As a professional Counselor, I continually see the power and adaptability of the human mind with many clients. Harnessing this unique power while on the table is certain to bring players nice profits. Because poker is a game which can lull the mind to a into a monotonous pattern, I always encourage players to find a way to keep the game fresh while focusing on learning and improving. The best players continue to grow and improve, and they certainly understand that consistently winning comes from superior psychological strength. We have all heard of the phenomenon involving the visually impaired having heightened senses of scent, touch, and hearing. This adaptation is remarkable, but not terribly surprising. With less information to be processed and filtered, the brain assigns higher priority to the information that it does receive. I feel that this same philosophy can be used to improve your game, taking it to a deeper level.
When the opportunity is presented, try playing a few hands blind (do not look at your own cards.) A freeroll tournament online, or perhaps a Friday night home game, may be one of the best places to implement this tactic to help you improve your overall poker skill-set. By doing so, your mind is no longer focused on the cards in your hand. Instead, you are fully engrossed with the actions and thinking of your opposition. Their reaction to the flop will be more obvious, and the motivations of their bets will be clearer than ever. After doing this exercise a few times, you are sure to begin to hone the valuable instincts involved with reading people. Like a complex puzzle that you are starting to unravel, you will start to detect slight nuances and patterns that will forge a feeling within you. You may not be so lucky as to pick up obvious tells, but you will being to truly "see" you opponents in a different, clearer way. Use these slight cues and clues to dictate your play for the hand, and then evaluate the accuracy of your read after the hand unfolds.
A key positive outcome of playing hands in this fashion will be the building of your own personal confidence. You will literally feel your confidence boom as you accurately predict the strength of others and the outcome of the hand. More than ever, you will be able to catch reads on other players and trust your instincts while you play. When you utilize this skill and newfound confidence during regular play, you are likely to reap some clear benefits.
Remember to always challenge yourself to continue to learn and grow within this great game. When you have a chance, play your hands blinds a few times to sharpen your reads and instincts. While understanding strategy and pot odds are primary factors to success, grasping the psychology of the game and your opponents is the key to bolstering your bankroll in the long run. Work to maximize the power of the mind in order to maximize your winnings. Now go make it happen. Now go make it happen.
In addition to being an avid poker enthusiast, John is a certified Counselor in the state of Pennsylvania. He has a Master of Arts degree in Counseling from West Virginia University, and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from Lock Haven University.
