What are the Common Poker mistakes?

David Sklansky wrote a very useful essay on how all mistakes in poker could be categorised into a list of eight common poker mistakes. In this post I’ll be discussing the mistakes and they will hopefully help you improve your poker game.

 1.Checking when you should bet.

This is one of the common poker mistakes made by players who play a more passive type of game. This allows your opponents to see a free card and potentially outdraw you. By betting here you also have a good chance of taking down the pot straight away.

2. Betting when you should check.

This poker mistake is a bit rarer than the previous one. It is made when you make a bet but will be put in a difficult situation when faced with a re-raise. It requires you to think a couple of steps ahead and will help you from avoid being pot committed in marginal situations.

3. Calling when you should fold.

This is one of the most common poker mistakes made by beginners – especially when they’re chasing a hand but have been priced out of the pot. Avoiding this poker mistake can really improve your chances of survival and success in Poker.

4. Calling when you should Raise.

A poker mistake that every type of player is capable of making. This is particularly evident pre-flop where raising instead of calling will allow you to potentially take down the pot without before the flop comes down.

5. Folding when you should call.

Sometimes overly cautious players tend to fold more often than they should. A better understand of the maths behind poker and odds will help you to understand where your getting the scenario to call profitably.

6. Folding when you should raise.

This does not happen very often, but essentially involves bluffing one last time in the hope that your opponent will fold.

7. Raising when you should call.

This poker mistake is done by the more aggressive players out there. Raising instead of calling reduces the potential amount of chips that you can earn by scaring your opponents off too quickly. Thereby not extracting as much value from the hand as you may have.

8. Raising when you should fold

This mistake is more related to expert players where calling is not an option and all they can do is either raise or fold.

Final thoughts on poker mistakes

Poker is quite a complex game and there are many different mistakes that a player can make, I hope this article has helped you understand the basic poker mistakes that can be made. Let me know your thoughts if there is anything you think I missed out or should add.