21 Aug 2024 mindset mental game tilt Yes, yes, yes, we don't cold-call from the Small Blind. But sometimes, when no one is watching, you might take a chance and play suited connectors or small pocket pairs. After all, you could hit a set or a straight on the flop. The probability of hitting a set on the flop is 12%, and for a straight, it is just 1.3%. These chances might seem tempting, but should you rely on them for your decisions? Why Do We Ignore the Math in Poker? So why, despite knowing the poker odds, do you still enter pots out of position with almost no chance of success? Perhaps you got lucky once in a similar situation and think it will happen again. Or maybe you folded and then saw the flop and thought, "Ah, I knew it, I knew it!" Such decisions often come from linear thinking, which simplifies complex scenarios into basic cause-and-effect reasoning. Linear thinking is when a person evaluates events or makes decisions based on simple cause-and-effect relationships, ignoring many other factors that influence the situation. This type of thinking often fails to account for the complexity of poker, where multiple variables are in play. It makes decisions seem straightforward but can limit your understanding of the game. The Consequences of Linear Thinking The results of linear thinking can be as follows: Players base their opinions on one lucky outcome, disregarding the long-term math and probabilities. This can lead to a distorted understanding of strategy and chances. Long-term results provide a more accurate picture than isolated samples. A player who wins several times in a row with a certain hand or strategy may start to believe it’s the best approach, overlooking the variance and the importance of long-term results. This short-term success can create a false sense of optimal play. A player applies the same strategy in various situations without considering critical factors like position, board texture, stack size, and opponent’s playing style. Linear thinking limits objectivity and prevents seeing the full picture of the game. How Professional Players Think Differently Professional poker players aim for non-linear and flexible thinking: They make decisions based on knowledge of poker mathematics and probability theory rather than relying on intuition only. They use software to develop optimal strategies that are not influenced by individual lucky events. These tools help them create strategies based on data and trends rather than their own limited experience. They consider a variety of factors when making decisions, such as positions, opponent styles, and stack sizes. They continuously analyze their own play and that of their opponents, study new strategies, and adapt to new trends. This ongoing learning process helps them stay ahead of the competition. Understanding and applying non-linear thinking will make you a more professional poker player. It will help you make more optimal decisions and improve your overall strategy.