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Competition and emotion go hand-in-hand. When a person
wants something badly enough, every part of their being is involved in
getting it. The spirit of competition can bring out greed, jealousy,
pride, and anger, which can either fuel the fire of determination, or be
detrimental to achieving the desired effect in any game: winning. And when
the game you’re playing is poker, emotions left unchecked are bad news.
After all, there’s a reason that the term “poker face” was coined; the
ability to be – or at least, appear to be – unfazed by your circumstances
is a desirable trait. Not only does it make the specifics of your
situation less obvious to the other players, but it helps to keep your
decision-making skills sharp.
Even the slightest bit of irritation can cloud your
judgment, leading you to make decisions based more on feeling than on
rational thought. In his poker dictionary, Daniel Kimberg, author of
Serious Poker, says, “… even good players are often tempted to do
things they know are bad ideas when they get frustrated, angry, or upset
for any reason. They go ‘on tilt.’ Sort of like a pinball machine, except
with pinball it only costs you a quarter. Typical tilt play is much too
loose and often very aggressive, because a player on tilt wants very badly
to win a pot, and isn't rational enough to wait for cards that are worth
playing or situations that are worth attacking.” Of
course, it’s ridiculous to assume that we can do anything we are
passionate about and be completely devoid of emotion. But it’s important
to learn how to keep those feelings under tight control rather than
letting them spill over and have a potentially negative effect on how we
play. This is an art form that takes practice, but once you master it, you
will notice a marked improvement in your game. First
things first: you must accept that you aren’t going to win every hand, and
that in fact, you’ll probably lose more hands than you win. Setting
unrealistic standards for yourself can lead to major disappointments, and
eventually, a drastically decreased sense of self-confidence. Learn to
keep things in perspective, and look at the big picture rather than
analyzing each loss or victory independently; you’ll likely see a much
better overall image.
The ability to keep a positive attitude, and not let
losses and setbacks drag you down, is an essential part of being a
successful poker player. If you do happen to take a beating – which,
inevitably, you will – do your best to brush it off. Dwelling on it will
only take much-needed focus away from the next hand. Don’t concentrate on
things that have already happened, especially during a game; it’s a waste
of energy to worry about things that can’t be changed, so simply accept
the defeat and keep looking ahead. Visualization can be
a good technique to use. Though it may sound a bit silly, it’s worth a
try; you may actually respond very well to such a method. If you’re having
trouble shaking off a bad beat, take a second to visualize yourself in a
boat sailing smoothly through rough waters, passing through turbulent
waves (i.e., problems) as calmly as if you’re floating above them. Or
mentally put your frustration or anger into a bubble and “watch” as it
blows away. It may take a few tries to find an image that works for you,
but overcoming disappointments might just be easier with a visual aid.
While the focus of these tips is primarily on dealing with and concealing
negative emotions, it’s worth mentioning that you should be equally
careful about handling your positive emotions as well. The definition of
“poker face” is “A face lacking any interpretable expression” – not just
“a face lacking any negative expression.” Always keep in mind that your
opponents are watching you for the slightest signs that could
inadvertently reveal what kind of hand you’re holding. If you’re really
concerned that your facial expressions could betray you, try the popular
method of sporting a hat and/or a pair of dark shades. A player’s eyes can
reveal a lot, and the reverse psychological aspect of poker is tricky; if
someone avoids your eyes, the universal symbol of low confidence, he
probably actually has a good hand and is trying to set a trap. If someone
stares you down, it’s likely that he’s worried about his own hand and is
trying to intimidate you into folding. These subtle, seemingly
contradictory gestures are obvious to astute poker players, and if you
can’t keep yourself from doing them, wearing sunglasses may help alleviate
the problem. The importance of reigning in your emotions
is summed up nicely by Mike Sexton, professional poker player and author
of the book Shuffle Up and Deal: “You can’t control luck, but you
can control how you react to it. That’s a skill in and of itself.
Maintaining your composure at the table is a skill you have to learn.”
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