Since we, unfortunately, are not born perfect, flawless and all-knowing, we are bound to make a lot of mistakes each and every time we try something new. We go through a learning curve where we identify the errors we commit and try to correct these to the best of our abilities.

This is also true for online poker. In this article, I will point out four common and costly beginner errors.

1) Playing too many starting hands

This is probably the most common, and one of the most costly, mistakes a new poker player makes. Most new players are so eager to just play that they fail to realize the value of sound starting hand selection. There are certain hands that should rarely be played and there are loads of hands that should never be played. Good starting hand selection is the foundation of solid play.

2) Betting too small

Another common mistake is betting too small. It is not at all uncommon to see people making tiny bets, even in large pots. This is almost always wrong. When you bet too little, people will not fold the times you bluff, and will have good odds to outdraw you when you have a good hand. A good rule of thumb is to always bet ½ - ¾ of the pot size.

3) Slowplaying too much

The rush of flopping a great hand, like three of a kind or a straight, is exhilarating. So exhilarating that many new players forget to bet their great hands! When you flop a great hand, the best way to get paid usually is to just bet it. Sure, there will be these annoying times when everybody folds, but those will be outweighed by the times when someone calls (or even raises!) your bet. By betting your great hands you give yourself the chance to win a huge pot instead of just picking up a small one.

4) Calling too much

The fourth mistake is calling too much. Beginners tend to never let go of a straight draw or a flush draw, regardless of the cost. The curiosity of seeing the other players hand is overwhelming on the river, so many beginners call in spots where all logic screams that they are beat, just ”to see their hand”. Calling too much is a very costly mistake. The next time you just feel that urge to call on the river just to see the other players’ hand – think it over once again and think of the money you will save by just folding.

Written by Andris Kangeris for 24hPoker.com