04.07.08
Trust Yourself
ARGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!
I hate when I second guess myself into making a bad play. I have been playing this game long enough that I really need to trust my instincts every single time I play. I mean I trust my instincts most of the time I play but I swear that 10-20% that I doubt my first reaction has probably cost me over $20k in prize money! And the strange part is I’ll usually say something to myself like “well if he raises me here, I’m done with this hand.” But then I start to think too long and too hard and decide to go with the losing play of calling or re-rasing when my gut tells me not to do it. If you have been in this same situation then you can relate to what I’m saying. Correcting it is the harder part.
(By the way, if you don’t believe me about this gut reaction thing, then I suggest you pick up Blink by Malcolm Gladwell. In this book, they look at situations where people are able to predict many things with only minimal observation becasue they have such strong experience in an area that they are almost able to make correct decisions in the blink of an eye. It is an interesting book and one that every poker playe should read.)
So how do we correct the problem?
Step 1 – I now have a post-it on my computer that reads “TRUST YOURSELF.” Hopefully the visual cue will at least keep the thought top of mind.
Step 2 – trying to figure out where the doubt comes from in those moments and eliminating it.
Step 3 – re-reading parts of Your Worst Poker Enemy by Alan Schoonmaker (another book I recommend) especially the chapter on destructive emotions.
We will see what happens next………the journey continues!!