5 Common Mistakes Poker Beginners Make

Posted on by Julie Daniels

Poker is a game of skill, psychology, and decision-making. But like learning any new skill, beginners Master Poker Indoesia often fall into predictable traps that can cost them chips—or entire bankrolls. The good news? Most of these mistakes are easy to fix once you recognize them.

Here are five of the most common mistakes poker beginners make and how to avoid them.

1. Playing Too Many Hands

One of the biggest leaks in a beginner’s game is playing too many hands preflop.

Why it’s a problem:

  • Weak hands often lead to difficult post-flop decisions

  • You lose more often and faster with marginal cards

  • You give the impression that you’re easy to read or bluff

What to do instead:

  • Learn starting hand ranges for your position at the table

  • Be more selective and play tighter, especially from early positions

  • Use a chart or guide when starting out to develop discipline

2. Ignoring Position

Many beginners don’t understand the power of position in poker.

Why it matters:

  • Acting later in a hand gives you more information

  • You can control the size of the pot more effectively

  • It helps you make better decisions with marginal hands

What to do instead:

  • Play more hands from late position (like the button or cutoff)

  • Avoid speculative hands from early position until you’re more experienced

  • Pay attention to who’s left to act and how they’ve been playing

3. Chasing Every Draw

Draws can be exciting—who doesn’t love hitting that flush or straight on the river? But chasing draws without the right odds is a major leak.

Why it’s a mistake:

  • You’re calling bets without enough equity to justify it

  • It leads to long-term losses if you’re not calculating pot odds

  • You’re often putting in money while behind in the hand

What to do instead:

  • Learn basic pot odds and implied odds

  • Only chase draws when the math supports it or your opponent shows weakness

  • Fold more often when the odds don’t justify continuing

4. Not Managing Their Bankroll

Many new players deposit money and jump into games beyond their skill or budget.

Why it’s risky:

  • You can go broke quickly from just a few bad beats

  • Playing scared or emotionally due to money concerns affects decision-making

  • There’s no room to improve if you’re constantly reloading

What to do instead:

  • Follow bankroll management rules (e.g., never risk more than 5% of your bankroll in one game)

  • Start at low stakes and move up only when you’re consistently winning

  • Treat poker like a marathon, not a sprint

5. Letting Emotions Control Decisions

Tilt—playing poorly due to emotion—is the downfall of many beginners.

Why it happens:

  • You lose a big hand and try to win it back immediately

  • You take bad beats personally

  • You start making irrational decisions, like bluffing out of frustration

What to do instead:

  • Take breaks when you feel upset or impatient

  • Understand that variance is part of the game

  • Focus on making good decisions, not short-term results