A couple of basic errors

I'm pretty bored at work, so I thought I'd write a couple of small paragraphs covering (hopefully) a few mistakes people often make. As usual, comments and criticism welcome.

Mistiming Bluffs
Incorrect line of thought: 'There's a lot of money in that pot - I'm gonna bluff at it.' The fact that there is a lot of money in the pot means that people are more likely to have a good hand. I'm not saying don't bluff at it, but you must be clever when choosing when to bluff. Good bluffing situations:

When you are against fewer opponents (ideally 1)

When a 4th suited card appears on turn/river and you dont think your opponent has a fifth.

When you are in late position and everyone has passed to you (Warning: people may realise you are using your position and go over the top)

Wasting Chips (in tournament play)
If you have a big stack, people usually try to bully the smaller stacks by putting them all-in, thus creating a big decision as to whether or not they want to gamble. This is a good tactic, but must not be over-used. Wanton bullying will lead to you losing your chip lead by frittering away chips.

Conversely, if you have a short stack and the blinds are eating you alive, don't bother with plays and fancy moves - find a semi-decent hand and move all-in, with a chance to double up. Don't let yourself get to the point where, even if you double up, you're still in deep trouble. Exception: If you're in bubble time and would get into the money by lasting out.

Need to know opponent's cards
This is the natural desire we have to know what our opponents cards are. It leads to silly calls when we are pretty sure we have the worst hand, and is the cause of the disappointed 'Yeah... thought so' headshake that people do after someone shows them a better hand. If you think you're beat, why call that extra bet? Obviously, if there's a lot of money already in the pot then you need to be pretty confident that he has you beat before folding.

Thanks for putting up with my ramblings, you are free to go.
Scotia

__________________
Staying alive is the key to survival

Very good advice here. If I had listened to this advice last night I probably would have won a tourney I was playing. I was in a 27 man $5.50 SNG and caught some really great cards early on. I caught pocket aces 3 times and pocket kings once in the first 30 hands or so. My kings actually go busted by an ace rag but I laid it down without much chip loss. At any rate, besides getting good cards, I was playing very well. I was knocking people out of the tournament and laying down good hands when I knew I was beat to protect my chip stack and making the right decisions almost every hand. As a result I was in a great chip position, one other guy (at another table) and I were changing the chip lead back and forth with 2k easily between us and the third place person. We were down to about 16 people and everyone fold to me on the button with A5 so I raised it about 3 times the BB and the BB called me. The flop came down A with a couple of low cards. The BB checked to me so I bet out a hefty bet and got called. The turn was another low card and again I was checked to and I bet out heavy again and got called again. At this point I figure the BB has an ace but is worried about his kicker. The river is a king and again I get checked to. At this point there is about 6k in the pot and I'm down to 4k in chips and if I lose this hand this is going to drop me to 5th or 6th place. So instead of checking I decide to take one more stab at the pot and toss out a 2k bet. I get called and my A5 is up against A9 and I lose and suddenly I'm in 14th out 16 people. I went out of the tourney in 15th place when I had a commanding lead throughout most of the tourney. I got overconfident and overaggressive and risked too many of my chips on a very marginal hand. Don't waste your chips, especially when you have a chip lead. You have to protect your stack.

How bout playing too many hands? That is the biggest chip waster of all, I think ive finally smack myself out of, oh ace-X I'll play it, or 9-7 suited, Oh i read something about suited connectors... Play less hands, and I can gaurantee your Bankroll will go up, unless of course your playing short handed, but that is a whole different story!