Why we lose at poker

Poker is fun. That’s why we’re here, playing, reading about it and, if my case is anything to go by, often thinking about it when neither playing nor reading. In a good way, of course. But it’s also about money. That’s why we’re here, playing, reading about it and, if a hobby (passion) is going to be financially justified, endeavouring to do the best we can. Whether you’re looking to make a bit of money to pay for the occasional luxury or you simply prefer the thrills and spills of poker compared with less exhilarating pastimes, NOT LOSING money is as important as winning. There are many more factors that contribute to losing than to winning, so this week let’s touch on 10 reasons why we lose.

The funny thing is they’re all rather obvious and most of us are well aware of them, yet we continue to waste money anyway. Here’s five to get us started:

1. Don’t Panic!!!

Note the three exclamation marks. This is serious business, isn’t it? Actually – it isn’t. Of course we can approach our poker quest seriously but this doesn’t mean that the adventure shouldn’t be fun. If losing or (worse) the prospect of losing puts you in the wrong psychological state, then you’re going about the whole game with the wrong mindset. Drop down levels, play cheap Sit & Go or multi-player tournaments for the fun element if you usually play cash, have a go at low limit cash if you only ever play tournaments – do whatever necessary to alleviate the self-inflicted pressure and in turn up the fun factor. Get back to what attracted you to online poker in the first place and you’ll soon see improvements in your game.

2. Sit Down to Play At Your Convenience

With ‘1’ in mind, don’t sit down to play unless your (relaxed) mind is 100% ready to focus on the challenge of the game. If you’re tired, have been drinking or your thoughts are elsewhere you are guaranteed to make mistakes. Get work or house-related tasks, for example, out of the way before playing, rather than the other way round.  The beauty of online poker at 32Red is that there is always going to be action on cash tables and in tournaments, 24 hours, every day of the year, so for maximum enjoyment and optimum playing conditions make sure you play at the best times for you.

3. Stop at Your Convenience

With ‘2’ in mind, knowing when to stop is just as important as knowing when to start. If you’re losing big, stop. Simple as that. Even Robocop had emotions, so why chase losses when the negatives of the current session are eating away at you and cramping your style? Remember that even if you think you are in total control because you’re constantly reminding yourself not to go on tilt, and it seems to be working (with a fantastic recovery being the grand plan), that very process of consciously striving to stabilise your emotions unnecessarily expends energy and concentration that you can’t afford to waste. The same goes if you’ve just enjoyed a big win – there’s nothing wrong in ending the session if you feel maintaining your current profit is hampering your play.

4. Observe Your Opponents

This seems like a no-brainer, but a bad habit that afflicts most players is falling into a routine of trudging along by taking an interest only in your own cards and the board, and perhaps a little attention going on the action itself, yet with no effort whatsoever in observing who is doing what, when, why and with what success or lack thereof. Extracting information and using it to your advantage is imperative, so watch as much as you can regardless of whether you’re involved in a hand. Feeling your game improve as a result of understanding others is one of the joys of poker.

5. Don’t Be Predictable!

Just as you should be closely watching the opposition, remember that the opposition is watching you. Avoid at all costs being predictable. Mix up your play a little – don’t play aces and other big hands the same way every time, for example. Don’t approach specific situations uniformly; if you’re being tight pre-flop, throw in the occasional (re)raise with hands like 78s; if you’ve been loose, slow down and switch to premium hands – your opponents will still think you’re loose.

Good luck at the tables!

Angus Dunnington (AngusD at 32Red Poker)

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