There are many myths about poker which can cost you money. It is important that you understand these myths and do not depend on them. They appear to be logical, but are basically just superstition. Here are a few of them.
This time I have to get the cards I need on the Turn or River
It is important to understand that cards do not have a memory. If the odds are not there for you to make the call after the flop, then you can’t make the call. Maybe you have not gotten a Flush on the Turn the last 15 times you had four of the same suit, but that certainly does not mean your chances are any better the next time. Understand when it is profitable to make a call using pot or implied odds, and only make it when the call makes sense.
Changing sites will change your luck
As a poker player you are going to have long stretches of bad luck. I know, I am in one of those stretches right now and it is not fun. Changing sites is not going to help me come out of the slump though. The only two things that are going to get me back into the good graces of the Poker Gods are time and smart play. I know in the long run I will triumph, I just have to hang in there and avoid going on tilt until this slump ends.
Online Poker Sites are Rigged
A few years ago I may have agreed with this. When I first started tracking statistics with my poker software I was pretty sure a few of the sites were rigged. They seemed to give new players an advantage to get them hooked on playing at their site. I also noticed too many Aces were being dealt. When I confronted the sites, they did not deny the allegations but said they were always improving the programs. They also threatened possible legal action if I came out with the information. Today, I am convinced that all the sites I play on are truly random. I have been unable to find any evidence to the contrary. Pressure from players and regulation seem to have convinced the sites that players want to be assured of fair play. I have been called a losing “kook” for talking about this in the past, but I can assure you of two things:
- I have won a lot of money playing poker;
- I am not saying this to smear anyone’s site. I am simply giving you some assurance that someone has tracked this information and that there does not seem to be a problem with this at the present time.
I always lose with Pocket Aces (Kings, Queens) in Hold’Em
This may be the biggest myth of all. Bad play leads to losses with Pocket Aces, not bad luck. You cannot limp into a pot with Aces and allow six other players to call the blind. If you are in the pot with a lot of players, Aces will rarely win. Think about it this way; how many times are six players in the pot and top pair wins? Very rarely. Aces are very powerful against one or two opponents, but they are certainly not unbeatable. The same goes for Kings and Queens. You have to get players out of the pot if you hope to win on a regular basis.
It is important to always play your game. You cannot change the way the cards are being dealt or force your luck to change. You cannot let yourself go on tilt or you will lose very quickly. Have fun and make sure you understand the fundamentals of the game. These fundamentals will allow you to always make the correct decisions.
