The State of Mind in Playing Poker—Calm and Composed

Niti998

Every game involves psychological tactics, much like the mental reactions of athletes in a competition. If psychological adjustment is proper, the player at home is open-minded and agile, achieving unexpected victories. On the other hand, those playing away might become passive due to psychological factors.

This principle applies to poker as well. Besides relying on luck, poker requires tactics, skills, and a psychological battle. The one who gains a psychological advantage can make clearer, more accurate, and faster decisions in each round, increasing their chances of winning.

Let's examine an exciting hand. The players are 'Freshwater Fish' and 'Night Owl,' two poker enthusiasts. After observing several rounds, 'Freshwater Fish' maintained an advantage, displaying a calm demeanor and precise judgment throughout.

Example 1:
Freshwater Fish: 10JJK
Night Owl: AQKK

As per their agreement, both players had to call 100,000. When the second community card was dealt, Night Owl got a King. The current sequence was JAQK, and one more 10 would form a straight. Freshwater Fish had a pair of Jacks, and Night Owl quickly raised the bet to 800,000. However, Night Owl only got another King (a pair of Kings) with the final bet, losing nearly 200,000 to Freshwater Fish.

In this case, Night Owl, unable to complete a straight, should have noticed the calm demeanor of Freshwater Fish, indicating a likely two-pair (a pair of Jacks). Betting heavily in such a situation was impulsive and lacked caution, leading to the expected loss.

Example 2:
Freshwater Fish: J9JA
Night Owl: 99QK

In this even more thrilling hand, Freshwater Fish held J9J (actually three Jacks), while Night Owl had 99Q (already two pairs with a Queen). Perhaps sensing Night Owl's impatience, or maybe wanting to mislead Night Owl into thinking they only had a pair of Jacks, Freshwater Fish made a small bet of 300,000. Night Owl, being hasty, raised by 1,000,000.

With the final community card, Freshwater Fish secured victory, but once again, they made a small bet to lure Night Owl deeper into the pot. Despite having a winning hand, Night Owl, convinced that Freshwater Fish only had a pair of Jacks, made significant additional bets. The result was clear, with nearly 10 million chips going to Freshwater Fish.

If Night Owl had remained calm and refrained from raising on the final card, the loss would not have been as severe.

After losing this significant hand, Night Owl became even more agitated, insisting on a 300,000 mandatory call. However, the composed Freshwater Fish casually said goodbye and left.

Understanding the unpredictability of the casino and facing Night Owl's request for higher stakes, Freshwater Fish wisely chose to leave with the winnings.

From these two examples, we learn that those who remain calm have a higher chance of winning. Impulsive individuals are unlikely to analyze their opponent's cards accurately and often make erroneous judgments.

Those who stay composed have more opportunities to win because they can precisely assess their opponent's cards. When facing a strong opponent, they can avoid confrontation and minimize losses. When holding a powerful hand, they can remain discreet, create doubt, lure opponents deeper, and strike at the right moment. This naturally leads to a steady flow of wealth.

Freshwater Fish's victory was built on stable emotions. Therefore, it's essential for poker enthusiasts to enter the poker table with emotional stability, achieving a calm and composed mindset.

977Iti

"There are not many times when you are calm and composed."

Isha000

"This is something you can also learn from."