THE PSYCHOLOGY OF POKER AND HOW I USE IT TO WIN
All
types of poker require an understanding of the psychology that goes along with the game. Even if you are skilled with the
cards, you must comprehend the psychology of the game if you want to truly be a great poker player. This tutorial is designed
to give you a place to start. You must always remember that the psychology of the game is a guideline. All players are different.
Generally, just when you think you have a player figured out, they will do something to surprise you. Let's look at some basic
psychological aspects of the game.
PAY ATTENTION
The
most important thing you can do while playing poker is to pay attention. This may sound a bit simplistic. However, you would
be surprised how many players believe they are paying attention when in fact the smallest thing causing them to lose the hand
has distracted them. How is this possible? Maybe you lost the hand because your significant other walked into the room and
in that split second when you looked up to acknowledge their entrance you missed an obvious tell that your greatest opponent
was bluffing. That's all it takes is a second of distraction.
If
you want to become a great poker player, it is crucial that you learn to pay attention all the time. Learn to really listen
to what other players are saying. Learn to watch their every move, not just poker moves either. Pay attention to their mannerisms.
Most importantly, learn to evaluate what you hear and what you see independent of each other. Quite often a player will act
differently than they talk or vice versa. You should also be aware of how players react to you. What do they do when you bluff?
What do they do when you hesitate on a raise? Noting player’s reactions to you can give you the upper hand in your next
big bluff.
PATIENCE
Patience
may be a virtue, but it is also the key to making money at playing poker. Always make sure you have enough time to sit down
and play the game, especially if you have decided to play in a tournament. If you feel rushed because you have somewhere to
be and the hand is not close to being over, you are probably going to make some errors in judgment.
A
patient player will always be more successful than an impatient player because they are going to wait for that winning hand
and actually win! If you have a horrible hand and the table stakes are high, fold your hand and wait. Don't keep throwing
your money away. Besides the obvious reasons already stated, patience can work to your advantage in other ways. If your opponents
notice that you are a patient player they are going to be more nervous the next time you decide to stay in the hand. However,
you should also notice the patience of your opponents because a patient player most likely has a plan in mind.
DISCIPLINE
You
must discipline yourself to play poker. As already stated, you must have the discipline to pay attention and to be patient.
You must also have the discipline to not hurt your chances of winning the game. Don't drink while you are playing poker! This
is an amateur move. Alcohol is only going to affect your judgment and every time you take a sip from your glass you could
be missing something important. We can include other things but we all know the same meaning is there!
Attitude
is a major aspect of discipline. You need to know when you play poker well and when you do not. If you have just had a big
fight with your kids or your spouse, do not sit down at the poker table. You are going to be distracted! If you are angry
about something, you definitely should not be playing. Emotions will always get the best of you. Every time you sit down to
play poker you should be certain that your mind is on the game and that you are in the mood to win!
BLUFFING
A
bluff is basically a lie. You are misleading the other players into believing that you have a hand you really do not have.
You will never be a pro if you can't bluff without being called on it every time. This is not an easy skill to learn, but
it will come with some practice. Don't just avoid bluffing all together. This will only make you a target. Don't bluff all
the time either or you will experience the same result.
There
are several factors you should consider every time you decide to bluff. First, at what kind of a table are you playing? If
it is a tight table, it is generally in your best interest to bluff. Tight players are not going to call every bluff. If you
are playing at a loose table, you probably do not want to bluff at all because these players are going to call everything
merely for the sake of calling. Second, you should consider the table limits. If you are playing at a Low Limit table, there
really is not much point in bluffing. Why bother if it is not going to gain you anything. If you are playing at a High Limit
or No Limit table, then you need to bluff. In this type of a game the stakes are high and a good bluff could mean a big win.
Besides, generally players at these tables are going to expect some bluffing. They may also be less likely to call your bluff
because they risk losing as much as you are trying to gain. Third, always be aware of who you are bluffing. Trying to bluff
weak players is nearly impossible. They are always going to call your bluff simply because they're not very good players.
If you bluff a strong player you have a much better chance of success because they generally do not call every bluff. Also
pay attention to the number of chips a player has. A player with a lot of chips has more money to lose and is generally more
likely to call. On the other hand, a player with few chips wants to stay in the game and not risk losing their chips by calling
your bluff. Fourth, how many players are in the hand that you are trying to bluff? The more players that are in the hand,
the more likely your bluff will lose you money. Fifth, do you have any outs? If your bluff does not work, is there still a
possibility that you may win? This sounds a bit strange and obviously you are not going to be in this position with every
bluff, but if you are it's definitely to your advantage. Sixth, think about how the other players perceive you. Are you known
to play every hand no matter how bad your cards are? If this is the case, your bluff probably will not be successful. Are
you known to fold unless you have a good hand? This is the position you want to be in if you are bluffing. Chances are definitely
in your favor because of your past playing style adds some intimidation to your bluff and players will be nervous to call
it.
TELLS
Tell’s
are habitual actions by players in a specific situations. For example, a player touches their ear every time they have a great
hand. It is rare to find a player without any tells. You need to pay attention to your opponents to figure out their tells.
This can be difficult. It requires great focus and some patience. Once you think you have figured out a player continue watching
them for a while because players often try to mix up their actions to confuse others. Eventually, you may be able to get to
the point where you actually know the exact cards your opponent is holding simply by reading their tells. Now, obviously tells
in a land-based game are going to be different than in an online game. You may be thinking that it is impossible to know a
player's tells online, but it's not. Let's look at the two separately.
LIVE PLAY TELLS
Identifying
players' tells in land-based games is based predominantly on watching the players and also listening to what they say. Eyes
are the most obvious tell. Are they shifting, blinking or are the pupils dilated? Well, unfortunately most players wear sunglasses
today to prevent having their eyes read. If they don't, definitely pay attention to where their gaze is. If their eyes become
dilated, they are most likely filled with anxiety and you probably do not have to worry too much about their hand. Some other
signs of nervousness are flexing muscles, shaking hands, visible rapid pulse in the neck, dry throat, and voice cracking and
sweating. However, you should always be cautious in what you think you perceive. If the room is 80 degrees and your opponent
is sweating, it may have nothing to do with the hand and simply be a sign of too much heat. Players' postures can also give
you some insight into their hands. If a player has hunched shoulders they probably do not have a very strong hand. If a player
is sitting tall you should be a little wary. Chip stacking is another factor. This isn't always true, but it's something to
consider. If a player has messy chip stacks, they may just be a loose player. If a player has nice stacks, they could be a
tight player. The sloppiness of chips is a possible tell on the sloppiness of a player's game. Finally, players' levels of
interest in the game can say a lot about players' hands. If a player seems uninterested in the game and they are supposedly
not even aware it is their turn, you should be careful. They are probably pretending to not be interested because they do
not want you to know they have a strong hand. If a player seems a bit too interested, they probably have no reason to be interested.
ONLINE
TELLS
Identifying
players' tells online is less about watching the player and more about watching their actions. Most online games have two
options for actions. You can select when it is your turn or you can pre-select. Pay careful attention to this. You can tell
if a player has used the check boxes because their action will appear instantly on their turn. If they have selected "raise
any," they probably have a strong hand because they are willing to risk quite a bit. If they have selected "check," you need
not be too concerned. They are probably holding out and hoping they will get something better. If they have selected "call
any," chances are they have an ok hand and want to see a little more of the game. Now, if they act on their turn watch for
the speed of their play. These are generally habitual actions. A delay followed by a check can be a sign of weakness, but
a delay followed by a bet is most likely a sign of a strong hand. An instant check is generally the result of a weak hand
and a player who just doesn't know when to fold. Players who fold often are probably tight players and you should be cautious
if they do not fold because they probably have a strong hand. If you encounter players who never fold, you should take advantage
of the fact that they rarely have a good hand. Once you think you have identified your opponents' tells, try to get a peak
at their cards in the showdown if you can. This will verify whether you are on the right track or not. Besides players' actions,
read their chat. If a player who never shuts-up is suddenly silent, they are now focusing on the game for a reason. If a player
suddenly sounds a little pompous or maybe obnoxious, they are most likely trying to be intimidating because they don't have
the cards. If you find a player whose chat is angry, they may be on a tilt or at the very least distracted. You should hone
in on this.
TOURNAMENT
CHAT
These
rules are pretty much industry wide.
Players,
irrespective of whether or not they are still "active," (defined as having a "live" hand), are prohibited from discussing
any action of the hands until that deal is completed. This is to include, but not limited to, discussing discarded cards or
hand possibilities. Most sites do reserve the right to issue a warning or penalty at their sole discretion.
Tournament
participants and observers ("railbirds") are reminded to utilize chat functionality in a manner that is neither obtrusive
nor discourteous.
Members
are reminded to adhere to the "One player to a hand" rule. In poker, the one player to a hand rule is an important principle
of fair play, and a near universal guideline of card rooms. It states that one player without assistance must make all game
decisions about each hand. This means, for example, that a player may not ask for advice or commentary from any other participant
or observer during that hand, nor should anyone be inclined to offer such unsolicited.
In
order to ensure compliance with the "one player to a hand" rule and general fair play, JetSet Poker as an example, sometimes
elects to utilize all-in no chat ("AINC") in tournaments that have a sizeable buy-in or payout, hereafter defined as ("Premier
Events"). AINC will entail tournament participants and observers being precluded from briefly conversing when a player has
become all-in and until betting has been completed, at which time chat privileges for all parties shall recommence. In other
words, all chat is stopped/blocked until hand is dead beginning with the first all-in player.
If
you feel these simple rules of ethical play are being broken, please voice out. It is disrespect as well as industry wide
illegal. I went out 2 people before the bubble on a very important qualifier event last month, which would have allowed me
to play in a large month end tournament. I didn't like the talk from observers because there was in basic terms "collusion"
commencing between the active players and an observer. Another player ultimately turned this in after the tournament was completed.
To my surprise, a week had gone by and I got a very nice letter from JetSet Poker Admin. stating that they reviewed the tournament
chat and found illegal activities had commenced during active hands. Due to this, JetSet disqualified three people who did
in fact make it to the final table and qualified for the main event. JetSet informed me that I was now qualified for the main
event and as a bonus and apology for someone else's infractions, refunded my initial buy-in for the tournament. This tournament
cost me 3 dollars at start. I then qualified to play the end of the month main to win $155 dollars placing 14th.
In
summary, I want you to remember to take it upon yourself to be a table monitor to curb collusion. Report any and all. Please
tell people to not talk about their hands, nor ask questions about their hands if the hands are in live play when it happens.
Warn people. This applies to observers as well. I don't know how many times I've been at final tables when observers friends
say "Go All In" to their friends or give any tid bits of information about the way someone has played in past hands that actually
could sway the outcome if en-acted. This affects us all. Remember, for your own good in the long run, and for the good of
the game, politely rebuke all who do this immediately on the table politely and say it will be reported immediately if it
happens again. I personally report any and all. This is not tolerated and is illegal, by each site and is in their own language,
written in their rules of conduct should you take the time to read them like I do now.
I
learned this lesson the hard way as innocently as I was meaning at the time, I was still wrong. I was not in the hand at play.
The first person pushed a little more than half of his stack in. The blinds were huge. The second person pushed all-in. The
right move for him since he was already pot committed was to move all in and I said, "If it were me, I'd move all in because
you’re already pot committed". He paused, and then announced he had Ace Queen suited and pushed all in. The Ace Queen
paired on the turn and river putting out the first person that was all-in.
The
next day in e-mail, I got a very strong warning from the tournament director and manager of the site warning me that what
I did was wrong and if I did it again, I would be banned from the site. That bothered me tremendously so I researched every
rule of conduct they had in their main menu area and sure enough, I was dead wrong for saying absolutely anything about the
hand while it was live. You absolutely cannot talk about them period!!! By the
way, the person who won that hand, when he announced his hand "Ace Queen suited", also got the same e-mail as I did because
he announced his hand. Yes, even though he was last to act. He was wrong.
I
truly hope this will help you folks get a good solid grasp of rudimentary play skills. I spent a long time trying to learn
these things. I know that if you take each one of these topics and practice a tiny piece of each one regularly, it will improve
your overall game tremendously in time. This game we all love so much most definitely is an easy game to learn but as you've
all heard and are figuring out, probably will take a very long time if ever to master.
My
best regards to all and May all your flops be full!
Fox
