expecting to lose when ahead mentality - Psychology in Poker and Gambling

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expecting to lose when ahead mentality

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05-20-2009 , 04:58 PM

Strongsville

old hand

Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1,317

Because we all get frequently sucked out on I've just decided to expect to lose when I get my money in ahead. Aces vs Jacks preflop? That's a lose. Yep, lost...expected. If my cards do hold up then I get to be pleasantly surprised. I'll no longer be disappointed from any results. This effectively removes tilt from the game although it can be bad for morale. I don't see how it'd affect your game in any negative way to be honest if you keep playing smart +ev poker.

I used to get tilted by having my aces cracked a bunch of times in a row or really anything else that sucks but It doesn't happen anymore with this thinking.

Last edited by Strongsville; 05-20-2009 at 05:03 PM.

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05-20-2009 , 11:53 PM

justaPlayer

grinder

Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 630

Best advice I can give you is to gather all available evidence, make what you assess to be the optimal play, and then quite simply stop paying attention (if it is an all-in situation). Don't expect to win, don't expect to lose. Prolly look at the HH to see if you made a mistake or a wrong read. But beyond that, when the money goes in, in your mind it should already be over.

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05-21-2009 , 05:52 PM

springsteen87

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 8,998

Be happy with yourself for making +EV decisions, the outcome of those decisions is irrelevant to you. If the outcome of making +EV decisions is affecting you, you are playing beyond your mental bankroll.

I would consider playing at a level that will not affect you physically or mentally if you lose/win 10 BI

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05-22-2009 , 09:54 AM

RoosterCAD

banned

Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 2,194

Same problem with me and I was going to make a thread about it so thanks OP.

Take my latest session,

AK v AT - lose
44 v J3 - lose
AA v JJ - lose
Any pair I get when shortstacked and have to shove v KK/AA in the LP/blinds
AQ v KJ - lose
AQ v A9 - lose
AA v 77 - lose

and on and on and on................

Now I just think "not going to win this one either" when I push with the best hand.

This thinking has made me fold pre-flop with more marginal hands like pocket pairs or KQ/AJ when I should be raising.

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05-22-2009 , 11:20 AM

TheNatural25

enthusiast

Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 50

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoosterCAD

were you all in pre flop with these, or?

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05-22-2009 , 11:22 AM

RoosterCAD

banned

Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 2,194

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were you all in pre flop with these, or?

Yeah all in pre-flop!!!!

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05-22-2009 , 03:54 PM

stigliano

stranger

Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 4

"If my cards do hold up then I get to be pleasantly surprised"

Psychology is the topic, so here's some for you
by your mind set in dealing with this particular hick up, you have created another
the term pleasantly surprised is a trigger that everything is fine and you stop
fighting the fight

IE. you still have a couple of million hands to play (don't you)

as grinder said
"Best advice I can give you is to gather all available evidence, make what you assess to be the optimal play, and then quite simply stop paying attention"

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05-25-2009 , 01:30 AM

scottik187

journeyman

Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 212

I just remember all the coin flips that i do win, or the time I sucked out with a straight flush hitting one of my cards.

These things happen. Considering the volume of a serious online player, you will see the small % suckouts happen a lot more than you will in B&M.

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05-26-2009 , 12:01 PM

springsteen87

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 8,998

Being psychologically affected by things you can't control is illogical. If you make a -EV decision, it's natural to feel negatively about it. When your opponent spikes a 1 outer, it's natural to feel poorly, but don't feel poorly about your decision making. Also don't let this emotion stick for more than a few seconds if you feel it.

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05-27-2009 , 04:46 AM

#10

RoosterCAD

banned

Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 2,194

At some point, I realized I was actually rooting for the other guy to suckout on me, or for it to be a cooler. I was actually enjoying losing while making +EV decisions. It gave me pride to continue to stay focused and not tilt while losing big pot after big pot.

Is it just me but I fear being dealt AA or KK and getting called its like "Oh here we go lets see how we can lose this one"

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