The most common discussions I see in table chat and certain forums involve cheating allegations:
- The site is rigged
- The winning player is bot
- The player who called with a bad hand is colluding
etc.
One of the best things you can do for your game is to correct this mental bug. In this thread, I want to show why the allegations are usually wrong and offer some insight into how to move forward.
First, consider the fact that people usually make the accusation when something unusual happens . This is understandable, but should be tempered by the knowledge that unusual things happen in poker
all the time. Bad beats and bad plays are integral parts of the game. Imagine a world where the best hand always wins. The game would easily be dominated by the best players in the world, the bad players would go broke and leave, and poker would be finished. Your opponents are going to play 83o and sometimes win. They are going to shove T9s into your aces and sometimes win. Embrace these as part of the game. Be thankful for them, because they are what keeps the fun, low-skill players coming back.
Second, remember everyone overestimates their own skill. This is especially true at the early stages of a poker career. When our knowledge is limited and we don't even know what we don't know, we tend to think that we have mastered a significant portion of the game. When things don't go our way, we fall into the trap of blaming others. "I shouldn't be losing consistently, so the site must be rigged against me." "I made the right decision here, so my opponent had to cheat to win the hand." You and I haven't reached the peak yet so there is more to learn. Some of what we learn may reveal our own weaknesses.
Third, remember that your memory is faulty and biased. Do you
always lose with aces? Our memory capacity isn't unlimited, so we tend to store the things that stand out. When I get pocket aces, I expect to win. When everything goes according to plan, my brain usually doesn't store that memory because it isn't relevant or useful for the future; the expected thing happened. However, when those aces get cracked, my expectation is ripped away. I form a memory because the event is shocking and painful. My brain is desperately trying to make sense of my new, disturbed reality.
To improve your poker life, embrace the fact that people will play in wildly unconventional ways. They may be new, or tilted, or drunk, or a thrill seeker. They may have misclicked, or they may live for the moments when they beat good players with insane holdings. The reason doesn't matter because you will succeed in the long run with consistent, mathematically-sound play. Let them have their fun; even consider celebrating with them because you are likely to benefit when they do it again. Show them that you expect them to win sometimes because you will be happier. Your happiness will translate into enthusiasm for the game and will lead to better profit in the future.
Last edited by AmiableFool; 12-07-2022 at 05:04 PM.
