The World Series of Poker 2026 is now behind almost all players. With the exception of those still fighting for the Main Event title, it’s time to take stock. And, according to renowned poker coach and writer Alex Fitzgerald
In a column published after the festival, Fitzgerald identifies three mistakes that, in his opinion, sabotaged the performance of many participants and that any player can work on before their next big series.
Paying too much
During the early levels, when re-entries are still available, players are abundant who are willing to risk chips with marginal hands. However, once that period ends, the dynamic changes. Opponents usually significantly reduce their bluffs, so insisting on hero calls with mediocre hands ends up being a costly decision. The author’s recommendation is simple: if you only have a bluff catcher and don’t have a very solid read on your opponent, it’s usually most profitable to fold.
Bluffing at the wrong times
The second mistake is bluffing at the wrong times. Fitzgerald warns that many players interpret 3-bets as personal attacks and respond by trying to show they won’t be intimidated. The problem is that, in most cases, the opponent simply has a strong hand. Instead of entering unnecessary wars, the coach advises adapting to each opponent. Against players who call too much, for example, it is preferable to bet big for value and drastically reduce bluffs.
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Alexander Fitzgerald Has Just Over Three Million Dollars In Online Poker And Close To One Million In Live Tournaments.
Being conservative
Finally, Fitzgerald argues that many competitors never gave themselves a real chance to win. Playing too conservatively, avoiding 3-bets, giving up on second barrels, or always betting small might allow one to survive a few more hours, but it rarely leads to a final table. Modern poker demands finding a balance between discipline and aggression.
For the author, great champions build their results not only by avoiding mistakes, but also by daring to make courageous decisions when the situation demands it. Learning from these three points can make the difference between just another elimination and a memorable performance at the next WSOP.
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Source: Alex Fitzgerald on poker.org
