Quote:
The final mistake many players make is over-thinking. They get so caught up in 'outplaying' their opponents, they don't realize that the best way to extract money is usually playing straightforward.
As your game improves it is only natural to want to show off your skill set. Unfortunately, if your opponent is just playing his cards, and disregarding what you are doing, all your fancy plays will be for naught, and can even become counterproductive.
The best way to play is to always be one step ahead of your opponents; think of it as luring someone into a trap, if you get too far ahead of them they won't be able to follow you, and all your planning goes down the drain. You need to stay just far enough ahead that they can follow you.
In poker terms this is known as "levels of thinking".
Level 1 - Playing your cards.
Level 2 - Trying to read your opponents hand.
Level 3 - Trying to figure out what your opponent thinks you have.
Level 4 - Trying to figure out what your opponent thinks you think, he has.
If your opponent is simply playing his cards, it does you no good to try to figure out what he thinks you have; he has no clue what you have, and doesn't even care! The correct way to play against this player is to think in terms of level 2, what does he have?
