Archive for the ‘Casino Poker’ Category
The Emotional Side of Poker
Poker players win or lose not just because they get better cards or worse cards than other players at the table but also because they either have superb control over their emotions or they wear their emotions on their sleeve for everyone else at the table to see.
There’s excitement and prestige in casino poker rooms and professional poker players know that their concentration will be compromised if they let outside elements distract them from the game they’re playing.
Poker is a real “people game” in a live casino, one of the major differences between playing poker online or face-to-face. No where is having a good “poker face” more important than at a high stakes poker table where each player tries to keep the other players from “reading” their cards by way of their facial reactions.
Professional poker players have years of experience reading other players emotions whether it’s other players’ facial expressions, rapid hand movements, changes in breathing, sudden perspiration, or other tip-offs. While different players have different reactions to similar situations, the goal is to determine if a player has a strong hand or a weak hand.
As one of the players in a live poker game, you first have to learn to hide your real emotions. If you have a fantastic hand, hide your emotions! If you have a lousy hand, hide your emotions! The card pro at the table is waiting to see how you react; don’t tip your hand!
Now that you’re not letting the other players know what kind of hand you have, it’s time to look around and “read” their hands. Someone at the table is bound to tip you to their good hand or their bad hand. Pay attention and use what you learn to your advantage.
Always remember that bluffing with a pair can sometimes win over a better hand just because the other player thinks their hand isn’t the best one at the table. Not every game is won by the best hand. Some games are on by the best player with a mediocre hand.
Not every poker player is cut out to be a consistent winner. Those players who are able to fine tune their emotional skills at the poker table have the best chance of more winning hands regardless of what cards they’re dealt.