One big mistake I made early on was overvaluing top pair with a good kicker. I used to think
hands like A-K on an A-high board were almost unbeatable, so I’d keep calling or even raising when my opponent clearly showed strength. After losing a lot of chips that way, I realized that top pair isn’t always the nuts — context, position, and opponent tendencies matter a lot more. That lesson taught me the real value of reading situations, not just cards.