Emotion

ph0n3_j4ck · Nov 19, 2013

What do you guys think about the emotional aspects of poker (fear, confidence, tilt, etc...)? How do you think these things affect your game?

Share some examples and how you corrected them (if there was a need for correction).

OMGjustinBIEBS · Nov 19, 2013

Emotion can be hard to set aside from the felt, and even harder to learn how to control. Playing poker under a Emotional influenced decision can lead to high varience poker in many cases and grows tiresome when trying to become a consistent winner. It's best to set emotions aside so u can maximize you're long term +EV

Carl Trooper · Nov 20, 2013

ph0n3_j4ck said:
What do you guys think about the emotional aspects of poker (fear, confidence, tilt, etc...)? How do you think these things affect your game?

Share some examples and how you corrected them (if there was a need for correction).

2 years ago I was in a 1500 event and it was day 3 and we were down to about 27 players or so.

I didn't recognize anyone playing because they weren't "TV" stars. Of course I saw a lot had patches and other things on them, and my friend immediately started googling all of them. All of a sudden I realize I was playing with some very top players and I think this changed my game overall.

I still regret this and wish I didn't know anyone or of their accomplishments.. I think maybe I could have ran deeper.

OMGjustinBIEBS · Nov 20, 2013

Example: the first year and a half I played poker every time my whole hand was a pocket pair and the set would come on the flop, I would automatically think of the fastest way to get all my money in no matter what cards hit later streets. My logic was ( ok I have a set a huge trap, and I have room to improve on a better draw than my opponents) year and some months of going broke in the same spot I realized it was my emotion of having "fear" and not wanting my opponent to make his draw. I was not skilled enough of a player to bet down all three streets for 45% of my stack then get away from it if I had to. So I would get scared and look at the dealer and say "all in" like I'm deep in some sort of tournament ( i play 6-max on carbon and full ring live) it took me over a year to fix a leak that was resulting in long term loosing play. I hope this makes sense

vinylspiros · Nov 20, 2013

Emotions must be totally eradicated while playing poker.

You must be in a neutral state of mind and base every decision you make on logic.

Anything more is no good IMHO.

Overconfident = spewy
Scarred= passive
Tilt= Crazy plays.

You got to balance your game by getting rid of emotions and just do what you believe must be done in order to win the most or lose the least.

midgetfactory · Nov 20, 2013

Overconfident = spewy
Scarred= passive
Tilt= Crazy plays.

+1 vinayl, well put

Henry Minute · Nov 20, 2013

I ain't afraid of no donkeys!

Fieldsy · Nov 20, 2013

Im reading the Mental Game of Poker and it seems to touch a lot on this topic obviously. I don't think its good just to "Block out" emotion, you need to control it and be consistent with it. When you tilt, don't just say "stop tilting", figure out what exactly made you mad and basically just forgive the play, let it go, learn from it. If you just try to block things out, they will surely comeback again.

scorpion1367 · Nov 20, 2013

Determination and mental focus are key aspects to becoming a winning player IMO, be goal oriented not results oriented.If a player is making good decisions at the table ,the goal (to win a tourney or ultimately be a winning player)will take care of itself.Being to emotional either when winning or losing clouds judgement i.e the decision making process.......scorp

EvertonGirl · Nov 20, 2013

You should never play poker if your scared because when you run into certain situations like TPTK on a board with FD/OESD you will fold because you are too scared to play it! More often than not playing scared you will fold the best hand a lot just because of how the board is looking.

Playing with too much confidence can end up hurting you, as you will become ****y and believe that you cant be beaten (I'm not good enough to play with too much confidence, phew!)

Like Fieldsy said when you become tilted, don't just cry about it, find the issue that made you tilted and fix it.

I wish I was emotionless, I would be the perfect poker player

locha2013 · Nov 20, 2013

I don't have my anger under controll, when I'm playing freerolls. When I loose one with better hands I automatically play bad hands at the other and that's really annoying. My solution is that I took a break about two weeks. I'm still on break playing video games and watching movies. I hope after the break I can concentrate better and don't get angry when I have to fold preflop, because of bad hands or when I have to wait because a player can't decide so fast.

Fieldsy · Nov 20, 2013

EvertonGirl said:
You should never play poker if your scared because when you run into certain situations like TPTK on a board with FD/OESD you will fold because you are too scared to play it! More often than not playing scared you will fold the best hand a lot just because of how the board is looking.

Playing with too much confidence can end up hurting you, as you will become ****y and believe that you cant be beaten (I'm not good enough to play with too much confidence, phew!)

Like Fieldsy said when you become tilted, don't just cry about it, find the issue that made you tilted and fix it.

I wish I was emotionless, I would be the perfect poker player

I have a lot of emotion going on. I also have a stuttering problem which makes my anxiety go through the roof. Early on in a session it is common that my hands shake just a little bit for no reason. People may see this as strength or weakness, but I do it with even hands I much before the flop lol.

The best thing you can do is tell yourself what exactly it is you need to work on. Keep a journal and write down what your mood was like, were you getting good cards, etc etc

cotta777 · Nov 22, 2013

Emotional control is what makes a true champion player. - all these things discipline, patience, calmness, inner strength. They make champions.

things like skill thousands of us have skill and decent hand range analysis its the other things that are so hard to perfect such as emotions.

I was a losing player until I learn discipline and started thinking about the right plays all the time.
I have no problem playing a hand with aces or kings and folding on a well repped board if im behind, or folding QA, KA.
and bad beats use to lead to titl

dresturn2 · Nov 22, 2013

Feeling unlucky is so horrible cause it makes you play hands poorly and also contributes to tilt when your self fulfilling prophecies come true

asolano22 · Nov 22, 2013

I think emotion is not a bad thing because it makes you focus. However, don't let certain emotions get in you way of playing the statistical odds. Fear can cause you to play tentative when statistically speaking your are not allowed to. I believe in positive energy though, so i think staying calm and happy even through losses will make you think clearer about long term goals in poker.

rifflemao · Nov 23, 2013

ph0n3_j4ck said:
What do you guys think about the emotional aspects of poker (fear, confidence, tilt, etc...)? How do you think these things affect your game?

Share some examples and how you corrected them (if there was a need for correction).

My game is fairly susceptible to negative emotions, so I have a few rituals that I do, including listening to Elliot Roe's hypnosis mp3s for poker players.

If I'm still feeling tilted or fearful, I try to take more time to think about each hand, which I find easier to do online with the chat off (no peer pressure).

Fieldsy · Nov 23, 2013

You will always have emotion. Try to level it out to where if you are running good, try humbling yourself and don't think you are a pro, when you are running bad, try picking yourself back up instead of woe is me.

ravpl · Nov 23, 2013

If u had bad beat don't think about this hand for long time because u play well and that was right decision(that's helping). This is poker and u need to know this will be happen. When you understand that you will not tilt. When u tilt u play bad you are nervous and commit more mistakes.you fall into a vicious circle more bad decision more tilt.

gohan2015 · Nov 23, 2013

Emotion can be hard to set aside from the felt, and even harder to learn how to control. Playing poker under a Emotional influenced decision can lead to high varience poker in many cases and grows tiresome when trying to become a consistent winner. It's best to set emotions aside so u can maximize you're long term +EV

burgdogky · Nov 24, 2013

Controlling your eomotions and BRM are one of the key diffrences between good players and great players!

The1AceJack · Nov 24, 2013

Echoing a few key wisdoms / experiences I read here:

I had/have the same problem that the BIEBS mentioned... I recall a board where I flopped the nuts -- full boat -- and I was OOP. I pushed AI and took down a meager pot... why didn't I take my mind properly betting my stack into the pot? Well, one, because I didn't know how to bet properly; and, two, because I was too excited to hold back my monster.

After reading about sizing your bets and playing every hand for a reason (two simple but good articles at the end of this post) I'm doing an OK job correcting this leak -- logic > emotion.

Also, I listen to sweet, acid-jazzy / trip-hoppy music while I play poker (online.) I turn off the TV and put in my headphones... relaxed, focused, and patient... Also, I think utilizing your breaks to walk around the house, do yoga, and smoke (debatable strategy, but it keeps me mellow+patient) can help keep your nerves nice and calm.

Oh, and if you feel emotional, don't fight it. Let it temporaily overhwelm you. Use your time bank to calm yourself down, if you need to. Forgive yourself (best advice mentioned above, Fieldsy) and then play on.

http://www.pokerlistings.com/strategy/sizing-your-bets-properly
http://www.pokerlistings.com/strategy/make-every-play-for-a-reason

Quasimodo · Nov 24, 2013

I just tell myself, "sometimes chicken, sometimes feathers" and have no regrets if I played the hand correct. Though I can't claim I'm able to stay cheerful about getting outdrawn. I'm much better at taking my victories with grace.

turtelliusshellius · Nov 24, 2013

Three of the biggest emotions I had to conquer: Fear, Love, Anger.

Fear: I was your standard TAG nit player when I began because i was always scared of someone beating me. I would let the better players manipulate me and use it against me. Until I learned that fear was my enemy, I couldn't help but lose (unless I kept hitting hands)

Love: I would overplay big hands even when it was obvious I was beat. Top pair, two pair with textured boards, and sets on textured boards were my biggest pot losers. I fell in love with every good hand and had to learn that sometimes "good isn't good enough."

Anger: I used to tilt at every suck out. After that I would swear vengeance upon my villain and play every hand they were in hoping to suck out back on them. Karma doesn't exist in poker. Just because they sucked out on me doesn't mean I'd suck out on them.

These emotional leaks lost me a lot of money early in my poker career, so luckily I've learned that there is no room for emotion in poker. Only logic and analysis are allowed in my brain when I'm at the felt, and I recommend that for everyone (or at least those who are able to compartmentalize).

JaxA · Nov 24, 2013

Carl Trooper said:
2 years ago I was in a 1500 event and it was day 3 and we were down to about 27 players or so.

I didn't recognize anyone playing because they weren't "TV" stars. Of course I saw a lot had patches and other things on them, and my friend immediately started googling all of them. All of a sudden I realize I was playing with some very top players and I think this changed my game overall.

I still regret this and wish I didn't know anyone or of their accomplishments.. I think maybe I could have ran deeper.

I understand what you mean, I've done something similar. But nowadays it is common practice to look up who you're playing against and getting "scouting reports" so you know more about your opponents. Do you think you'd ever try this?

Fieldsy said:
Im reading the Mental Game of Poker and it seems to touch a lot on this topic obviously. I don't think its good just to "Block out" emotion, you need to control it and be consistent with it. When you tilt, don't just say "stop tilting", figure out what exactly made you mad and basically just forgive the play, let it go, learn from it. If you just try to block things out, they will surely comeback again.

I just started the Mental Game of Poker also. So far it is pretty awesome and I think it will end up helping me tremendously.

pinkfloyd92 · Nov 24, 2013

Emotions must be totally eradicated while playing poker.

Emotion

ph0n3_j4ck

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OMGjustinBIEBS

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Carl Trooper

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OMGjustinBIEBS

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vinylspiros

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Henry Minute

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Fieldsy

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