5 Common Bankroll Leaks
Having a leak in your bankroll is just like having a slow leak in your swimming pool. It’s seeping out leisurely enough that you don’t even notice it at first, but once you do, if you don’t patch it quickly, you’ll be out of water before you know it.
Plug those holes in your poker game and your bankroll will see exponential growth. The following is a detailed list of 5 common bankroll leaks, and how to put a virtual cork in them.
Common Bankroll Leaks: Chasing an Investment
How many times have you found yourself heavily invested in a poker pot only to determine you probably have a losing hand. Do you fold, or do you continue betting to protect your investment? Too many players do the latter, siphoning more chips into a pot they already know they can’t win, just because they can’t bare bear to give up on what they’re guaranteed to lose if they fold. Don’t be one of these players. When you know you’re beaten, take the loss and save your remaining stack for a better hand. This is the most obvious and preventable leak in your bankroll.
Common Bankroll Leaks: Being a Calling Station
A calling station is a player who calls way too many flops just to see if his hand hits before folding. Sure, it only costs a few chips to do this, but more often than not, those chips are sacrificed. If you’re playing too many hands, you’re not paying enough attention to your starting hand selection. The fact is, if you call with something like 9-Q suited at a full table, you’ll be lucky to hit second best hand, if not much farther down the line. Don’t waste so many chips just to see the flop. This slow, steady leak is one of the worst mistakes inexperienced poker players can make.
Common Bankroll Leaks: Drawing to Second Best Hand
Draw hands are pretty, but be careful what you’re drawing to. If there are three same-suits on the board and you’re drawing to a straight, odds are you’ve already lost. Any bets placed at this point are simply increasing the value for whoever hit the flush. Another good example is if you are drawing to the low end of a straight, while another player is obviously drawing the high end. If you hit, so does he. It’s a lose-lose situation.
Common Bankroll Leaks: Ignoring Pot Odds
When you ignore the pot odds, you are losing value at every turn. Whether it’s missing out on what could have been a bigger pot, or tossing too many chips into a losing pot, your pot odds will tell you exactly what risk is worth making. Pot odds apply especially to draw hands, where you aren’t sure if you should make the call or not. If you take the time to calculate the pot odds, you already know if you are making the right move to call, or should fold. It takes the intimidation and trepidation out of the game, giving you the confidence to make a call or fold without second guessing yourself.
Common Bankroll Leaks: Folding the River to a Single Bet
If you’ve made it all the way to the River, whether you have a great hand or not, there’s no reason you should fold to a single bet if the pot odds are good enough. Maybe you missed your draw, but have middle pair. If your opponent is not putting a ridiculous amount of chips in the pot, chances are he was on a draw as well and is merely bluffing to get you out. Use pot odds to evaluate the situation, but know that just one more bet may win you the pot, while a fold will guarantee its loss.
You may also want to read our article on bankroll tips or you can see our list of poker bonus codes for some of the best bonuses available.
