Containing Your Emotions in Poker
You may have noticed that most of the pro poker players you see on TV commonly have good control of their emotions at the table. But the real achievers in poker always seem to be able to make the optimal plays because they can think under pressure and concentrate on strategy, and not respond on the emotional factors that will lead them expensive errors.
If you play a lot of no-limit cash games, not having emotional control can wipe out your bankroll in a day. Big pot no-limit games can be quite stressful, especially when you drop a huge pot to a stupid player who sucks out on you. Naive players may resort to two diametrically opposed reactions: playing scared and playing the boss.
Playing scared is always destructive, but it is absolutely deadly in No Limit Hold'em. You may likely commit wrongdoings such as to check when you should bet, call when you should raise, and make slim bets and raises when you should be making large aggressive moves. Playing like as a frightened puppy will prevent you from getting full value from your strong hands, and you will on a regular basis get rivered because you give away cut-rate or free cards. You will also get bluffed often.
Playing boss is the bold over response, and it is highly crushing. Infinite stacks have been lost by people who overplayed their hands just to show to themselves, or other players that you will not be pushed around.
No limit is a very stressful game at times, and because you haven't faced some of those spots you may be ill prepared to hold them. For example until you have to risk a large stack of cold hard cash, you don't know what you will do. Powerful players will always be forcing you to make hard decisions, and they will repeatedly test your emotional responses.
If you select the wrong level of competition, you may grow so frustrated that you'll give up on Texas Hold'em cash games before discovering whether it is correct for you or not. Alternatively, if you select the correct ones, you may begin winning virtually instantly, and you will surely feel more comfortable and get better results.
You may have noticed that most of the pro poker players you see on TV commonly have good control of their emotions at the table. But the real achievers in poker always seem to be able to make the optimal plays because they can think under pressure and concentrate on strategy, and not respond on the emotional factors that will lead them expensive errors.
If you play a lot of no-limit cash games, not having emotional control can wipe out your bankroll in a day. Big pot no-limit games can be quite stressful, especially when you drop a huge pot to a stupid player who sucks out on you. Naive players may resort to two diametrically opposed reactions: playing scared and playing the boss.
Playing scared is always destructive, but it is absolutely deadly in No Limit Hold'em. You may likely commit wrongdoings such as to check when you should bet, call when you should raise, and make slim bets and raises when you should be making large aggressive moves. Playing like as a frightened puppy will prevent you from getting full value from your strong hands, and you will on a regular basis get rivered because you give away cut-rate or free cards. You will also get bluffed often.
Playing boss is the bold over response, and it is highly crushing. Infinite stacks have been lost by people who overplayed their hands just to show to themselves, or other players that you will not be pushed around.
No limit is a very stressful game at times, and because you haven't faced some of those spots you may be ill prepared to hold them. For example until you have to risk a large stack of cold hard cash, you don't know what you will do. Powerful players will always be forcing you to make hard decisions, and they will repeatedly test your emotional responses.
If you select the wrong level of competition, you may grow so frustrated that you'll give up on Texas Hold'em cash games before discovering whether it is correct for you or not. Alternatively, if you select the correct ones, you may begin winning virtually instantly, and you will surely feel more comfortable and get better results.
