Top 5 reasons you are losing at poker

freerolls    Poker Strategy    

Have you been wondering why you are on a losing streak in your poker game? Chances are it is one of five reasons that your game is a bit off. Have no fear; every poker player has experienced at least one of these problems, if not all of them.

The top 5 reasons you are losing at poker are:

5. You are just unlucky… right now
Everyone goes through this streak but the good news is that this will eventually change. If you continue to play a solid game of poker this reason will go away, so just ride it out and wait for your luck to change. Always look long term and stick with your game.

4. You may be lacking the fundamentals of poker.
Playing only premium hands will only get you so far in any poker game. In general, if this is your style you will likely be blinded out in tournament play. That is the reason that you will need to understand the fundamentals of poker. Fundamentals including reading your opponents, playing position, implied odds, and poker math to name a few. Do your homework here and success will come much easier.

3. Your opponents can read you like a book.
You are way too predictable in your play. If you play against the same people day after day or week after week then odds are that these people know exactly how you play. It is time to mix it up a bit and change your play style. Do you slow play big pocket pairs? Do you protect your big blind with any hand? Are you always raising 3x the blinds on the button? All of those ‘tells’ can lead to a losing poker game. Mix it up!

2. Is the game too rich for your blood?
Are you playing a game that is within your comfort zone? If you play at a ring table and only have enough cash for one buy in then you probably can’t focus on getting the best value from your hands. Playing scared and being successful cannot be done at the same time. Don’t let your ego or pride determine your play level. It is best to play at a level where you have no less than 30 big buy ins in your bankroll.

1. You have let your emotions control your game.

This lovely event is commonly referred to as being on Tilt. And it has happened to most likely everyone who has played poker. Any time you take a bad beat it can affect your ability to play a solid game. When this happens, take a break from your game, even for a minute. Get up and walk around or stretch. The most important thing is to acknowledge that bad beats will always be in poker. Even though poker is a game of skill there is always a bit of luck involved also. Never focus on one session but how your overall play is. Track several hundred hands and see how you react to bad beats. Remember bad beats happen at every poker table, whether in Vegas, online or in your home!