Texas Holdem Poker takes a very short time to learn but a lifetime to master.

You can master poker a lot quicker when you avoid these common mistakes. These mistakes are not made by amateurs only. The experienced player gets caught doing these same silly things as well.

So avoid doing the following mistakes and you will find yourself winning a lot more!

Texas Holdem players who win on a consistent basis do not make the following mistakes:

1. Playing Too Conservatively
An always conservative player can usually last for a while at a table. But inevitably they will never win big. You must develop a knack of when to be aggressive, like raising big before the flop with AA, or when to play it slower like having 2,2 and simply checking prior to the flop. If youre always conservative and never willing to Go for it! youll never win consistently. Hence, thats why they call it gambling.

2. Not Mixing It Up
If someone tells me they love to fish 9 times out of 10 theyll be a very conservative player. They will wait all day for a good hand and when it comes theyll bet big and play aggressively. What happens? Everyone folds and they dont know why he can never win a big pot. Mix it up. Play conservative, play fast, raise before the flop, check/raise, etc. Mix it up more to be unpredictable and then no one can get a read on you.

3. Chasing Cards
If you dont have squat after the flop FOLD! I've seen it a million times. People chasing on the Turn or River hoping to catch trips, a flush or a straight. Guess what happens? NOTHING! They hit nothing and lose big. If you can resist the temptation to chase cards you will immediately become a better Hold Em player.

4. Playing Poor Starting Hands
This goes along with #3. Too many people want to play Q,7 os in hopes to hit a pair of Queens on the flop. Even if you did who cares?! Youll probably lose to KK or AA anyway. Commit yourself to playing only the best starting hands and watch your winnings soar!

5. Bluffing Half-Ass or Too Much
I love it when Im playing and some one tries to bluff me half-ass. I know they dont have anything so I raise all in and they are pot committed and I take all their chips. Bluff big or go home. The same is true when a player bluffs too much. Once you have a great hand theyre toast. Strategically bluff to fit your style and youll be good to go.

6. Playing on Tilt
After a Bad Beat you would be better served to fold your next hand regardless of what comes up. Why? Because you are not in the right frame of mind. Youre still pissed and not thinking strategically. Know youre on tilt and back off.

7. Folding Instead of Checking
Believe it or not, soooo many people fold hands when they can check. Not sure why but NEVER fold when you can check. Common sense right?

8. Impatient
This is the one area that I need the most improvement on. When I lose in poker it is because of this mistake right here...impatience! When I focus on patience and play with a patient attitude I win like crazy. But when the cards arent coming my way and I lose focus and start betting stupid hands. Thats when I get it handed to me. Dont do this. Be patient and live to play another day.

9. Trying to Get Back to Even
If youre on a losing streak (Yes, we all have them.) STOP playing. Take a break, leave the room, turn off your computer, do whatever you can to stop playing. Trying to get back to even is the quickest way to pulling a Clark Griswold in Vegas Vacation. Dont do it.

10. Not Seeing All The Potential Beats
Youre dealt 10,10. The flop comes and hits A, Q, 10. Youre happier than a pig in slop cause you just hit Trips and you bet huge. What you fail to realize is, there is a straight out there that can whoop your ass. When you dont see it and your opponent has the Nuts guess what? You cant win, you cant bluff, you cant do anything except lose. This happens a lot. Pay attention and see everything thats out there. Flushes, Straights, Higher Trips, Higher Pairs, etc. Recognize that and youll be a much better player.

Until next time,

PD Laughlin from
www.win-at-holdem.com