Keep Your Head in the Game: Why Mindset is Poker’s Real Winning Hand

In The Mental Game of Poker, poker coach Jared Tendler wrote, “You control how you respond to the cards, not what cards are dealt.” Poker can be extremely frustrating at times, you could be drawing dead for hours, have long streaks of pure bad luck, and lose out on some pots by sheer random chance.

However, keeping yourself together through the inevitable frustration can be the key to becoming great at the game. Your poker mindset and mentality matter a lot, just like any other sport. But how does one cultivate the right mindset for poker? We explore a few strategies to help you on your way when handling losses, managing tilt and staying focused.

Losing is an important and inevitable part of poker

No matter how great you are at calculating odds or at reading people, you’ll lose more than a few times in poker—it’s just a fact. While our natural mind is wired to tell us that any loss is bad, most of your losses in poker will usually come due to randomness for the most part.

Dealing with bad beats and losses in a healthy way is a good step toward developing poker mental toughness. Nobody likes a sore loser but more importantly, not being able to let a bad beat go can often result in emotions and feelings that put your entire session in jeopardy.

Focus on the process, not the results

The human brain is also wired to be very results-oriented. However, this can often have terrible consequences for your poker strategy mindset. For example, you could be on an extremely lucky streak and winning a lot, but your brain could fool you into thinking it was because of your skills. This usually leads to overconfidence and making more risky moves that don’t work out very well.

On the other hand, you could also be on a massive downswing and even though most of your losses are borne due to bad luck, your brain could trick you into feeling it’s all your fault. This too leads to making bad decisions due to underconfidence.

Therefore, it is usually a good idea to focus more on the process than the results in poker. If you’re making the right calls at the right time with the information you’re given, you should consider it a success with the result being kind of irrelevant. If you keep making the right decisions, it is inevitable that you’ll win over the long term. However, it can be a challenge to keep perspective while your entire stack goes to someone else. Staying focused at the poker table can help mitigate this.

Become self-aware and present to the moment

One of the most important mental games of poker skills to learn is managing tilt. Given how unfair poker can be at times, it is not uncommon for players to feel absolutely enraged by the results of a game. Yet, tilt has never led to anything good. One of the ways of battling tilt is through activities like meditation, which brings you closer to the present moment and doesn’t let your emotions run your life.

If you truly want to excel at poker, you should come to the table with not only a clean mind but also a present one that doesn’t let emotions like fear or greed influence it. Being self-aware in poker and understanding the effect you have on other people or how other people perceive you can also be a massive help when running bluffs.

Acceptance and self-love

More often than not, we’re much harder on ourselves than we are on other people. For example, you might never forgive yourself for making a small mistake but would readily tell your friend to forget about it if they did. Similarly, a lot of poker players tend to be very hard on themselves and feel massive pressure.

In a game like poker where the ultimate outcome in the short-term is often decided by luck, this attitude can be damaging to your overall game. While they might not necessarily make you a better poker player, accepting losses in poker and loving yourself help you cultivate a stronger mindset for long-term poker success, which does translate to strength on the felt too.

FAQs: The Importance of Mindset in Poker

Why is mindset so important in poker?
Mindset in poker plays a crucial role in how you handle losses, manage tilt, and stay focused during long sessions. A positive and focused mindset helps you make rational decisions, avoid emotional reactions, and maintain a long-term perspective on the game.

How can I handle bad beats and losses in poker?
Dealing with losses in poker requires accepting that bad beats are part of the game. Instead of letting frustration take over, focus on staying calm, learning from the experience, and not allowing emotions to impact your future decisions.

How can I stay focused and avoid being results-oriented?
Focusing on the process rather than the immediate results is key. Rather than getting caught up in wins or losses, concentrate on making the right decisions based on the available information. This mindset helps you stay consistent and improve over time.

What strategies can I use to manage tilt?
To manage tilt, practice self-awareness and stay present in the moment. Meditation, mindfulness, and staying emotionally detached from the game's outcome can help you keep your mind clear and avoid making impulsive decisions.

How does self-love and acceptance impact my poker game?
Being kind to yourself and accepting mistakes is essential in poker. Players often put unnecessary pressure on themselves, but learning to forgive and move on from mistakes creates a healthier mental approach, leading to stronger performance and better long-term results.