If you’ve ever played poker, you know that it can be a frustrating experience. You might lose one hand after another, no matter what you do. But then, as this article says, out of nowhere, you’ll win a hand and feel like a genius. So what separates the people who consistently win at poker from those who don’t? In today’s post, we will share some possible reasons why some people are successful at poker while most aren’t.
The Rake Is Simply Impossible to Beat
One of the most common complaints about poker is that “the rake is simply impossible to beat.” The rake is the percentage of each pot that goes to the house, typically around $0.50-$0.60 per $100 in the pot. So, if you’re playing a $100 buy-in tournament with a $100,000 guaranteed prize pool, the house will take $500-$600 from that prize pool as its rake. And that’s just one tournament. The truth is, the rake is a huge obstacle for anyone trying to make living playing poker.
A Lot of Variances Exist in Poker
Another reason some people win at poker, but most don’t, is that there is a lot of variance in the game. Variance is the swings that you experience in your bankroll. For example, you might still have losing sessions if you’re a winning player. Or, if you’re a losing player, you might have winning sessions. This is because, in the short-term, anything can happen. Simply put, there are two types of variance: positive and negative. Positive variance is when you’re running above average and winning more than expected. The negative variance is when you’re running below average and losing more than expected.
Their Strategy Is Not Consistent and Effective
There are two types of poker players: those who have a plan and those who don’t. If you want to win at poker, you need to have a consistent and effective strategy. Many people think they can just “wing it,” and they’ll be fine. But the reality is if your strategy is not consistent and effective, you will likely lose more money than you make.
They’re Overthinking Simple Pots
One of the biggest mistakes people make in poker is overthinking simple pots. Often, people will make a play that they think is genius, but it’s really just a bad play. Other times, they’ll fold their hand when they should have called or raised them. Overthinking simple pots is one of the quickest ways to lose money in poker. In fact, it’s often the difference between winning and losing players.
The takeaway is that if you want to win at poker, you need to have a solid strategy, be aware of the rake, and don’t overthink simple pots. While it’s true that variance exists in poker, you’ll likely find yourself on the winning side more often than not if you can avoid these mistakes.
