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