Here's a guide to learn why your ego can be your own worst enemy at the poker table.

Poker can be one of the most exciting games one can play that involves wagering. It's a game that pits you against other players instead of the house, which means that there are additional layers to the game that are simply missing in games such as Blackjack. However, while other players should be one of your biggest concerns, you also need to make sure that you keep your own egotism in check, even if you've been winning.

Play online poker free at Bodog.

To be an effective poker player, you have to do more than be more skilled than your opponents: you have to be able to adapt your game and stay ahead of trends occurring both in the short term and the long term. For example, some tables may become more aggressive over a few hours because certain players are frustrated and lashing out.

You have to make sure that you understand that learning how to player poker well isn't simply a miraculous transformation that happens overnight. Poker is, in fact, a pretty tough game to learn how to play well. Reading articles like this can help you get a better understanding of the game. It takes skill, practice, patience and more practice to become a good poker player.

Another thing that your poker ego will have to become used to is the fact that just because you're good at one form of poker that doesn't necessarily mean that you can take on other forms of the game with the same level of skill. It's very rare that any player can jump from game to game with the same amount of skill. To make this more relatable: just because you regularly clean up in home poker games around your neighborhood and town doesn't mean that you're ready for a big-money tournament in a casino. Similarly, many good cash game players are incapable of winning in poker tournaments.

Get more for your buy-in with Bodog’s guaranteed online poker tournaments.

Learning to divorce your ego from the statistics and sticking to games that you know are profitable will allow you to do two things: win consistently and generate enough of a bankroll so that you can practice on the things that you play more weakly. By concentrating on the elements that you are good at, you're able to keep poker fun so that your ego doesn't become so invested in the game that you make poor decisions.