How to Save Your Poker Chips: Mistakes to Avoid
Do you find yourself buying and re-buying more poker chips? Something must be wrong with your game. You're not alone. Many players make the same mistakes. Save those poker chips by avoiding them.
Playing On with Too Many Starting Hands
By far the most common way to lose one's poker chips. When you find yourself playing over one-fourth of the total hands you are dealt, you are playing too loosely. You should fold more often. It takes effort and patience to fold, especially for a beginner who just wants to play. But if you play with just any hand you are dealt, you will lose lots and lots of poker chips in the long run. But if you play only the best hands, you will win most hands you are in even if you don't win all of them. Why is that? Most players aren't that patient; their hands will be inferior to yours and you will beat them.
Calling a Bet When You Know You're Beat
Your hand missed the flop, then the turn and the river. You bet on anyway because "I put so much money in the pot already." Well, guess what? You won't save that money by wagering even more poker chips! When you know you're beat, the smartest thing you can do is fold. This serves two purposes. First, it gives you time to get over your loss. Second, you can wait for a better hand. Again, when you're beat, you're beat. Don't push your luck. If you think you've lost, you probably have.
Calling a Bet Just Because You Can
Your hand is so-so. You call the big blind just to stay on. After the flop you get to check and then somebody raises. You have totally missed your hand. You call and call just to stay in the game. Why do this? Don't stay in the game just because you can. If you have no confidence in your hand, fold it away.
Chasing the Second Best Poker Hand on the Board
Why bet your chips on a lesser hand on the board? If you see a possible flush out there, why chase your ace-king two pair? Keep a close eye on the board and make sure you have a shot at the best hand. If it looks like somebody else does, better fold and save those poker chips.
Ignoring Pot Odds
Pot odds are the only math in poker you need to know. When the money at stake is worth more than the risk of losing, you should stay in the hand. What this means is if the odds of you missing your drawing hand is 3 to 1, then the pot must pay you at least 3 to 1 for the call or bet to be justified. Using pot odds does not change your chances of winning or losing the hand, but it will help you win more poker chips over the long haul.