In my clinical practice, I developed a course called Self-Effectiveness Training (SET) that I applied to relationships between couples, families, and coworkers. In such relationships, SET was very helpful in assisting couples having communications problems to draw from their untapped inner resources. For example, it was employed to enhance the quality of things like parenting, and to improve the efficiency of work forces. It's now time to employ the model of SET to playing poker.
Self-effectiveness Training is a way to ensure that we are using our personal resources to their fullest. Probably your toughest opponent at a poker table is you. This is particularly true when a player does not know himself, and fails to use his or her personal powers.
It has nothing to do with how smart a person is-although thinking abilities are important. It has little to do with what religion a player practices; rather, it has to do more with what a player believes about self and others. Emotions can hinder a player. They can also help if used as powers of intuition and creativity.
These are the personal powers that each player possesses: To Think, To Believe, and to Create. How each of us uses these powers can be rated from low effectiveness to highly effective- both to win and to lose. Yes, we all know players who are extremely effective but walk away broke. Yet, there are those players who are consistently effective in walking away a winner. SET was developed to help people to get the most out of their personal resources. Some people use just their minds, while others only use their emotions to achieve their goals.
In poker, you will hear the saying, "I'd rather be lucky than skilful." Hogwash! This sets up an either-or mentality that can hurt a player's game. Having both skill and luck are much better-particularly if you foster the right beliefs about when to bet, raise, fold, or even to play. By using your thinking and feelings, as well as your opinions, you can train yourself to move around and employ all of your available resources. How you use these powers of self will help or hinder your progress. Remember, you can be just as effective at losing as you can at winning.
Thoughts that hinder your game are most negative attitudes about yourself, and even about other players. A winner is usually very positive and brings a positive attitude about himself to the table. When you are feeling down about anything in your life, it's not a good idea to use poker as a medication. Opinions can harm or enhance your game. Telling yourself that you are better than you actually are is an example of a crippling belief. Fostering the belief that you should change when conditions turn against you is a belief that will save you many mistakes.
Emotions that are combined with good sense can help your game. Some players use their intuition to good advantage. Others will play only by whim and end up losers. Players who create different ways to deal with various personalities of their opponents will also create more success in their plays.
The way to "get ready," to "set" and finally "to go," is making sure that you know yourself. There are a great many players who think they know how good they are. When they make a mistake, it's the fault of a loose player whose "sucks out" on them. They fail to ask themselves, "Why did I stay in with such a player, whom I know will play little cards and can beat my top pair?" They failed to gauge how effectively they stayed in too long.
