| Gambling psychology for most people conjures up | | | | know me personally will tend to assess me as an |
| images of stony faced poker players and their | | | | inexperienced and poor player. |
| habits and actions (tells) that suggest the value of | | | | To me these are the unnoticed aspects of |
| the cards they are holding. | | | | gambling psychology that all combine to build your |
| I contend that there is much more to gambling | | | | personal confidence and allow you to exude |
| psychology. When we look at successful | | | | confidence during your gambling session. |
| gamblers, they all have a sound money | | | | Virtually everyone has heard about poker tells |
| management strategy, a sound game strategy, a | | | | even if they do not really know what they are. |
| high level of game skills, distinctive presentation | | | | Tells are the subtle signs that others pick up on |
| and when appropriate, the ability to psyche their | | | | that give them a good idea as to the strength of |
| opponents. | | | | our poker hand. Hiding these tells from your |
| You may contend that that some of these | | | | opponents, requires a great deal of acting skills |
| aspects of gambling do not involve psychology. I | | | | and practice especially when you suddenly find |
| disagree. | | | | yourself sitting on a good full house or a royal |
| The sound money management strategy allows | | | | flush. |
| the successful gambler to recover from a number | | | | I recall playing against this stony faced guy who |
| of consecutive loosing gambling sessions. Especially | | | | hardly moved or spoke for hours when suddenly |
| in poker, opponents notice these things and the | | | | the artery on the side of his neck started |
| ability to bounce back has a subtle psychological | | | | jumping like he had just run a marathon. He |
| effect on opponents. This also allows you to | | | | obviously had a hand that he found very exciting. |
| approach the next session in a better frame of | | | | Whilst he could control his voluntary actions, he |
| mind than what you would otherwise be in | | | | could not control his involuntary actions. All those |
| because you know that if you should loose again, | | | | who could see that side of his neck folded in turn. |
| you still have adequate reserves to try again | | | | If he had come dressed as dandy complete with |
| multiple times. | | | | a cravat, no one may have noticed his obvious |
| Without a sound game strategy you will be taken | | | | excitement and his pot would have been much |
| to the cleaners regardless of the game you play | | | | bigger. |
| or where you play it. A sound strategy simply | | | | This incident vividly illustrates the visible aspects of |
| requires you to play the game to take advantage | | | | gambling psychology. |
| of all the favorable bets and to avoid those bets | | | | Lastly, I thought I should do some research to |
| where the house has an unreasonable advantage. | | | | see what the experts have to say about |
| This allows you to play with confidence because | | | | gambling psychology. After a few hours, of |
| once your strategy has been tested and proven, | | | | reading those papers, the overwhelming thrust |
| you know that when you win, your winnings will | | | | was that we were all exhibiting the early signs of |
| be reasonable to quite good and on those | | | | abnormal behavioral patterns and if caught early, |
| occasions when you loose, your losses will be | | | | the problem could respond to treatment. |
| relatively modest. | | | | Unfortunately, there are some in our midst where |
| Your game skills give you the confidence to | | | | gambling has become a problem. |
| adhere to your strategies when under pressure | | | | I make a point of never gambling when cash is |
| so that you maximize your winnings and minimize | | | | short because it has been my sad experience |
| your losses. If your game stresses you unduly, | | | | that whenever I have gambled in those situations, |
| either find a game with lower limits or a different | | | | I have almost always lost and such losses are |
| game that you find less stressful. If that is not | | | | doubly painful. I have always won most whenever |
| possible, then it is time to find another past time. | | | | I could well and truly have afforded the loss. Being |
| Your distinctive presentation sends a message to | | | | cashed up removes the stress and reduces the |
| your opponents. That message is dependant on | | | | mistakes one makes when playing overly |
| where and with whom you play. Many years ago, | | | | cautiously. |
| I worked as a ringer (cowboy) and long wearing | | | | To the intelligent gamblers in our midst who have |
| western shirts, jeans and polished riding boots | | | | sound strategies in place and who never bet |
| have been both my preferred work and casual | | | | more than they can afford to loose, I say work |
| wear ever since. In the city, that gives me the | | | | on the psychological aspects of your game to |
| image of a hay seed (hillbilly). At the poker tables, | | | | improbe your edge and Good Luck at the Tables! |
| thats great because most of those who do not | | | | |