It does not matter how good of a player you are, there will always be instances when you will not play poker to your best abilities. One major, but often overlooked, aspect of playing poker is the player’s state of mind. Hence it is important for players to know when it is not ideal to play poker. This is why you would often find amateurs winning against professional players.
Knowing which state of mind is not good for your poker game will save you a lot of money. In this guide, we are going to look at circumstances when you should not play poker.
1. When You’re Drunk
We all know that alcohol affects our central nervous system and affects our mental ability to make sound decisions. Since playing poker requires you to make sound decisions as much as possible, it is not a good idea to play whilst you’re drunk.
2. When You Have Been Losing for a Long Time
If you’ve had a streak of bad luck, you should avoid playing further. Trying to win your money back at the risk of losing all you have left is a terrible idea. Losing for a long time might mean that you are making bad decisions during the game. It is also often impossible to identify your mistakes whilst your head is still in the game.
3. When You are Angry
When something in the game or in your personal life has made you angry, you should not play poker. Anger could distract you and could make you unable to focus. You might even end up taking it out on other players or the dealer. So, stay away from poker when you are angry.
4. When You are Tired
Some poker players will continue playing even if they are clearly exhausted. If you have been playing for a while and find that you no longer have the energy you had when you started. It might be a sign that you need a break.
5. When You are Broke
Having access to borrow money should not mean that you should always borrow money to play. Hence, you should not play poker when you are broke. You don’t want to put yourself deep in gambling debts just to stay in the game.
6. When You are in a Hurry
Have you encountered a poker player who calls the clock often? You don’t want to be that player. This is in fact, bad poker etiquette. You should avoid playing poker at a time when you will be in a hurry to rush somewhere else.
If you have things to do, avoid squeezing a game of poker in between. This could even lead to you postponing your other responsibilities to continue playing.
When Not to Play Poker – Our Final Thoughts
These tips apply to both online poker and poker played at land-based casinos. Although some of them might sound obvious, you’d be surprised at how many times some good players overlook them and end up losing unnecessarily. What usually separates great players from other players is that great players know when they should not play poker.
John Ford has been writing online gambling content for over 18 years. Born and raised in the heart of the Short Pump, Virginia, John’s journey through the casino industry began on the casino floor itself. He started as a dealer in various games, including blackjack, poker, and baccarat, cultivating an understanding that only hands-on experience can provide. John’s passion for writing casino guides stems from his casino experience and his passion for helping fellow punters. His articles are more than reviews; they are narratives that guide both novices and seasoned players through the labyrinth of online casinos.
