Plugging Leaks

 Originally posted on August 30, 2011 at OnTiltRadio.com

Constantly plugging leaks in your game can build your confidence, and of course your bankroll. There are 3 basic leaks that MTT & SNG Players have and need to focus on in order to succeed and increase their ROI (return on investment).

A lot of these problems will not be easy to overcome, but having a good understanding of them is the right way to go in eliminating these types of mistakes. It will be up to you to decipher which part of your game has the biggest leaks and try to plug them one at a time. 

 Now, let’s get down to the 3 basic leaks.

Leak #1 — TILT (The Devil)

Usually translates into playing too many hands, too aggressively, or just making poor decisions. I strongly believe the best way to control going on tilt is having an understanding of the short term luck factor in poker. Even the best payers in the world expect to have a bad streak every now and then.

Leak #2 — Weak Basic Strategy

A lot of things other than the hand you are holding need to be considered, such as your table image, your position, and also how tight or loose your opponents are playing. If your having a hard time in certain spots then your basic strategy probably needs work. When you don’t understand the correct line to take on a particular hand, then you can’t expect to be successful.

Leak #3 — Bad Judgement

Developing good judgment skills will require lots of experience, seeing lots of hands, along with always thinking about the game and trying to improve. Being able to talk things over with someone whose game you respect and trust, is also very important. It can take along time to develop this skill at a high level and practice is the only solution to not making bad decisions.

Mike Owens
CheckRaze.com