Negative Attitude = Positive EFffect?
So can a negative attitude to poker actually result in a positive effect on your play?
It sounds a rather unusual question and you may be thinking that the answer is pretty obviously a resounding "No!". I`m not so sure though.
Now obviously I wouldn`t have asked this question if I didn`t think it related to my play. You see for the last couple of weeks I`ve hardly been playing. I went through a very bad patch losing so many hands as an 80%+ favourite on the turn or river that it became extremely annoying. Eventually that annoyance turned into resignation and I thought I`d take a few days off and only play again when the desire struck me again.
Well although I`ve hardly played since that decision, when I have played I`ve played extremely well. I won the Charity Ball and I`ve cashed in 7 of the 8 games I`ve played this week. None of them big wins, two of them just small free-roll cashes. Nonetheless I`ve played some very good poker in them.
So I`ve gone from being unable to cash to a very high success rate. Now there are several factors I can attribute this to. It could be that I`ve been luckier, hit a few more flops, sucked out more. But I don`t think that`s a big part of it.
It could be that I`ve made a significant advance in my play. Well I did read part of a book I was very impressed with that dealt with aggressive style play in NLHE tournaments. I do think that some of what I read sank in and helped my game. However, whilst I`d consider it a contributing factor I don`t think it`s the main reason.
I`ve also given HORSE a break and been playing mainly NLHE which is refreshing but whilst again it might be part of the reason I don`t consider it a huge factor.
So the main reason I think I`ve been playing well is this. I`ve played more aggressively and been much more willing to gamble than I usually am. As you can see that ties in with the book I read but I attribute it more to an uncaring attitude. I really haven`t cared wether I was going to win, or cash. As a result I`ve bet bigger, bluffed bigger, gambled a little more and as a result had a few more suckouts.They say a great high stakes player has to have a complete disregard for money and I truly understand what they mean. Not that I`m claiming to be a high stakes player. I just mean that not caring about the result grants you a level of mental freedom in your play. I haven`t been playing crazy loose just more aggressive. In situations I would normally call or fold in I`ve been far more likely to raise and for the most part it`s worked. All of this has given me an excellent set of results. The funny thing is I still feel rather disinterested in the game despite the fact I`m playing some very good poker. So has a negative attitude had a positive effect?
I think it has and hopefully as my enthusiasm for the game returns (as I`m sure it will) I`ll be able to take what I`ve learned and continue to employ it as a very effective weapon.
It sounds a rather unusual question and you may be thinking that the answer is pretty obviously a resounding "No!". I`m not so sure though.
Now obviously I wouldn`t have asked this question if I didn`t think it related to my play. You see for the last couple of weeks I`ve hardly been playing. I went through a very bad patch losing so many hands as an 80%+ favourite on the turn or river that it became extremely annoying. Eventually that annoyance turned into resignation and I thought I`d take a few days off and only play again when the desire struck me again.
Well although I`ve hardly played since that decision, when I have played I`ve played extremely well. I won the Charity Ball and I`ve cashed in 7 of the 8 games I`ve played this week. None of them big wins, two of them just small free-roll cashes. Nonetheless I`ve played some very good poker in them.
So I`ve gone from being unable to cash to a very high success rate. Now there are several factors I can attribute this to. It could be that I`ve been luckier, hit a few more flops, sucked out more. But I don`t think that`s a big part of it.
It could be that I`ve made a significant advance in my play. Well I did read part of a book I was very impressed with that dealt with aggressive style play in NLHE tournaments. I do think that some of what I read sank in and helped my game. However, whilst I`d consider it a contributing factor I don`t think it`s the main reason.
I`ve also given HORSE a break and been playing mainly NLHE which is refreshing but whilst again it might be part of the reason I don`t consider it a huge factor.
So the main reason I think I`ve been playing well is this. I`ve played more aggressively and been much more willing to gamble than I usually am. As you can see that ties in with the book I read but I attribute it more to an uncaring attitude. I really haven`t cared wether I was going to win, or cash. As a result I`ve bet bigger, bluffed bigger, gambled a little more and as a result had a few more suckouts.They say a great high stakes player has to have a complete disregard for money and I truly understand what they mean. Not that I`m claiming to be a high stakes player. I just mean that not caring about the result grants you a level of mental freedom in your play. I haven`t been playing crazy loose just more aggressive. In situations I would normally call or fold in I`ve been far more likely to raise and for the most part it`s worked. All of this has given me an excellent set of results. The funny thing is I still feel rather disinterested in the game despite the fact I`m playing some very good poker. So has a negative attitude had a positive effect?
I think it has and hopefully as my enthusiasm for the game returns (as I`m sure it will) I`ll be able to take what I`ve learned and continue to employ it as a very effective weapon.
posted by DangerMouse at 4:28 AM
2 Comments:
Good Game Last Night Mousey.
What was the book DM? I've been playing like a crazy nutter bastard for years and have found recently I have been moving back to rock like play so completely at odd's with your own experience.
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