Emotional control is one of the most important parts of playing online poker games that no one talks about. It can make a big difference in winning and losing a lot of money. Poker is a fusion of joy, distress, exhilaration and can take a serious toll on you if not controlled mentally.
We have tons of examples where a poker player won a tournament after being down to almost no chips. When you are angry, the part of the brain that responds is the one dealing with dispositions. It reacts quickly without much thinking involved, which can lead to some grave damage.
You Still Have Chips
In almost every tournament, you may suck out numerous times, but you don’t have to lose your mind as there are still chips in front of you.
Make Notes
One good trait that you can add in your abilities is to prepare notes of steps you want to take and the goals you want to achieve throughout a poker tournament. This will indeed help you in the long run and keep you more assertive.
Take A Break
It is better to leave a table for a few minutes every time you lose a hand that makes you angry. Take a walk for 20 minutes to calm down and put everything in perspective. There is no point of tilting off money gratuitously. You can read here how to avoid tilt in poker?
Be a Good Opponent
Don’t blame your opponents for the bad beats, you will indeed end up making fun of yourself. Instead, shake hands and say nice moves, don’t make enemies at the poker table as nothing good can come out of it.
Finding Your Interest
You might have seen many poker players wearing headphones and listening to music all the time. It may be because music is something that keeps them collective, cool, and calm. Similarly, you will have to find something that calms you down. It could be talking to your partner or playing your favorite game or enjoying your favorite sandwich.
Also See: Effective Tips For All-in Poker Strategy
Watch Your Diet
It is really important to keep your brain nourished while playing to be comfortable and spirited. Tournaments take a lot of time and can be stomached for hours, so it is better to avoid oily food or any heavy food that can make you drowsy. Opt for grilled chicken or juices along with fruits and power bars.
Controlling your emotions can be tough, especially if it includes large amounts of money. But you should know that making bad decisions can be more disastrous than being dealt a bad beat, so these are the types of situations that you can avoid by controlling your anger. Remember, it’s a Poker game and you cannot always win, even with good cards.
