Hey all,

so I recently started getting back into poker after a break of a few months during which I didn't play very often, only to discover that my game still suffers from the same psychological leaks that have plagued them since I've started. I'm a micro stakes cashgamer and I believe that one huge reason why I'm still a losing player is that I make dumb river calls all the time. I'm talking calling off huge river raises where it's obvious I'm beat, and yet I still press call. I couldn't even tell you exactly why I do that, but one of the reasons is definetely that I convince myself to make the call in order to see what happens and if I lose the pot, "learn" from the mistake. I say "learn" because over the ~60k hands that I've played so far, this has happened much more often than I'd be comfortable with, and at this point, I should definetely know better (and in hindsight, I always do). All of these situations are very similar, so there's really no reason in me still trying to justify these kind of calls. Yet, whenever there's a decision like that to make, some inner urges to press the call button still overwhelm me.
I really don't know what to do about this problem. In the past, I collected examples of pots like this and added up the amount of money that I've lost and looked at that sum from time to time during a session or beforehand. However, this method had little to no effect.

Have any of you experience with this kind of problem? How did you take it on?

First of all, it's great that you're at least partially aware of the issue at play here.

Let's see if we can look at the issue very clearly and precisely:

1) You mentioned this urge to call and find out; what is this urge exactly?

Is it a patterned habitual response in the mind?

In reality, is there an attachment in the mind to the strength of your hand or having to know what the other player had?

What if from your sample you can infer that when the general population raises the river they tend to 'have it' with a significantly high frequency? And so instead of the above there could be an adjustment in thought towards playing with the knowledge of the population tendency. And more importantly can you grasp the advantage of doing this (factoring population tendencies in decision making)?

NB this of course has to be applied intelligently based on the various other situational factors that can impact decisions in a hand

2) Further, at the point when the urge arises:

"Am I aware of the possibility to bring attention to the urge rather than be absorbed by it and follow it to it's conclusion/action?"

3) What occurs in the seeing/understanding of the urge for precisely what it is?

This is something that can be tested.

And finally, do you see the necessity for awareness during playing?

Put a sticky note on your computer when you play that says, "Don't call just to see his cards!"

Then come up with a good punishment to implement when you do it and hold yourself accountable.

Just switch to limit. Now your river calls are mostly correct.

I'd try to pot control then when it's checked to you so you can keep your errors smaller in terms of $. Hard to relate to because big river bets in microstakes are almost never bluffs as a rule.

I've helped a few people through this, pm me if you want an affordable mental game coaching session. Just in case you're unsure we can start with a free 30-minute consultation call where I'll share with you my process and some testimonials too.

well i have the same feelings as you now.
Though i know that almost all in bets in Micro are''nt bluff, i still want and my brain always tell me to call (just to see his cards, or just to hope his bluffs).
But recently i check my river call in PT4, i know the truth that hardly ever villains bluff me on Big River bets.

atm i still can't always fold river with KK facing AA despite of my gut.
Maybe we should write down it on paper and stick in front of your laptop )

I have a tiny list semi-visible all the time but the content of it changes as the old ones get better in memory. It is not easy to remember about anything in the action if one doesn't stick it in the memory regularly.

One has not learned anything well enough if one doesn't follow it. One can "know" how to do whatever but it doesn't mean one has learned it. In this case, it is about the memory (I know what some word means and it is in my memory but it isn't there strong enough) and the variations of the situation.

The good news is that it means profits if one grind into learning.

Interesting. I would have expected that someone skilled in this field would be able to offer a real, credible, and actionable response to the question asked in the place that it was asked, rather than simply pushing a product.

I would have expected a demonstration of that ability to convince readers that you offer a service worthy of your fee.

I guess I'm just slow.

I wonder how you feel when you do fold a hand - how does it leave you feeling? Is there a niggling suspicion that you've just been bluffed off the best hand?

sometimes i think we can make the call because at least we have certainty - even if it's certainty of having made a bad call rather than the possibility that we've just been "owned"