A Thought I Just Had (psych/theory)

[citanul]

jman,

i think that ideally, there's one situation where you should be upset by your opponent's actions, and that is when you have in some way forced them, tricked them, or enticed them in to "outplaying" you.

i here want to definte what i mean by "outplaying." i don't mean the normal "he played better than you," i mean to convey that you've done something yourself that in some way compelled your opponent to put you in a spot that you are uncomfortable with, that you could have avoided.

in all other spots, when we're thinking "oh come on check behind" it's because, basically, we don't want to have to face the decision of what to do if they bet, we just want to see the showdown (or frequently we feel that if they check we win the vast majority). this is basically to me just a version of pot control. you don't want to have to face big bets on the end with 3rd pair because well, you have 3rd pair. though the big bet gives you an opportunity to make a good call or throw away the worst hand, or raise him, or whatever, hard decisions are hard, and so you sometimes play in order to keep the decisions hard.

i guess what i'm trying to say is that when you have chosen a line against a particular opponent (and this must be more extreme in heads up games) that causes your opponent to make a play that switches your decision from easy to hard (bad bet sizes that then get raised on the turn or river does this a lot), then i get upset, but with myself, not with my opponent.

my opponents are "allowed" to play decently, and i don't get upset when they make me make decisions. i just try to choose not to play against the ones who consistently find ways to make me make very hard decisions, even on smallish pots.

/end rambly semi-nonsensical post.

c

[Jman28]

[ QUOTE ]
jman,

i think that ideally, there's one situation where you should be upset by your opponent's actions, and that is when you have in some way forced them, tricked them, or enticed them in to "outplaying" you.

i here want to definte what i mean by "outplaying." i don't mean the normal "he played better than you," i mean to convey that you've done something yourself that in some way compelled your opponent to put you in a spot that you are uncomfortable with, that you could have avoided.

in all other spots, when we're thinking "oh come on check behind" it's because, basically, we don't want to have to face the decision of what to do if they bet, we just want to see the showdown (or frequently we feel that if they check we win the vast majority). this is basically to me just a version of pot control. you don't want to have to face big bets on the end with 3rd pair because well, you have 3rd pair. though the big bet gives you an opportunity to make a good call or throw away the worst hand, or raise him, or whatever, hard decisions are hard, and so you sometimes play in order to keep the decisions hard.

i guess what i'm trying to say is that when you have chosen a line against a particular opponent (and this must be more extreme in heads up games) that causes your opponent to make a play that switches your decision from easy to hard (bad bet sizes that then get raised on the turn or river does this a lot), then i get upset, but with myself, not with my opponent.

my opponents are "allowed" to play decently, and i don't get upset when they make me make decisions. i just try to choose not to play against the ones who consistently find ways to make me make very hard decisions, even on smallish pots.

/end rambly semi-nonsensical post.

c

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree with the getting upset at yourself part. Nothing makes me more angry than when I make a big mistake, including monster suckouts or hitnrunners. (Although it's close)

But just as an expert logician loves a nearly impossible logic problem, shouldn't an expert poker player love an extremely difficult spot?

[SlowHabit]

[ QUOTE ]
But just as an expert logician loves a nearly impossible logic problem, shouldn't an expert poker player love an extremely difficult spot?

[/ QUOTE ]
Expert logician doesn't go on tilt if he can't solve a logic problem (or makes the wrong decision) and even if he does, he doesn't have to worry about losing his moneys that might set him back when he is grinding low-stakes to move up again.

FWIW, poker is a high complicated game with psychological warfare blah blah blah. I enjoy snapping a bluff with A high as the next guy, but I know for sure the level of excitement (at least for me in the game of poker) isn't as satisfying as calling a shove with the nuts.

[luegofuego]

i play bettwe when underrolled, much better. probably because i am way too rowdy and reckless when i have 75 buyins.

[restrikt]

If you love the challenge Jman, I can see why you play so high underolled.

I never play my A game unless I am playing underolled. There's just no pressure to focus.

[Taylor Caby]

have you thought about why you play nosebleed stakes underrolled? i mean really sat down and thought about it and asked if the risk you take every day is really worth you not playing optimally (although you are probably learning faster because you are literally sweating out every hand).

you seem like a smart enough guy and a good player, why put yourself through the stress and risk of ruin? i guess i'm just not like i'm most players but i'm completely rolled for these games but still don't play the nosebleed stakes.

s

[Jman28]

[ QUOTE ]
have you thought about why you play nosebleed stakes underrolled? i mean really sat down and thought about it and asked if the risk you take every day is really worth you not playing optimally (although you are probably learning faster because you are literally sweating out every hand).

you seem like a smart enough guy and a good player, why put yourself through the stress and risk of ruin? i guess i'm just not like i'm most players but i'm completely rolled for these games but still don't play the nosebleed stakes.

s

[/ QUOTE ]

Thank you for the post Taylor. I haven't ever really thought about it. I'll do so today and get back to you.

[Taylor Caby]

no prob. i'm interested to know your answer and it could be helpful for a lot of people.

tc

[Panella]

Taylor is completely rolled for any game.

Taylor has a "substantial position in the stock market" yes thats a quote hahahahahaha

Taylor has turned down huge hedge fund offers hahahahahaha

Taylor plays "in the biggest games in the world and beats them" hahahahahahaha


I'm sure you're a nice kid, but do you have any idea what you sound like ? You come across as a suburban frat boy who needs approval and attention for being a very good 10-20 player.

[aejones]

The long run never comes. Think about that for a while.