Machismo

Poker looks like a macho game, and some people try to prove how macho they are. Usually, they prove that they are just foolish. You can't play winning poker without some elements of machismo, but too much of it can be destructive.

Definitions

The word comes from the same Latin root as "masculine," and men are much more likely than women to be foolishly macho. My dictionary contained two definitions: (1) "a strong sense of masculine pride: an exaggerated masculinity," and (2) "an exaggerated or exhilarating sense of power or strength." Note that both definitions included "exaggerated," and its excessiveness causes the problems.

Machismo's Positive Elements

Poker is not a game for timid people. Unless you have some self-confidence, "heart," and aggression, you don't stand a chance.

• You must have enough confidence in your judgment to act decisively.

• You must take stands to prevent aggressive players from running over you.

• You must bet and raise to protect your hands and get the full value from them.

• You must have enough cockiness to create a strong image.

That's the good news, but there is a lot of bad news.

Machismo's Dangers

Lots of people (including some women) are too macho. By definition, machismo is exaggerated, and poker is a brutally realistic game. If you don't understand, accept, and work within your limitations, you are going to pay for it. Let's look at some of the mistakes machismo can cause.

Playing above their financial or psychological bankroll: Many people play in games they can't afford. They either don't have enough money or can't psychologically handle the swings. Instead of admitting and working within their limitations, they play above them and get clobbered.

Playing against superior competition: Many experts have stated that game selection is extremely important, and we have two wonderful aphorisms:

• "It's no good to be the 10th-best player in the world if the other nine are at your table."

• "If you look around the table and don't see the sucker, you're it."

Unfortunately, extremely macho people can't accept that others are superior. They try to prove their toughness by playing against people they should avoid.

Playing inferior cards: We all know that tight play is essential, but waiting for premium cards is boring and – to some people – a sign of weakness. They say, in effect, "You have to wait for premium cards, but I play so well that I can win without them." Of course, playing weak cards is a prescription for disaster, especially against strong players, but some people can't restrain themselves.

Playing against superior competition or with weak cards is partly caused by a misunderstanding of poker's essential nature. It looks like a macho game, but it is really a predatory one. Successful predators never attack without an edge. In fact, their first rule is attack the weak.

If lions were macho, they would attack adult elephants; one would feed them for a month. But lions are smarter than macho poker players. They and all other predatory animals avoid strong prey and go after the weakest, most vulnerable animals, such as cripples, babies, and pregnant females. It isn't macho, but it keeps them alive.

Exactly the same rule applies to poker winners: They attack only when they have an edge, and they don't care whether it comes from being a stronger player, having better cards, being in a better position, or any other factor.

Playing too aggressively: A few people go beyond just playing inferior cards; they over play them (and their other hands) to prove, "I'm a real gambler." This form of silliness is especially common when a man is trying to impress a woman. Of course, most women think he is an idiot, and the good players exploit his stupidity.

Overprotecting blinds and weak hands: Some macho fools regard attacks on their blinds as personal challenges, almost insults. They say, in effect, "Don't you know who I am?" They lose lots of bets with weak hands from a terrible position just to prove, "Nobody runs over me."

Challenging someone to heads-up matches: These challenges are the poker equivalent of "You wanna step outside?" They rarely result in actual heads-up games, but the individuals involved may play as if beating each other is their primary objective. They focus too much on each other, ignore the rest of the table, try too many fancy plays, and give their money to the bystanders.

Seeking revenge: This mistake is extremely common, and it is a factor in some of the others I've described. Anytime you wage war on a specific player, you'll probably hurt your bottom line.

Criticizing or lecturing other players: Countless authorities have stated that criticizing or lecturing reduces your profits by driving away weaker players or teaching them how to play better. Yet, lots of people do it. Why? Because putting down other players makes macho fools feel superior.

Lying about results: These lies are extremely common. In fact, if you believe what people say about their results, you must wonder who loses all the money that others claim to win. Lying protects egos, but prevents people from recognizing their limitations and taking steps to overcome them.

Why are People so Foolish?

Every one of those mistakes will obviously cost you money. All of us have made at least a few of them, even though we know better . We make them because – at least for the moment – proving our machismo becomes more important to us than our bottom line.

Recommendations

Don't try to prove ANYTHING about yourself. If you try to prove your machismo, skill, or anything else, it's going to cost you. At the end of the year, the only thing that matters is how much you win or lose. Roy Cooke said it best: "[Poker is] not about winning respect. It's about winning chips." ("Perception, Deception, Respect, and Results," Card Player, Jan. 23, 1998, Page 13)

Monitor your motives. Constantly ask yourself, "Why did I do that?" If you did it to increase your expected value, it will probably improve your results. If you did it for any other reason – especially trying to impress people – it will probably cost you money.

Understand and work within your limitations. Doing so is the exact opposite of machismo. It requires brutal honesty about yourself, other players, and the essential nature of our game. It demands sacrificing the temporary pleasures of protecting your ego and putting down others for the much longer and more important pleasure of improving your bottom line. After all, winning money is what poker is all about.