The Psychology of Poker

[1p0kerboy]

This is one of the few 2+2 books I have never read.

Can someone tell me if the concepts in the book apply to all poker games? Are there hand examples in the book and if so, which game are they examples of?

[phydaux]

Hand examples are mostly from limit hold'em. However, this isn't really a poker book. It's a people book.

It talks about differant people's motivation for playing poker, and how "I play for the money" is always a lie. Always a lie.

Then it talks about how differant motivations lead to differant play styles. And how to make adjustments, both to your own play and to your personality, to best extract money from a player based on their own motivations for playing poker.

Because the fish don't mind losing money, so long as they have fun doing it. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

It also talks about examining your own motivations for playing poker, because "I play for the money" is always a lie. And it talks about adjustments you must make to your own poker play, based on your motivation and, by extention, your own play style.

[SplawnDarts]

[ QUOTE ]

It also talks about examining your own motivations for playing poker, because "I play for the money" is always a lie.

[/ QUOTE ]

So much for any interest I might have in that book (and I'll admit I had very little to begin with). There are many people who play for the money (and possibly fringe bennifits like a flexible schedule), and would take up some other activity if the combination of pay and bennifits was better.

[phydaux]

There's lots of things you can do for money that offer a better combination of pay and benefits than being a poker player. Sell insurance. Start a lawn care business. Go to work for Wal-Mart.

Hell, name one casino that offers its players health insurance. LOL!

Seriously though, full time or part time there are always other motives, and the money usually isn't the top motive. For anyone.

I enjoy the challenge of a difficult, 100% mental pursuit and doing it well. I enjoy the competition, and showing other people I'm better at poker than they are. I enjoy the thrill of raking a big pot, and the satisfaction of logging a winning session.

All of that, the thrill, the satisfaction, the challenge, feeding my smugness and stroking my ego, it all comes before the money for me.

The game is poker, money is just the points. I play for the game.

If you examined yourself honestly, you'd probably agree that many of those same things motivate you to a greater or lesser degree. And many of them are more important to you than the money.

Knowing that about yourself, and knowing that those same sorts of things are true about the other players, goes a long way toward the "play the player" part of your game.

AND helps prevent you from getting played by other players. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[Adman]

I've gotta admit, The Psychology of Poker is one of my favorite poker books. It's definitely not essential reading and it won't turn your game around or anything like that but it is nonetheless, a very enjoyable read.

[deacsoft]

This book gets a lot of flack on the forums here because it's not a strategy based book. I, and others, really like this book. I highly recommend that it should be one of the first books every poker player reads. It covers a lot of key information about you, the reader. This information is so important to know about yourself and poker as one. The understanding it can help the reader come to can help a player tremendously.

[fraac]

I disagree with your assertion that the book is disliked because it's not strategy. I dislike the book because the only people who could usefully apply it lack self-awareness to an extent where they'll never be good at poker, just less bad.

[KJT]

I recently started reading this book after having read over 20 others and I wish I had done it sooner. The chapter "Do You Have the Right Stuff?" could be the most important chapter I have ever read on poker, imo.

[raistlinx]

[ QUOTE ]
Hand examples are mostly from limit hold'em. However, this isn't really a poker book. It's a people book.

It talks about differant people's motivation for playing poker, and how "I play for the money" is always a lie. Always a lie.


[/ QUOTE ]

To be fair the book is talking about that being the only reason (or very close too it). This is typically a lie. Money is 'a' reason people play poker, but not the 'only' reason. The book also points out that since most people lose money playing poker "making money" isn't a possible reason for most people.

But it never says playing for money is always a lie.

[CurryLover]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

It also talks about examining your own motivations for playing poker, because "I play for the money" is always a lie.

[/ QUOTE ]

So much for any interest I might have in that book (and I'll admit I had very little to begin with). There are many people who play for the money (and possibly fringe bennifits like a flexible schedule), and would take up some other activity if the combination of pay and bennifits was better.

[/ QUOTE ]

Lol. SplawnDarts, you are a very clear example of someone who plays for reasons other than just the money. You very obviously like to demonstrate your superiority over others and poker is a vehicle that allows you to attempt this.