To rise high enough to be considered art, an activity of any complexity requires deep introspection. In poker or in any similar complicated function, one must acquire an intimate knowledge of self, more so than is comfortable for must people. The difficult part of introspection is the constant process of self-evaluation. Self-revelation requires self consciousness or looking inward and this is far more difficult than contemplating outward events. Self criticizing one’s character is not something anyone looks forward to. There are a lot of poker players that would like to play less but don’t have the self-realization powers to know when or how to stop.

You may have come to poker because you had no idea what to do with yourself in the first place. Persons without purpose regularly engage in pointless activity. If you just won’t take any introspection, but still want to deal with the problem, a possible way is to deliberately focus on the idea that poker is about winning and that nobody, including yourself, despite what may have been happening for the past year since you had taken up this accursed game, nobody likes to lose.

Zero in on the fact that whether you opt to stay or leave has a serious impact on your profits from the game and losing is not an option. So, you are staying in the game only for the reason that you have a good chance of winning. This is your ultimate goal. At issue is not whether you are winning or losing right at this moment, whether luck is with you or far, far, away, the issue is your overall net profit, and if it is clear to you that no matter what is happening now, the end will result in a loss to you, get out, get out now.

On the other hand, to practice hit-and-run strategies only seems to keep you constantly with a safe benefit. If your goal is not more than to play safe, hit-and-run may be a valid solution. But if you also wish to win, yet be able to leave in time, play discerningly, and leave when you perceive a definite loss.

Realize this, all cards are dealt to all players with random mathematical chance, having nothing to do with lady luck. Becoming a nervous wreck when you get bad cards or getting high on the good ones is nonsensical. However, self-fulfilling prophecies do have some validity as psychological phenomena. A really good game and a lot of luck impresses upon others that you are a good player. This builds up your confidence and allows you to play more aggressively, while your opponents are now feeling weaker, playing in a more cowardly manner, and even more disheartening to them, feeling unlucky.

Do not let this feeling happen to you. Practice your powers of introspection and you may find that you are not comfortable taking risks, are afraid to do so, and even think it may be wrong to take chances. Do not fret. This is only one of your idiosyncrasies that you have discovered as being natural to you. You must not let this control your life or your game.

The author is a full time online poker player and makes the majority of his income from his online play and rakeback at Absolute Poker. To sign up for a Rakeback account of your own visit Rakeback Solution.

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