Five Common Mistakes to Avoid when you play an Offline Poker Tournament

Poker gained its popularity since the start of the 20th century. At the primitive stage, it was just for the recreational purpose, but soon it turned into a combination of strategy and skills. The fame of this game provided it a place in the virtual screen; now multiple professional and non-professional players participate in poker tournaments online. Poker games variants are formed based on the number of cards dealt with, the number of community cards, the number of hidden cards, and the betting actions.

The game advances when one or more players place a forced bet. Each player bets according to the rank their hand is worth in comparison to the rest of the players. The game is a strategic complex of probability, game theory and psychology. Many players commit the same mistakes:

Never play too many cards

Poker players are mostly into this common fault. In the first blind or forced levels, it is advised that the players should play tight and fold most of the hole cards. Initially, if one loses the right hand, then the player will lose the prize amount in the long term. Experienced players start with 15-20% of the starting hands, and simultaneously increase the frequency. Aces with low kickers or hands (king-jack) should be avoided. Initially, players are unable to lay down such a hand when they hit the flop with one of their hole cards. Usually, they run into a dominating opponent’s hand.

Never call three-bets against short-stacks

Often suited connectors profitably call three-bets with deep stacks. But if the size drops to 50 blinds, the player will have to lose a lot of the value. Consequently, the player needs to give additional to see a flop compared to the probable win. Consider the difference:

1- If the player has to call 5–6.5 bb to potentially win 100 bb. The player can win 16–20x the pre flop investment.

2- If the player is 50 bb deep, he has to call 5–6.5 bb to potentially win 50 bb. That is just 7.5–10x of the investment.

Never call three-bets against calling-stations

Three-bet bluffing with a suited connector against a player who doesn’t like to fold is ineffective. If there is a little scope that the opponent will fold, the player may lose a significant incentive to three-bet the hand. Some players will call three-bets with way more hands that dominate. Hands like A-6 suited, K-7 suited, and J-8 suited, dominate the 6-5 suited and 8-7 suited.

Avoid three-betting against stacks of 60 big blinds or shallower

If the pre flop raiser has fewer than 60 big blinds in the stack, the player should not opt for three-bet suited connectors, especially lower ones like 6-5 suited or 7-6 suited.

When deep stacked suited connectors work big as three-bet bluffs, as because they have great play ability skills, however against short stacks, the stack-to-pot ratio gives lesser scope to trick post-flop and decreases the implied odds — thus making them less efficient and hardly profitable three-bet bluffs.

Consider in case of four-bet suited connectors

Three things should be considered in case of four-bet suited connectors

a) Blocker outcome

b) Post flop play-ability

c) Unstated odds

Hand’s blocker effect is the most significant of these three. The ranges concerned in four-bet situations are very tight and being capable of ruling out a few tough hands from the opponent’s range is of a noteworthy variation.

Suited connectors permanently hold adverse blocking effects. They block hands from the opponents’ three-bet such as A-5 suited or A-6 suited and didn’t block any tough hands that will persist.

Proper strategy is to be designed to be a master in this game. Concentration in the game and on the activities of your opponent can help you achieve the desired outcome.