Poker is at its all-time high in popularity as millions of people are tuning in to the constant action of live poker tournaments. This undoubtedly has attracted hosts of new players that are open to making many mistakes and paying dearly for it. Although it takes long hours at the poker table to learn all the tricks of the trade, you should learn to avoid these common mistakes.

1.       Setting yourself up to lose by starting off in tough games. You may believe that you know it all, but experience is where the rubber meets the road in poker. In the beginning, it’s a good idea to play against opponents of comparable skill.

2.       Playing too many hands. When you’re starting off, you might be a tad overanxious in playing every hand that’s dealt to you. The result is that you’re bound to lose your shirt for not being selective. There’s plenty of information out about what hands are better and which you should play.

3.       Being Impatient. Lack of patience will always get you in the hot seat; playing poker involves long periods of boredom while you’re waiting for a good hand. Don’t fall into the trap of betting hands you know you should not be playing.

4.       Playing too many hours. Give your brain a rest, at some point it will crash on you and impede your ability to make sound decisions. Especially after 12 hours of sitting at the table playing poker. Your mind will play tricks on you after playing for to many hours, and you will often convince yourself that you are playing well.

5.       Believing that you’re going to fool everybody all the time by bluffing constantly. If you are seduced by this idea, most likely you are watching too much of Hollywood. Experienced poker players catch on to the habitual bluffer easily and exploit this weakness.

6.       Trying to impress other people by playing limits you can not afford. Why would you gamble away your rent and bankroll, when you know you can’t afford it? Nothing is more harmful to your confidence and future success. Stick to playing within a budget you can afford.

7.       Having an over-blown ego. The casinos and live tournament play is completely different, you may not be as good as you think you are. Be objective about your abilities and skill.

8.       Continuing to play even after you’ve lost your confidence and are on a heavy losing streak. Walk away, clear your mind, you’ll thank yourself for it.  A lack of confidence in your game will hinder any decision making ability.

Most common mistakes are made by overlooking simple things; by making a habit out of paying attention to detail, you’re guaranteed to become a solid player.