Why do you play poker Mad?
i play poker because it gives me a thrill. i enjoy winning and getting money when i win. also, i like to outwit my opponent. just is not the same fun when i cant make all of the above happen.
are you trying to remind me of why i play or being confrontational? no offence, its just that some folk seem to be getting very confrontational on here at times and it has put me off posting asking for advice around my play. now i have a poker coach (starts next week) i wont need to feel threatened when i ask for advice
and snoops, thanks for reminding me its not always about luck. just feels that way right at this moment
I wasn't being confrontational Mad, although I now can see that the bluntness of my post could be read that way. If it was taken in this way I sincerely apologise. I just wanted to know more about your motivation for playing and to get you to honestly look at why you play.
Form is a very difficult thing to deal with, it can make you feel like you are the best player in the world or the worst. It is important to remember that you are neither. When you are losing and it seems like you are being constantly outdrawn it is very important to examine your game closely. Run some of the hand matchups through a calculator the results are often surprising.
Also it is a good time to go back to basics play some ABC poker. Ditch the turbos for a bit and play a tournament where skill will have more of an influence on the outcome. When I run a little rough there is a book I go back to , Fundamental Secrets of Winning Poker , by Mike Caro. It is based on his seminars and has important points written in big bold letters blackboard style. The content is fairly basic but it really helps me to focus my game again.
A few examples ..
In the long run in poker you dont get paid to win pots you get paid to make the right decisions.
The main reason people dont accomplish as much as they should in poker is because they dont play their best game always
Deception is often wasted on weak opponents because the most obvious strategy is usually the most profitable.
Money you dont lose is exactly the same as money you win
The cards will run bad just as surley as they will run good . You have to make the most from your good cards and suffer the least from your bad cards .
So take a deep breath and fire up an stt , play every hand (including those you arnt in) give it your very best then whatever the result go through the hand history and honestly look at where you could have improved. Look to see if you could have extracted more chips anywhere or lost less . All the hands you play are important so dont get fixated on your exit hand.
And dont forget the most important point of all.
In poker good players beat bad players
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