Emotions of an Amateur Poker Player
There is a direct link between emotions and money. The thought of your hard-earned money being staked at the poker table can have a direct pressure on your feelings, and thereby, controlling your emotions.
Emotions pervade in the poker table. So winning and losing money are like an emotional rolling coaster ride. There is anger, self-pity, excitement, masochism, greed, sadism, and a whole array of emotional drama happening when you're playing poker or any other game of chance.
Here's where we distinguish professionals from amateurs: Emotional control. Professionals suppress their emotions and do not get desperate, which helps them think objectively and act smoothly. Amateurs are unable to control his emotions and are influenced by his feelings. He acts on his whims, which busts open his tells.
There are various emotional responses in a game. Whatever those reactions are, professionals use that experience for their financial gain and poker success
Here are some common (predictable) reactions of amateur poker players.
• In a losing streak, they either play loose to recover losses or play tight to minimize losses.
• In a winning streak, they play loose to extend their luck or play tight to protect their luck.
• In a hot streak, they try to extend their streak of good luck by playing recklessly.
• When losing a big hand, or when their feelings hurt, they play poorly to avenge a loss or they retaliate for injured pride.
• When struck by fear, lack of confidence, nervousness, etc, players act comical or silly
• Or when they feel fear and nervous out of desperation, they become prone to impulsive actions and thus commit predicatable mistakes.
• When struck by laziness and fatigue, players lose their concentration and they decrease their awareness of the situation.
• When players fear their opponents, or when playing in a high stakes game, or fearing the loss of a chunk of their money, they lose their assertiveness and aggressions.
Most amateurs go through with these emotions before overcoming them by thorough analysis. It is difficult to get past them, but it is possible through time, practice, and (of course) money. Most amateurs don't go pro because of these reasons. That is why professionals are rare.
But let me tell you one tip though: the technique of almost all pros is to produce desirable emotions like pleasure, positive thoughts, and self-esteem during a game despite losing hands (big or small). Poor players let themselves ride their emotions that takes them to undesirable results.
