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Ben Roberts
February 6, 2006
There are four possible outcomes for any session of
poker. You might win a little, lose a little, win a lot,
or lose a lot. Most of us react differently to the
different outcomes. When we win big, we're elated; when
we lose big we're upset. Think back to some recent bad
beats. Do you recall feeling a rush of adrenaline and an
overwhelming sense of rage? If you haven't encountered
this, you're lucky; most players have.
I believe that reactions at the poker table are so
strong because the game taps into a very primal portion
of our brains. In poker, we're fighting for something we
view as critical - money. In these days of relative
safety and comfort, our battles at the poker table are
as close as we get to the life-and-death struggles that
our ancient ancestors encountered. Eons ago, the
adrenaline served a purpose - it triggered a response
critical to survival. Without thought or reason, ancient
man knew two things: Fight or flee. The quick surge of
panic and anger kept the species alive.
At the poker table, however, the same response serves
no useful purpose. You can't beat the dealer over the
head with a rock. Screaming in panic and running from
the room isn't a great idea either. So most of us just
steam - we tilt. With no outlet for the excess
chemicals, we sit at the table, angry, while our
judgment becomes clouded. Maybe we blast off some money
or run a ridiculous bluff as a way to relieve the
pressure.
The thing is, you need to overcome these instinctual
reactions if you're going to become a consistent winner
at poker. It's not easy to control the instinctual part
of your brain, but it's something that you can work on
every time you play poker. Endeavor to leave each
session in the same emotional state. If you win big,
keep yourself from getting too excited. Remind yourself
that this is just one session that has gone well, and
that another is bound to go poorly. Reverse the argument
after a big loss.
I believe that if you commit to engaging the
thinking, reasoning portion of your brain at every
opportunity you can, in time, overcome the primal
reactions. It isn't easy. Some players with incredible
mastery of the game are long-term losers because they
can't get a handle on their emotions.
Embrace the challenge of evening your emotional
responses. It may be the most important thing you can do
to improve your poker results.
Ben Roberts
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