PokerBrit’s Blog

During the 2008 Five-Diamond World Poker Classic, I had the opportunity to sit down with poker icon Mike Sexton, who gave me advice and tips on how to proceed as a brand-new poker player. Not only has Sexton won several tournaments, including a World Series of Poker bracelet, but he is also the host of the World Poker Tour TV broadcasts. He is known as “The Ambassador of Poker,” for all of the work he has done promoting the game I am coming to love. With all this poker experience and knowledge under his belt, I just knew that he’d give me great advice.

Sexton spoke with me about the most common mistake he sees amateur players make – calling their money off too much. He said, “It’s all about betting in poker, and the bettor has a bigger advantage over the person who’s calling. Betting gives you a 2-to-1 ratio over calling, because you can win a pot by betting and the other person throwing away their hand, or simply by having a better hand. By calling, you only have one way of winning – having the best hand. Amateur players typically call their money off too much. Once you understand the concept that betting gives you an advantage over calling, you’ll be a much better poker player.”

Sexton taught me that by being more aggressive and less passive with my chips I’m actually giving myself an advantage in the game. I’ll definitely be applying Sexton’s advice the next time I play, since I have been one of those players who didn’t realize the advantage betting gave me. There has always been a part of me that has been a bit intimidated by betting because I don’t want to risk too many chips in any one pot - I had no idea I was actually taking more of a risk by not betting.