Common Poker Mistakes: Superstitions
Written by on May 25, 2010If you’re ready to get serious about poker, be prepared to leave behind your superstitions. Why is this necessary? As long as you believe that poker is a game of luck, it will remain a game of luck for you. While the game does come down to random happenstance for every hand, it is also a game that abides by mathematical rules. These rules, as well as the strong psychological aspect of the game, require skills, not luck.
When you’ve made a play and you’ve done well, whether it’s a victory in an online tournament at Caesars Online or a great hand at a casino table, you may chalk it up to your great luck. More often, this is the scenario where your luck will take a back seat. Players often get lucky and assume that they are playing correctly. Hoping for luck or focusing on luck will blind you to your own faults and areas where you should improve.
On the reverse side, players often make poor decisions and then blame their luck for any shortcomings they may have. This locks players into their old habits and prevents them from making progress. While there’s nothing wrong with superstitions in and of themselves (like having a lucky orange), you should not be focused on luck in any way. You can’t control the luck at the table, you never will, and the things that can be changed will require all of your time and attention. Learning how to play well under pressure, how to read people, the mathematics of the game, and what tactics work for you are important aspects of mastering the game and have nothing to do with luck. Ask any professional players if poker is a game of luck or skill, and they will tell you that it’s all about skill.
