I've been a professional poker player for over 8 years and I still make some mistakes. I was thinking about this topic this morning and here is a list of the biggest mistakes I make, and I think a lot of Pro's are also guilty of making these mistakes:

• Playing To Much - It's just not healthy to play poker every single day, and put in long sessions. These longs sessions will take a toll on you body and well being. Life is about balance, I'd recommend playing about 4 days a week, and leave the other 3 days a week for non poker related activities and make sure to get some excercise.
• Over Confidence - Confidence is a natural part of being good at something and wanting to excel but I think many professionals including myself take this to far and think they can just outplay everyone. It's just not possible to "OutPlay" everyone, there are many players that you just have to show the best hand, no matter how skilfully you play, they will still call with any two or call all the way to the river with bottom pair, that gutshot draw, etc. The goal in these situations (like most) is to extract the most amount of money when you have a wining hand, and lose the least amount when you have a loser.
• Attitude- It's really easy to slip into a mindset of getting a bad attitude. I look around the poker room all the time and see some pro's that are just miserable. The scowls on their face, the dirtly looks they give to tourists who beat them and just their whole nasty demeanor and outlook on life in general. Poker can be a brutal way to make a living. It's not all champagne and caviar like Television makes it out to be, but it is super important to keep a positive attitude, treat the players with respect and keep the general mood of the game upbeat and positive. In the past I've been really good at this aspect of poker. I've even had tourists tell me,"I like playing with you, you make the game fun to play and don't get mad if you lose a hand. I've noticed myself slipping a little bit in my attitude at the poker table and I'm going to be working on this aspect of my game. Comments like "Nice Hand, Real Beauty there" but in a sarcastic tone have no place in the game. The best thing to say when you get beat is actually nothing, or if they really do have a nice hand you can say "Nice Hand" but don't say it a non-sincere way.
• Game Control - Controlling the game is another aspect of being a professional that often gets overlooked. If players are out of line, creating problems, giving the fish a hard time, trying to give lessons, etc. you have an obligation as a pro to take control of the situation and tell them to "Zip It" and keep the game on a positive track. Another aspect of game control that comes up is managing the dealers and teaching them how to be better. In an ideal situation dealers will be well trained and you sholdn't have to do/say anything but we don't live/play in a perfect world. If a dealer makes a mistake you should point it out, if they are day dreaming and not running the game you should tell them (in a friendly way) to run the game, announce the action, let players know when it's their turn, etc.
• Customer Relations - Just like in business you have to keep the customers happy, in regards to poker, the customers are the tourists, locals, and fish who just enjoy playing poker. They are much more likely to stick around and lose more money if they are having a good time. Admittledly, it's tough to always be nice especially when you are losing, but in the long run keeping the game friendly and the players happy will add $$$ to your pocket.

Anyone have any other non-obvious mistakes that pro's make??

Jason

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I'm Not Lucky, I Have Good Karma !

those 3 things i wish i could go back in time and tell myself when i first started playing

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Kickboyswoop

I added a couple more non-obvious mistakes that pros often make to my list.

Jason

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I'm Not Lucky, I Have Good Karma !

I like this list a lot. I really agree with the whole "customer realtions" point you bring up. Just the other day I was in a live tourney and there was a player I have seen at the tables a lot over the years that went off on some new player. When on break I approached him and asked him why he yelled at that player (it was pretty obvious, gutshot on the river). Anyway I simply said "you do know it is the bad players that put the money in your pocket right" and then cooled him down as he really had it out for this player. When we returned to the table he was actaully kind of laughing it off with the other new player making his experience enjoyable and the whole table more enjoyable. I think that if I wouldn't have said something to the experienced player then the new player would have been scared off of the table but I am pretty sure the new player now will not be afraid to take another swing at the poker table in the future.

I felt this was a way to help everyone, the experienced player was able to get back on track quicker and the new player still enjoys the game.

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"You will succeed far more by capitalizing on your opponents mistakes than you will by the greatness of your own play." --- I am not sure who said this but it is a great quote and piece of advice.


Colorado Players Click Here

Good job Powda, keep spreading the warm fuzzies through the poker community and the fish will come to feed!

You got it correct. The problem with a lot of pro's is they really they are not in the poker business they are actually in the entertainment business. Often I have seen the Good Karma play. For you to earn you have to keep them entertained and away from concetrating to much and you want them to have fun. You are great at this an more pro's should do look for entertaining possiblities. Really is poker really about taking all the time. No it is about other players having fun while you take. That is what real pros do and Good Karma is a good example of this. Never at a table are chips not flying this is part of his nature. Yes and he gets paid well for this attribute.

Nice post. I would add:

1. Substituting aggressivity with looseness (See Justin's article in BLUFF).
2. Diluting your starting hand requirements without realizing it (See matt Matros' excellent chapter on correcting this fault).
3. Overvaluing pocket pairs preflop.
4. Undervaluing pocket pairs for those critical thin calls post flop.
5. Not buying members of this forum a beer on sight (This one is obvious )