I've taken shots many times and it's always been bad for me. I don't play my A game, I start to tilt when I get sucked out on, etc.. I learned a while ago that, whether it's true for everyone or not, it's certainly true for me that I shouldn't take shots - that I should only play in a game that I'm more than adequately rolled for.

For the most part, this has worked well for me, but I've noticed a quirk - when I go a long time without taking a shot - especially if I've been running hot - I find myself thinking, "I can beat this game, let me take a shot at it, I'll stop if I lose 3 buy ins etc." And whenever I do that, I of course remember why it's such a bad idea for me, because of the aforementioned reasons. And I'll not do it again. For a while. And then, eventually, I'll seem to forget again, and convince myself that it's ok to take a shot.

Why do I "forget" this lesson, and are there any psychological techniques I can use to avoid this issue? Thanks in advance!

You do it because you lack the discipline to force yourself to stop. Most if not all sites allow you to self ban from certain stakes. I'd start there.

Alcohol/substance use disorder is characterized by continuing to take a substance despite negative consequences. Have you ever considered that maybe you have a disorder?

The persons that have the most self-control are the ones that apply the least self-control, if not none at all. I feel like I have to repeat that one again for it to be understood...

OP I'd say you repress an urge to gamble and every once in a while it comes back up. That's what happens when you repress emotions, they come back up, it fogs your mind and takes over momentarily. Check Psychodynamic psychology if you're interested in getting rid of it. It's the only form of psychology that fix the root cause of the problem and liberates you completely from it, whereas modern psychology, like cognitive psychology, is more effective in managing the symptoms of the problem.

Hi Fish:

In general, I think it's okay to take a shot. Just be prepared to move back down if you lose.

However, I suspect that your issue may be a little deeper because you wrote "when I go a long time without taking a shot." This implies that you may be getting mentally tired (as opposed to physically tired) and as a result might be better off taking a few days off instead of taking a shot. And once mentally tired, you might be falling, when taking a shot, into one of the four losing states that are talked about here:

https://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/2...poker-1756469/

Best wishes,
Mason

Quite a lot to unpack there.

Have you thought about the reasons why you feel the urge to take a shot? Are your stakes boring? You don't feel challenged enough? You want to run it up? Go up in stakes faster? Personal reasons? Ego/reputation?

Also: do you have control over your urges in regular day-to-day life and is poker the only area where you struggle? Do you recognize it when your destructive thought pattern starts to emerge?

You know it is a bad decision and you still do it, this usually means your emotions are overpowering you. When emotions are that overwhelming, it's a sign of inner conflict. Like stackmemaybe said, you're asking to fix the symptoms but you need to address the root issue.

Taking shots is not necessarily bad, it´s just risky. You WILL get lucky or win some time.

Better to be lucky then good.
As long as you cant take the beat with a smile, i would not move up.

In the short-term luck is king.
In the long-term skill is king.

Being lucky isn't better if your goal is to actually make a go of poker.

Correct, just tried to say that its not worth it for some people if you cant laugh it off. If your wife left you, you lost your job, thats not the right time to take shots. Taking shots is fine, as long it does not affect you personally if things go south. imo

You do it since you come up short on the order to compel yourself to stop. Most if not all destinations permit you to self restriction from specific stakes. I'd start there black friday vpn