Here is a common mistake I see many beginners make. The mistake costs them the pot, don’t let it happen to you.

I was at a Limit Texas Hold ‘Em game when there were only three players in. The river card has just been displayed and one player bet. He had nothing and was trying to buy the pot.

The next player to act had made a pair of dueces, and he called the bettor.

 The third player had made a pair of sevens, and there was a Jack and a 10 on the board. he thought a moment and then called.

The bluffer showed his Ace high, whereupon the next player to show turned over the duece in his hand that matched the duece on the board. He then exclaimed, “I knew you were bluffing!”.

Well as we know the third player showed his middle pair and took the pot.

Had the second player, who had correctly put his opponent on a bluff, RAISED instead of called, he would have won the pot as the middle pair could not call a bet and a raiser with two overcards on the board.

So here we had a case of a player who read his opponent correctly, but failed to make the proper play. Don’t let that happen to you.