What do you think would be the most frequently cited cause if we were able to poll a group of players experiencing a losing streak? How about the most frequently cited cause stated by another group that happens to be experiencing a winning streak? We all know the answers to these questions so let's say them together. Ready? One, two, three..........bad luck and superior play Is there any way that the correct answers just might be horrible play and good luck? I'm sure many times these are the correct answers but a good portion of the poker population lives in denial. In a way, that's good because it keeps them coming back. You're not in denial, are you? Continually monitoring your game for leaks as well as identifying what you do well are the hallmarks of winning players. Are you losing more than your fair share of showdowns at the river and not being truthful enough with yourself to see that maybe you shouldn't have been in the hand to begin with? Denial is a wonderful state of mind. When in that blissful state you don't have to come to grips with anything. You can blame your losses on the idiotic, lucky play of your opponents or just on the fickle Poker Gods. It really is so much easier than exploring your own actions to find deficiencies. Take a moment to examine if you ever do this Be honest and don't be ashamed if the answer is in the affirmative.
After all, it is a very common human frailty. If, as an example, you seem to be losing an inordinate number of showdowns at the river, back up and start analyzing the turn, the flop and, most importantly, your starting hand and your position to determine if it was proper to have entered the fray at all. Should you have even been in at the river? Most results on the river can be traced back to earlier streets. Maybe, you should not have played the hand at all or have mucked earlier when warning signs began to appear. Have you let arrogance sneak into your game based upon some extended positive results? Once you're winning regularly it can become an aphrodisiac and it's common to start opening up your game including lowering your starting hand values and/or position requirements.....
certainly an easy trap to fall prey to when you're feeling invincible.
It has been said many times that the key to winning poker play is making correct decisions Those decisions include game selection, seat selection, starting hand selection and properly evaluating whether to fold, call, raise or even re-raise on each street Don't allow the ultimate outcome of a given session delude you as to its genesis. Continually assess the quality of your decisions at each stage of the game and in retrospect after a session.
Our goal for today is to constantly evaluate our game and the cause and effect of what we're experiencing whether it be good or bad. Analyzing good results can be just as productive as exploring reasons for bad results. If you do this regularly, hopefully you can head off letting your good results go bad.
See you next "TIME".
