Winners Push When They Are Winning

“I’ve got to get even” is one of poker’s dumbest statements, and you will often hear it. Countless people simply cannot accept losing, not even for one night, and they will do almost anything to get even. In doing so, they often convert small losses into much larger ones.

They become too emotional to see that something is wrong. Perhaps the game is too tough, or they are playing badly, or their bad luck or mistakes have created a weak table image that encourages opponents to take shots at them. They also may have the irrational belief that their luck has got to change.

If they are losing too much to get even in their current game, a few losers move to a larger one, ignoring three critical facts:

1. Larger games are generally tougher.
2. They may not be playing their best.
3. If they are known as a lower-stakes player, their opponents may see them as weak and play more aggressively against them.

If their losses become too large, they may take more desperate gambles, such as playing craps or roulette, or making large bets on horse races or sports, which are all negative EV [expected value] gambles. They usually just lose more heavily.

Even if they stay in the same game, their craving to get even puts some losers on tilt. When they are on tilt, even much weaker players can beat them.

Winners rarely go on tilt for more than a minute or two, because they are disciplined and brutally realistic about themselves. If they are too upset to play well, they take a walk, have lunch, talk to someone, or just go home.

Winners don’t even think, “I’ve got to get even.” They focus on long-term results and accept that losing sessions, even losing months, are unavoidable. There will always be another game, and as long as they preserve their bankroll and personal equilibrium, they will end up winning.

Always remember a critically important principle: “Stay focused on what you should do now to maximize your long-term profits.” Trying to get even violates that principle because:

• Your decisions are based primarily on your previous losses, not your current expectation.
• Losing suggests (but does not prove) that your expectation is negative, while winning suggests that it is positive.

Force yourself to look objectively at what has happened, realistically compare your play to your opponents’, and base the play-or-quit decision entirely on your current expectation. If it’s positive, stay; if not, quit.

Some losers violate this principle by “hitting and running.” If they get a little ahead, they quit in order to lock up their profits. It’s exactly the wrong thing to do.

Self-Fulfilling Prophecies

Winning and losing can be self-fulfilling prophecies. First, when you are winning, you may play more confidently and decisively. Second, your opponents may become timid and indecisive. They don’t want to confront confident, decisive players, nor do they want to take on lucky ones. Losing has the opposite effects.

Make these self-fulfilling prophecies work for you by pushing much harder when you’re winning. For example, you should occasionally “play the rush.” Of course, since the cards are random, there is no such thing as a rush, but if you have recently won several hands, some opponents will think you’re “hot.” They may be so afraid of you that you can run over them. But don’t overdo it. Play a few more hands, and push them harder, but don’t play utter trash or try to take people off good hands.

Stu Ungar, the greatest no-limit hold’em tournament player, masterfully exploited opponents’ fears. He was almost always extremely aggressive, and many people just got out of his way. For example, at the final table of a World Series of Poker main event, he raised again and again, and everyone folded.

You may ask, “What’s the difference between Stu raising so often and a player on tilt playing the same way?” Stu’s hyperaggressive play had a huge positive expectation because of his stack size, skill, and image. He had the largest stack, was known to be a brilliant player, and everyone was afraid of him. Players on tilt are seen as fools, and others are eager to confront them.

Winners’ Laws

These laws are very simple.

1. Push when you’re winning.
2. Back off when you’re losing.

Despite their simplicity, many people can’t accept and apply these two laws. Their emotions prevent them from accepting that losing is an absolutely unavoidable part of the game, and their fear of giving back their profits prevents them from getting the full value from their winning sessions.

3. Don’t try too hard to “get even.”

In fact, it would be better to say, “Don’t even think about getting even.” Just ignore tonight’s results and focus on your current expectation. Since you will lose at least one-fourth of the time (and probably more often), you must learn how to cope with losses or quit playing poker. Otherwise, you will go on tilt and take huge losses. It happens every day.

4. Look hard at your own motives.

Why are you driven by the need to “get even”? You may not know, or you may refuse to accept that your motives are irrational. For example, you may be playing for stakes that you can’t handle emotionally, or you may be too egotistical to accept losing. You may feel “insulted” about losing to players you regard as inferior, which suggests that you can’t accept your own limitations. If you don’t understand your motives, you can’t control their negative effects.

How Do You Rate?

This rating scale measures your tendency to push when winning or losing. Circle the number that best describes your agreement with this statement: I push much harder when I am winning than when I am losing. (7) Agree strongly, (6) Agree, (5) Agree somewhat, (4) Neutral, (3) Disagree somewhat, (2) Disagree, (1) Disagree strongly.

Then, answer two questions:

1. What are the implications of my self-ratings?
2. What should I do differently?

List specific actions that you should take to push harder when you are winning.

Discuss your answers with someone you trust, and take good notes.

Dr. Schoonmaker ([email protected]) coaches only on psychology issues, such as controlling impulses, coping with losing streaks, going on tilt, and planning your self-development. You can buy his books, Your Worst Poker Enemy and Your Best Poker Friend, at CardPlayer.com.