I once read that the three skills most people lie about are driving, sex, and poker. Like any good truth, this knowledge makes me smile and nod like I have always known it. But sometimes I wonder if most people are lying to others or to themselves. If somebody really believes they are the best poker player in the world then, when they tell anyone, they are telling the truth as they know it. <READMORE>The human capacity for self-delusion is amazing. Anyone reading this think they are the worst driver on the road? Of course not, it’s those other schmucks. And, Bob Dole erectile dysfunction ads aside, anyone privately think they suck in the sack? Finally, how many of us are among the best poker players we know?
Pride is a strong motivator. It allows us to believe what we wish to. Another strong motivator is fear. My friend and fellow trainer at RPT, Todd Arnold, uses this against his opponents all the time. He allows their fear to convince them that he really has the best hand and they will fold. I remember one of his videos where he got an opponent to lay down top set into a coordinated board by playing on their fear of losing all their chips just out of the money.
Playing off your opponents’ emotions is one thing that separates the great players from the good ones. Great players use all the weapons at their disposal all the time. If their opponent is proud of their poker accomplishments, they play into it. If their opponent is scared of them, they take advantage of that fear.
One other way to use this very real and strong power of belief came to me in a live tourney at the Borgata Summer Open. The game was seven card stud and the table I was at was a lively one. We were joking and having a good time with each other. Absent were the hats and sunglasses and robotic blank expressions so common in nlhe.
At one point I was dealt rolled up sevens and by some chance of fate I was the low card up with my seven so I brought it in for the minimum. I told myself that I only had a pair of sevens and tried to make myself believe it. I didn’t make a move without thinking what I would have done had I only started with a pair of sevens instead of trips. When I paired my door card of 6th street I aggressively reraised an obvious straight and possible flush and got plenty of action. I even got paid off nicely at the end when the flush draw hit.
Later on in the tournament I used this same mental trick in reverse when I was dealt split queens. I convinced myself that I had rolled up trips and played it just like I would have if I actually had them. This time I got my lone opponent to fold his draw when he figured I had filled up.
Whatever unconscious signals we give off in life and in poker are based on what we believe to be true. By convincing myself that I had something other than what the cards showed I think I may have changed my signals. I am sure I changed my betting patterns at least. One day I would love to find somebody who is very skilled at reading tells and try this experiment with them to see if my tells change.
One thing is certain – the power of the mind to alter perception is incredible. Doctors, both eastern and western, have known this for a long time. Placebos, mental imagery, and hypnosis are more and more commonly used to get the patients mind involved in their treatment. Why not harness some of this energy for profit? Unfortunately, according to my wife, my other experiments with positive imagery have not yielded any significant results. But, at my age, I’m just thankful I am able to try.
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