Taking a break from Poker - LONG & Low Content

[wazz]

Agreed with almost everything you said, dave, apart from

'Compared to something like chess or backgammon, the level of intellectual ability, experience and study to become proficient is tiny.'

The key skills for chess, backgammon and poker can and are all taught, in books, coaching etc, but it's the psychological element that separates poker from chess and backgammon. There is a large but finite number of card-specific situations in poker, multiplied by an infinite range of variables specific to the psychology of every person who was dealt in to that hand, plus past history, etc. The skills needed to incorporate all the available information and then use that to come up with the best action are not something you'd find in chess or backgammon.

'And yet the vast majority of people are probably lifetime losers.'

It would be a crazy world where this is not true. I'd suggest you don't need the 'probably'!

Janelle - some people find it easier than others to blank out emotion from their game, and this is certainly a desirable skill, but if you're vaguely in control of your own psychology it's not a huge mistake to allow yourself to be emotionally affected by results, as long as you can dissociate your play from your emotions.

[Big Dave D]

Wazz, Of course the meta game stuff is what makes poker interesting. I was referring to the specific game mechanics/skill/understanding of the game/struggling to find the right phrase stuff. Most of the chess giants started as children. Backgammon pro's typically practice, not play, but practice, as if it were a full time job. You just don't need that dedication to get the basics of poker. And these basics are much less important than the meta game stuff.

I know, and I'm sure you do too, several old time live pros that have a pretty bad understanding of the "game" of poker but their temperament relative to their foes is so much better that they end up winners anyway.

gl

bdd

[JanelleBB7]

[ QUOTE ]
Janelle - some people find it easier than others to blank out emotion from their game, and this is certainly a desirable skill, but if you're vaguely in control of your own psychology it's not a huge mistake to allow yourself to be emotionally affected by results, as long as you can dissociate your play from your emotions.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, I am definately trying to make sure I don't mess up my poker but bringing in my emotions into the game. I think by forcing myself to reflect on my play and remove myself from the game I will take control again.

I think it is particularly hard for me because I am really new still and it is easy for me to forget how I don't have much experience. All of you have years of this and so you been there and done that... whereas I am just reading it and not living it and feeling it until now. I think I will get to a point where I can learn to control my poker playing and my life... I just need time.