Real Poker: I Like To “Feel” It!

Good instincts are an attribute often used to describe the best poker players. But why do they have them, and you don’t? Where do they come from? How are they developed? What can you do to enhance your poker instincts? And how do your instincts relate to poker?

Mainly through computer simulations, an unexploitable strategy, termed game theory optimal (GTO) was developed based on an opponent’s hand range, pattern recognition and mathematical counter strategies. It’s great for multi-tabling online where datamining programs can determine opponents’ average ranges. And it has a positive application in live games too, especially when the players mostly use a solid, somewhat consistent strategy.

But we are not computers; we’re human beings, and there is a human consciousness that computers can’t possess. We feel emotions in ourselves and others and that consciousness can translate into reading poker situations. Most poker is played between non-scholars, particularly at the low to mid stakes. Many of these players possess basic strategy knowledge, but are plagued by inconsistency. They play differently based on their current emotional state, their confidence, their focus, their mood, etc. more than the best players do.

Highly intuitive players sense when the situation is non-standard, and they know the correct adjustments to make. They sense fear, doubt, deceptive, aggressive or passive mindsets, etc. And they make these reads accurately as well as predicting their opponents’ responses to differing actions. You need to understand your opponents: how they think, what makes them tick, and how they react emotionally. You need to dismiss who they present themselves to be and figure out who they really are. How do they react emotionally to adversity? Do they “turtle up” and withdraw into their shell? Or are they like the angry and/or scared chimpanzee that starts throwing rocks (or chips) at everything that moves? How do they emotionally react to good fortune? Does it make them cocky? Or do they recognize they’re lucky and just try to hang onto their victory? How intelligent are they? What is their strategy knowledge level? Are they naturally tricky or straightforward? How do they react to something offensive? What do they deem offensive? Is it just a check-raise? Getting sucked out on? The possibilities for differing mental and emotional reactions are as wide as the human condition.

As a poker player, it’s your job to figure all this out! Being a good people reader is a developed skill. It’s about developing conscious awareness of both yourself and others. And it will greatly improve your poker game. Study the people you play with, and focus more on the ones you play with regularly. Additionally, think about how you react mentally and emotionally to different issues. What can you do to change your issues to improve your win rate?

How do they vary mentally and emotionally? People change their mindset for a reason. What went on in their mind to change it? Keep in mind it may be guided by emotion, not reason. Think about what you observe and catalog it for future reference. Then think about how you will adjust your play to counter the changes in the given opponent.

GTO theorists say your changes can be exploited since they unbalanced your range. But the majority of your opponents at the low-mid levels don’t know how to do it. You can play a widely varying strategy that your opponents won’t understand, and are unlikely to know how to exploit it if they do. That said, the dynamics of poker change greatly when playing tough competition and those who are great at playing tough opponents don’t necessarily have the correct skillsets to beat weaker fields to the same degree exploitive players do.

Poker’s psychological meta-game, predicated on feel, has immense value. It’s founded on human judgement. Notably, there is a difference between intelligence and consciousness. Individuals have varying degrees of consciousness, based on natural ability, attention, and deep thinking. Learning how others think and feel will often change the correct play from standard to non-standard. I’m not saying not to learn GTO strategies, but to additionally develop a high level of consciousness into your game. And to adjust in situations in which you sense a non-standard play is superior. In poker’s widely varying dynamics, the great feel players make the correct play in more instances based on their higher consciousness.

As humans, we often don’t recognize the cost of not knowing. As a poker player, the cost of not having feel will be great. Pay attention. Think about how your opponents are thinking. Know when they are guided by emotion rather than reason. Think about how to apply your newfound knowledge.

Developing a strong intuitive sense will add huge value to your game. Put your phone down and think about what the hell you’re doing! ♠