Common Mistakes
Pro Poker Tips - Phil Gordon
Everyone makes mistakes. The thing is,
a good player will learn from them while a bad player will make the
same mistake over and over again. And poker players that can exploit
these mistakes will win.
Here are some of the most common mistakes that bad players make and my
usual methods for exploiting them:
A player doesn't bluff enough. When these players bet or raise, I
usually give them credit for a good hand. When they check, I will
usually bet to try and take the pot.
A player overvalues top pair. The "average" winning hand in Hold 'em
is two pair. Yet many players are willing to take tremendous risks
with top pair. When I have a hand that can beat a player who
overvalues his top pair, I will over-bet the pot and put them into a
position to make a big mistake. I go out of my way to play small
pocket pairs against these players because I know that if I flop a
set, I'm likely to get paid off in a huge way.
A player under-bets the pot. It is incredibly important, especially in
No Limit Hold 'em, to make bets large enough to punish opponents for
their draws. When a player under-bets the pot and I have a draw, I
take advantage of their mistake by just calling the small bet. When I
think I have him beat, I'll make a raise.
A player calls too much. I will very rarely bluff against a "calling
station." I will, however, make value bets throughout the hand.
A player tightens up under pressure. Most bad players "squeeze" too
much in the middle stages of a tournament, or when they're on the
bubble. They tighten up and wait for a huge hand. Against these
players, I will play a lot looser, looking to steal a larger share of
the blinds and antes.
A player telegraphs the strength of his hand with "tells." I am always
observing these players, whether I am in the hand or not.
Playing perfect poker may be nearly impossible for most players but,
by recognizing your own tendencies - and those of your opponents -
you're much more likely to limit your mistakes and capitalize on the
weaknesses of others at the table.
This lesson is from Phil Gordon's Little Green Book of No Limit
Hold'em Simon Spotlight Entertainment, Sept 2005.
Phil Gordon
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