There is far more to online poker than deciding which cards to play. This article is for people asking the question Why Do I Lose At Poker? The good news is that asking this question is the first step on the road to becoming a winning player! Below are 5 areas that every poker player should consider in their efforts to become a winning player.
Why Do I Lose At Poker? Tip #1: The Importance of Bankroll Management
Every online poker player experiences winning and losing sessions. What differentiates the long term winners is good bankroll management. The natural variance of poker play means that you are likely to hit 'downswings' of several buy-ins for the game you play. If you are playing with a large percentage of your bankroll in a single game then just one downswing could wipe out your entire bankroll.
Winning online poker players ensure that they only have a small percentage of their bankroll at risk in any one game. Good rules of thumb are 5% (1/20th) for cash games and 2% (1/50th for tournaments). To some this may seem overly conservative - but players who manage their poker bankroll well are statistically less likely to go broke!
Why Do I Lose At Poker? Tip #2: The Importance of Site and Table Selection
Not all online poker sites are equal in terms of the skill level of the opponents you will face. Some sites are the home of many internet poker professionals who each play many tables at once - meaning that you are likely to be playing against a high ratio of winning players compared to average or losing players. Read poker room reviews and ask questions on poker forums - no matter what your current skill level there is a right poker site for you out there somewhere.
Table selection is also an important aspect of explaining why people lose at poker. Winning players routinely take the time to select the tables with the weakest opponents, this in turn translates directly into poker profits. Before you sit at the first available table ask yourself whether waiting just 5 minutes might result in finding a more profitable spot.
Why Do I Lose At Poker? Tip #3: Psychological Factors
Losing poker players often exhibit some of the following characteristics:
- Playing when tired, unwell or even drunk.
- Tilting, either through anger or frustration.
- Playing while watching TV, Surfing the Net or chatting on IM.
- Playing too many tables, especially with different games simultaneously.
- Playing when you 'know you will lose'.
To become a winning poker player you need to be focused, disciplined and mentally fresh - after all winning online poker is all about making correct decisions. Next time you sit down to play when tired (for example) ask yourself whether you are in the best frame of mind to win. If the answer is no then find something else to do and come back to the poker tables fresh - your results will improve dramatically.
Why Do I Lose At Poker? Tip #4: Bonuses and Incentives
Many online poker rooms offer bonuses and incentives for their players. Winning players make sure that they optimise their share of these offers. Simple tips include signing up for more than one poker room to take advantage of more bonus offers and ensuring that your VIP club level is as high as possible. While bonuses will not make you a winning poker player on their own they go a long way to protecting you from downswings and building up your online poker bankroll.
Why Do I Lose At Poker? Tip #5: Never Stop Learning!
This is the single most important tip for anyone asking why they lose at poker. The online game is a dynamic environment - the amount of quality training material available means that the average skill level of opponents is increasing all the time. If you stop studying the game you are liable to be left behind very quickly indeed. Winning players look for 'leaks' in their own play as well as learning poker strategy. Make sure you dedicate some time to this area, you will see the results as your bankroll grows.
GL at the tables, Mark
