by Al Sousa (site owner)
Tournaments can't be won by math and analysis alone. There is
something else that is part of the game, psychology. One must
know his opponents,
their betting patterns, their tells, and their playing style. But
there is more to this than most think.
When in a hand: In any war, intelligence is key
to victory. You need a combination of luck and skill, so why give
the enemy any information. Unless you are a master of deception
and in total control of your behavior the best thing you can do
when in a hand is sit there like a rock, no emotion, no movement,
no answer to any question. This reveals nothing to your opponent
and in my opinion is ominous. In fact try to think about something
else, your kids, dinner, a movie you saw, anything but the hand
in question.
Your poker instincts comes from patterns you have seen before.
Your thoughts subconsciously add up all the things you have seen,
heard,
and analyzed to gain intuition to another player's thoughts. If
you give off none, or little, of these signs then your opponent's
instincts are less effective.
Betting: Be very aware how you bet. Make the
same movement and same actions every time you bet. This means your
pattern
remains the same. If you find yourself using two hands throwing
in chips then always do that. If you use your right hand to quietly
bet, do that. Do not change the pattern. Same betting pattern means
same action and no tells. I suggest that a quiet betting pattern
is always best. It is more relaxed, calm, and threatening to opponents
when they see it. It also uses the least movement and energy thus
revealing
less.
Thinking: Always take your time for every bluff, raise,
call, bet, or fold. Even when you know what you are going to do,
take your time. You never know if there is something you missed
or an impatient opponent who is about to give off a tell. I suggest
not playing with your chips and folding your hands together when
you think. If your hands are occupied they can't give off information. Use your folded hands to cover your mouth. The less motion you have the less tells.
Bluffing: If you plan a large bluff mentally picture the hand you are representing and be sure the story makes sense. Do not think "If I bet this much he should fold to my bluff." This is wrong and your body language will give away what you are doing. Instead think "How do I want to extract the most money with my top set of jacks" (as you look down at 94o) and proceed that way. You will project a different image to your opponent and be more successful.
Comfort Levels: Players with strong hands are more comfortable than players that are bluffing. Players that are comfortable can hold a conversation better. Usually this is used when determining the strength of another player's hand. It is especially useful when you have position.
Your opponent puts you to a decision for all your chips and you have the last action: This
is the time to talk. Now is when you probe to gain information
from
your opponent. You are last to act, there will be no other bets, only your call or fold. Think about your questions to get the proper reaction. Usually I suggest something surprising and unexpected. Do not ask yes or no simple questions, they are absolutes. Ask questions that force your opponent to think of the correct answer. Their simple reaction to the question can give clues to their intentions.
Be respectful, friendly, and polite: A good deed
is its own reward. In poker being a good person affects your state of mind.
Happiness creates good chemicals in your brain and a sense of peace,
negative emotions do the opposite. Positive action also uses less energy than negative actions and allows you to focus more on play (one of the reasons why Gus Hansen does not talk during a hand). If you become the words above
you keep yourself in a calm state of mind to make correct decisions
(Anne Duke follows the positive friendly mind set to other players at the table to her advantage).
Blowing up only encourages negative behavior and escalates going
on tilt as does being rude to other players. Another important reason to
stay in this frame of mind is your opponents. If they like you they
just might make a mistake in your favor. Seems impossible, not so.
Keeping this frame of mind also does one more thing, it keeps your
opponents predictable. If they see you being nice and not antagonizing
they tend to be nice to you, it earns respect. They are less prone
to get in the state of mind to "bust you" or "go
to war". They will show hands and give away information. You want your opponents passive and predictable, not
unpredictable and out for vengeance.
Upsetting Other Players: Attempting to tilt others by negative behavior has serious direct effects: Opponents may now come back at you emotionally or physically, and it increases stress levels. Stress in general is not good for the body. It produces chemicals that your body and mind don't like.
Acting in this style takes away from poker play focus. Other players might physically threaten you with intrusions in your space or rude physical actions, attempting to make you feel uncomfortable, or even worst. Emotionally they might say a distracting comment when you are trying to focus on a serious situation, or even call the floor on you for something minor just to attempt and distract you.
While some players do this act very well with little distractions it simply takes too much energy that can be better used elsewhere. All poker players are human and subject to the same emotions, stresses, and feelings as other humans. I believe the repercussions outweigh the benefits.
Combating Negative Behavior Tactics from Other Players: When you have a player who constantly hounds the table by insults, physical gestures, or un sportsman like conduct it is difficult not to stand up and say something. But again confrontation only will cause your stress levels to rise and you play worse. Getting in an insult war only plays into what they want, you on tilt and stressed. Usually these players are very good at what they do and never cross the line in their actions. None the less they reduce your chanced to win and increase theirs.
In both cash games and tournament play their action affects your income even if you are completely unaffected by their behavior. These players make others play worse thus having poor players lose money/chips faster. In a cash game the poor player might go broke and leave before you have a chance to make money from him. He might also not come back to the game. The fish is there for entertainment not emotional combat. You always want to make the fish feel welcome and the game fun. In tournament play this type rude player can easily accumulate chips from weak opponents by tilting them making it more difficult for you to play against his large stack.
So what can be done?
#1 Indirect Exploitation: If you are not affected by their behavior you can simply ignore it and treat that player as if they are not there. Let the other players be stressed go on tilt. You can then exploit this weakness that the rude player is building up. Take the chips/money before the rude player does.
#2 Friendly Confrontation: Other players will feel uncomfortable with this person's behavior. Pinpoint exactly what they are doing that is so offensive and state it to them verifying what others feel. But say it in a positive way. "Why do you have to act like a this at the table (doing X)? It only makes you look like a jerk? We are here to play poker, maybe win money, and enjoy ourselves. Your behavior is very immature and is making everyone feel uncomfortable, please stop." You are pointing out how foolish that player looks by his behavior. While you might enrage him more you should gain the sympathy and admiration of at least some of the players at your table. Unconsciously this might make those player act softer vs you which goes back to being everyone's friend. Your statement is true and accurate without it being a personal attack. It might also get the offending player to tone down his behavior or even go on tilt vs you.
#3 Aggressive Confrontation: If you can control your emotions and shrug off flight or fight situations then perhaps you can take a mirroring approach. In this method you display how ridiculous this person is acting while not directly attacking them. Mirror their actions and words when they are rude to a player, including yourself. If they say something stand up and make the same statement and gestures in a joking foolish exaggerated manner. Keep repeating this until the appropriate time when you let him know how ridiculous he is acting. This is a direct attack on his character and behavior without going over the line. Not only will this focus your stress into something more positive/humorous it will let off steam and should have a similar effect as #2 above from the rest of the table. This method might seem strange or excessive but it can work for the right person. No one likes being made fun of and this way you stop their behavior and make friends at the same time with everyone else.
What does this all mean?: Keeping your pattern
the same means you don't have to think about it. It means you look
boring and unreadable during a hand. The less you have to think
about outside factors the more you can concentrate on the game and
the opponents. Once your pattern becomes a habit of the same thing
over and over your mind is free to process everything else in the
environment. Being the guy at the table everyone likes encourages
predictable behavior from opponents, keeps you in a good frame of
mind, prevents blow ups, and gains you respect. Do unto others as
you would want done to yourself. Exploit the actions of those who are trying to exploit by using negative behavior. Every little advantage you get
on your opponents lowers the luck factor and increases the skill
factor. This means a better shot at the final table. It is that
simple.
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