07 Aug 2024 discipline mental game mindset tilt In poker, just like in life, our actions and attitudes can often lead us the wrong way. Many players, whether they’re novices or experienced pros, fall into common traps that hinder their progress and drain their bankrolls. Here, we explore the 9 deadly sins that poker players frequently commit, offering insights on how to recognize and overcome them. By understanding and avoiding these pitfalls, you can improve your game and, perhaps, your life outside of poker as well. Sin #1: Pride "Don't get carried away during an upswing". You've learned the charts, stopped posting blinds out of turn, and caught an upswing at NL5? Feeling like a poker genius, you think table selection is no longer necessary. Don’t stop there! High-stakes sharks are waiting on poker forums for you to come and teach them how to play. Maybe you should become a poker coach since you already know everything. Overconfidence can be your downfall; always strive to keep learning and improving. Sin #2: Curiosity Curiosity kills not only cats but also win rates. A straight completes, a flush hits, and your opponent bets half the pot. Your inner voice screams that this is a value bet — all the semi-bluffs have comleted, and your set has turned into a pumpkin. But the pot odds look so inviting, and your set looks so beautiful — let’s call down and see what the opponent has, maybe just two pairs? If you've never seen a flush or hate money, go ahead. But don’t complain later that the fish always outdraws you — it was your decision to call. Sin #3: Greed Lost all your chips, caught a few bad beats — it’s unfair, you need to get it back immediately! How to do it quickly? Right, let’s chase the losses at a higher limit. If you want to get rid of your bankroll fast, this is a perfect strategy. Managing your emotions and avoiding the temptation to recover losses impulsively is crucial for long-term success. Sin #4: Impatience Everyone else is playing, but you keep getting junk hands and are just paying the blinds. An hour, two hours. By the third hour, T♥6♥ from UTG doesn’t look so bad — let’s see the flop? Impatience leads to poor decision-making and can quickly destroy your stack. Discipline is key; wait for the right opportunities. Sin #5: Denial of Reality "I played well, but my opponent just got lucky." "He had no call there, what a calling station!" "I did everything right, just got unlucky." If you’re so smart, why aren’t you rich? Open Forbes magazine and find your name! Well, at least find your nickname in the top 20 PokerStars rankings. What’s that, you couldn’t? Denying reality and blaming luck prevents you from learning from your mistakes. Accept responsibility and analyze your play objectively to improve. Sin #6: Slowplay Caught the nuts and waiting for the opponent to do all the work? Poker gods and the RNG have done their best, so show some respect. Better to make a value bet, even if it seems unlikely to be called, than to miss the chance to win a bigger pot. Overusing slow play tends to result in a lot of missed value over the long run. Sin #7: Narcissism If you want to beat your opponent, think about them and their range on this board texture, not your hand. Admire yourself at home in front of the mirror; at the poker table, all your attention should be on your lovely fish. They’re very capricious — if you get distracted by yourself, they won’t forgive and you will get punished. Focus on understanding your opponents' playing styles and their tendencies to make better decisions. Sin #8: Despair Justifying and pitying yourself feels good. Unfortunately, you don’t get paid for it! Instead, maintain a positive mindset and focus on what you can control — making the best decisions in every hand. Sin #9: Anger Your opponent plays like an idiot, and the RNG favors them — what an outrage! "We’ll punish everyone, take revenge — let them know who they’re f*cking with!" Defending your property is natural. Trying to get it back by angrily giving away stacks is idiocy. Anger clouds judgment and leads to reckless play. Stay calm and disciplined, even in the face of bad beats or during a nasty downswing.
