Poker, while one of the most entertaining and most rewarding card and casino games on the planet, can often be extremely complex. It’s never an easy game to excel at without practice – and you’re going nowhere if you start playing without some knowledge of the different hands that come into play! With that in mind, there are always going to be a few bad poker habits you are going to want to avoid.

Even some of the most experienced and talented poker players end up falling into the same habits time and time again. Before you head to an NJ online casino and start playing the game for real, it’s a really good idea to read up on what might happen if you don’t pay attention. Let’s take a look at some of the more common issues poker players face when playing all kinds of hands.

Talking on the hit

One of the biggest ‘no nos’ of poker is, of course, giving the game away. Poker is just as much about keeping your game face hidden and keeping your hand of cards private. When you talk or exclaim on hitting, you may give away that you are more enthusiastic about your cards than people expect. That’s going to suggest to others that you have a strong play in your favor. So – keep quiet wherever possible.

Losing focus

While you can – occasionally – let concentration lapse when playing less intensive table games, poker is always going to demand your full attention. It’s not a game you can win when you’re on autopilot – that goes even for when you have a few years of play under your belt. Make sure to sharpen and hone your focus – in the game, you are the game – and don’t let anything else distract you.

Being a perfectionist

You’ll win some, and you’ll lose some. Variance is rife in poker, and what’s more, there is never going to be a period of time where it’s perfect for you to ‘get out’ or ‘get back in.’ It’s important to accept the unexpected and to know your limits far ahead of time. It’s very easy to try and set yourself a specific time that you’ll know you want to get away from the table – however, you really don’t always have that kind of control over a game like this.

Betting emotionally

Letting emotions into poker really isn’t a good idea. When you bet emotionally, you’re potentially left making poor decisions about pragmatic moments in the game. Therefore, try to leave any feelings of wanting to chase the next big win as far behind as you can. Otherwise, you’re going to end up falling through all kinds of trapdoors, and that’s not going to end well. Set yourself limits, plan your game loosely, and be prepared to make concessions. Perfection isn’t possible in poker, and when you go into the game emotionally, you’re bound to lose – you can trust us on this!