luck can't last too long, and if you've been losing consistently even after playing hundreds of hands – you can no longer blame luck for all your problems. That's when you must take a minute to figure out who is really to blame.
- Predictability – When playing poker online, you must be able to change tactics from time to time, so as not be become too predictable. If you allow your opponents to figure out your gambling patterns, they will be able to exploit them in their favor. If you bluff too often or fold on the flop regularly, you have to be able to switch strategies to keep your opponents on their toes.
- Strong competition – You might be a good poker player, but there are bound to be even better ones out there. If you always play poker with the biggest sharks in the industry, you are bound to lose. You have to be self-aware of your own abilities and play against players of the same caliber.
- Poor technique – There is no way to get around it: to be a good player, you must have an in-depth understanding of the game. Learning all the rules, strategies, and tips can't be avoided. If you don't have a tight grasp on all the fundamentals, you won't be able to outsmart your opponents and win big.
- Tilting – If you are unable to remain calm and collected as you play, you might find yourself tilting at one point or another. And when you begin tilting, it is hard to stop the downhill spiral. You need to be able to quit the game before you let your frustration and anger control your actions if you want to avoid losing constantly.
But those are not the only reasons why you might find yourself hemorrhaging money at the tables. You might also find that the following three reasons are hindering your ability to win big:
- Overly aggressive playing style – Many newbies believe that playing aggressively will get them quick results. That playing many hands and going all-in will scare their opponents, leading to major wins. And while an aggressive playing style can sometimes lead to desirable results, it can also lead to your downfall if you practice this playing style too often, as you can't always be the toughest or smartest player out there. You need to know when to take a step back and adopt a more passive approach, waiting for the right moment to pounce again.
- Overconfidence – You might be the best player in your immediate circle of friends. But if you let this notion cloud your judgment – you are bound to become overconfident, thus making rash decisions at the table. Always make sure that you place bets for the right reasons and that you don't underestimate your opponents, or else you will find yourself losing more often than you might think.
- Lack of patience – Things won't always go your way at the tables. That's a fact. You need to be patient and remain calm at all times, even if you are having a hard time. Players who are unable to fold at the right moment and wait for the tide to turn are bound to hit a tilt.
Ready to Improve Your Winning Streaks?
Being aware of your shortcomings is the first step toward correcting them and removing all obstacles that prevent you from becoming a great player. Once you understand why you're losing, you can do everything in your power to stop the losing cycle and start placing bets without fear!