As a matter of fact, really good poker players need to be versed in quite a few skills ranging including being mathematically inclined, able to read other people such as interpret their emotions or body language, all in a split second to help them determine their next move – fold or raise. New players may try and bluff all the time and when you’re playing with a new group of players you may get away with this at first but sooner or later people will call your bluff and you’ll lose the game.

You need to strategise your position and bluffing too often or calling a lot will usually lead to you losing your cash quickly. One thing you also need to be is observant. Don’t play every hand, rather sit some hands out and observe your opponents to try and decipher their strategy. For example, even professional players have favourite hands but won’t always play them to avoid being too predictable.

Be observant, study the game, learn what skills are necessary and bet only what you can afford whilst sitting some games out and you’ll make good progress quickly.

It’s not really the fault of the newbie poker player as they don’t realise that there are expert gamblers preying on the inexperienced. So, to all new players, here are some common poker mistakes to avoid:

1) Playing every hand – There is often this sense of urgency that beginners need to play each hand and this should be avoided. Learn to recognise when it’s time to fold and if you are unsure, research how best to identify this aspect of poker

2) Avoid tilting – Tilting is when your emotions get the better of you and the ability to think strategically goes out the window. Stay focused and remain calm and pensive throughout.

3) Walking away – There will be times where you lose all your cash. You may be tempted to deposit more money in the hopes of regaining back any losses. That’s why it’s important to set a budget and stick to it and save your cash for another game, another day. This takes discipline but poker is more fun when you win and making too many poker mistakes will only discourage you and deplete your bankroll.