How to control emotions while playing poker?

xanax

 

Dude- even the best players don't win every time, and ANY starting can win like 20% of the time or something like that, so luck is certainly going to play its part. You may be excellent at reading others, mixing up strategy, etc., but it doesn't guarantee success every time. I will say that if showing your emotions at the table is something you struggle with, then poker may not be for you. The best players are able to roll with the punches, and never get too high on a run or too low when they are on tilt. I know it's not easy- I've taken some beats that have made me cringe in disgust, but I just have to tell myself- "That's poker." It's sucks ass sometimes, but what can you do?

(Case in point....a few weeks ago we were playing in a tourney and one guy was basically down so low he went all in with 3-7 or something like that. The guy who called him had pocket aces. on the flop, the guy who called hit another ace, giving him trips. But, on 4th and 5th street the other dude with 3-7 hit runner cards to complete a straight. Ouch....But that's poker!)

 

Try nibbling on some jalepenos during the game. Firstly, noway can anybody read your face. Secondly, it brings you back to reality by reminding you of a weakness of yours. Not weakness persay, but it sure will get your mind off your emotions for a bit giving you an opportunity to see your situation differently.

Of course, this works for me and maybe not for you. And I certainly don't play poker with any seriousness.

 

i jerk off right before a big game.

 

gotta have that "oh well that's poker" attitude.

In a cash game anytime you double you should take your profit. Greed will take down many good players.

 

I always win, so I can't help you. Guys HATE losing to a girl!

You have to be semi-drunk while playing poker, so you don't care so much.

 

You wanted to make someone else leave? That seems like an ego thing to me.

 

Note to self: do not let chow_yun_fat deal, and let someone else stack his chips when you win them.

 

If you play long enough you will always lose all of your money.

 

Dude, you NEVER chase a straight or a flush unless it is very low stakes.

The key word you need to learn is......F O L D !!!!

Remember this important rule.

A bad fold is just a small mistake........

In other words even if you fold the best hand, it doesn't hurt that bad as calling a big raise with a worse hand.

Play the odds, but realize that sometimes 17% beats 83%....that is just the luck of the game.

DD

 

Not true, I play a lot, and usually win money, probably win money about 80% of the time, and in tournaments I play in...small usually about 10-20 players I money about 50-60% of the time.....

Now most of these tournaments have bad players but a couple have really good ones, and then it is just about playing tight, reading your opponents and knowing when to F O L D....

There is that word again....

DD

 

fixed.

 

Yes, that is also true, but it depends on the amounts of money that are on the table, and the percentage chance you have of winning AND how much of your stack is at risk.

For instance, if 3 people are ahead of you and put a significant bet out there, the pot odds would say to call, but if you play the real odds, you should let that hand go if it is a good chunk of your stack.

Say you buy in with $200, and in the pot you are in about $20, the 3 people in front of you have all bet $60 more....now that is $260 total (4x$20 and 3x$60) so you would be calling $60 to win $260....great pot odds, but a bad bet in that you are now risking 33% of your chips on a draw that at best is less than 40%...and usually much less.

DD

 

If you plan on playing seriously, I'd recommend setting an exit strategy. Poker isn't all about reading players (because you have to pay to get reads and there are an unlimited amount of players that go to low stakes). Poker is about discipline, studying, practice, and... practice.

Every player goes on tilt. The best players know how to control it.

You're situation could have been avoided if:

1. You set an exit strategy. If you double up... leave.. you've won! Whatever you consider a nice win... just leave! However, there are certain tables, if you have enough dead money there.. just play it tight and hammer the weak players when the situation arises. I used to play online and paid for 2 semesters of tuition. I would buy in for 85. If I lost the 85, I was done for the day. If I won 100, I was done for the day. The idea is to have more losing sessions than winning sessions (I had 2.5 winning sessions to every losing session).

2. You took a break. Most casinos give you 30 minutes (longer if you know the employees) to sit out. Next time, go take a walk around the casino. Think about how you could have played the hand differently. Bad beats happen, sometimes you just can't avoid a bad loss.

3. You switched tables. It's almost like a built in reset button. When things start to go sour on one table and/or you just aren't comfortable... ask to change tables.

4. Go to a happy place. Think women in lingerie, pitchers of beer, and a midget doing the happy dance. Seriously, think of something that you can't get upset about...

 

My point is not that you shouldn't or can't play for long periods of time, clearly there's many people who make a great living doing just that. But you can fall into a trap of convincing yourself to keep playing as long as you still have chips in your hand...in which you'll only stop when you finally lose it all. Some people have to be honest w/ their ability and know when to stop.

 

Most people don't like to talk about their losses in general. "Gambling" is about the glorious conquest of walking in with 100 bucks and leaving with 10000. Poker is different than playing table games because you aren't playing against the casino. If you are more disciplined and talented than your opponents you will win more than you lose.

I read somewhere that only 15% of poker players actually win in the long run.

You are right in that everyone should be honest with their ability. It's not just about length of play, its also about the strength of your competition. Some people can consistantly dominate at the low stakes games. As soon as they jump up to medium stakes, they get stomped.

 

I respectfully disagree. In cash games, always play pot odds...tournaments are a little different, but I still think you play the above hand unless table is down to the bubble. You are in a bad situation in tournament play when you can't play pot odds. With one card to come, I'm probably calling. With two, I'm probably all in. If you are going to play suited cards, you have to make this play. If you aren't willing to risk your tournament on pot odds, you should be playing tighter preflop to prevent this situation.

 

A fair point, and well spoken.....

I still play tighter than that, but am looser in cash games with pot odds for sure...

The issue is also where you are in the hand, if it is at the turn and you chase and don't hit, you have to be ready to face a stronger bet, or fold......I still think chasing overall is a great way for your opponent to make money.

Also, if you want to be humbled by thinking you are getting good at Hold em, play Hi-Low Omaha.....oh man.....

For fun I play both Omaha and Holdem online at the same time...it is like your right braing fighting with your left......

But only very low stakes...lol...

DD