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Steam Control |
Steam Control
No matter how well we play, we cannot always have the hands turn in our favor. You can out play your opponents every single hand, and still lose. You can have all your money in with the best hand, but that does not change the fact that the cards will fall where they may. Still, that's no consolation for when you take a bad beat, or even when you get bluffed out of a big pot. It happens to everyone. But, how you take your knocks proves what kind of poker player you truly are.
We're all there for the same reason: to win. So it's no surprise when money and pride's on the line, that people are going to get steamed. It's human nature. Can we change human nature? Can we control our emotions enough that we don't flip out unnecessarily?
It's possible, but varies from person to person. Some people rarely steam at all. Some steam at every opportunity. Some get flustered but can quickly regain composure. Some take weeks at a time to get over there losses. Still, no matter what end of the boat you're in, you may be able to find some ways to get over the loss, and get back to playing your top game.
When you take a huge hit, assess yourself. How are you feeling? Can you put the hand behind you? Don't lie to yourself about this, be completely honest. If you're feeling bad, and that hand is replaying through your head louder than anything else, it's time to put yourself on steam control. Here's some nice little techniques that can help you:
-Just get up from the table and take a walk. Trust me. If you're in a tournament, you'll be prone to think that your chips are useless getting blinded and anted off without you there, but it's better than the possible alternative of self-destructing on a fit of rage. Without focus, that's probably what's going to happen.
-Remind yourself that it's only one hand. You've got plenty more to play, and you can get back to where you were before.
-If you're religious, this can come in handy. I know there's not a huge amount of religious people in poker, but for those of you who are, that could be your escape from the emotional state you're in. Pray, meditate, whatever your religion calls for, and let that be your peace that gets you back into focus.
-Hide your emotions with humor. A good joke (even about that previous hand) will get some of the frustration out. This maybe a less likely possibility than any, but if you can take things better than most, or can actually laugh it off, it helps.
-Go into the bathroom and let your emotions out. I mean, don't go in there and tear up everything, just get out of everyone's way and vent your emotions through whatever means necessary.
-If none of this works, and you're in a cash game, cut your losses short, and go home. Do something not involved with poker, and get your mind off your bad day. You'll be in a better state to play tomorrow.
Keeping your focus is something you should always strive to do, but not always possible. It takes a bigger person to actually recognize their loss of focus and put measures into place to regain it.
Steam Control written by: HangukMiguk
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