We have all rued the day when we overstayed our welcome at those losing rounds of poker. In hindsight, it is easy to see that we should have walked away hours earlier. The problem is, if we did that, we would always be tormented by that jackpot that was just around the corner, awaiting a few more hands. But no, we stay and lose right down to that last grim deal. To make matters worse, since we have no idea why we put up with this torture in the first place, we go back and do it again and again.
What is missing in the above scenario is a critical analysis of the situation based on logic, not a hunch. When thinking logically about time, like say, it's time to pick up your kid from preschool, or your spouse from the airport, you must of course leave immediately when the time has come. If you are at the table and the hoped for jackpot is just around the corner so you miss important dates and responsibilities, you are in trouble my friend. The longer you avoid responsibility and remain at the table, the worse your play will be because you know you are expected elsewhere and that burdens your mind and may well ruin your life.
If poker is supposed to be entertainment but you are not enjoying it - this is a good reason to leave early, before the game becomes a tangle nightmare of bad moves and worse moods. You often see player who take up poker as recreation, but when a game gets too much for them, they cannot leave, and yet they cannot play. They stay out of some sort of perverse compulsion to prolong their torment, not willing to walk out losers. They stay and become greater losers with every losing new hand, instead of accepting good-naturedly accepting the situation - which is merely pastime anyway - and leaving the table, remaining in a good mood, and perhaps trying another game later at another table.
To locate the source of the problem, it is crucial to realize that the problem does not really have anything to do with the game itself. If in spite of yourself you persist in a pointless and counterproductive activity you do not enjoy, it must be because you are avoiding something. If poker is not the reason you stay at the table time and time again, yet you don't know why you are staying, it must be that you are avoiding something unconnected with the game.
This behavior is undoubtedly manifesting itself in other aspects of your life as well. You must refocus to help you uncover the source of your problem. Don't waste any more time wondering dumbly why you have once again overstayed your playing time by that murderous extra hour and try to concentrate on envisioning yourself in your other day-to-day activities. This may allow you the insight to discover incidences totally unrelated to your poker game where your behavior is the same.
Keep an open mind when doing this mental exercise, it may be anything from job dissatisfaction to suppressed anger or grief. Once you have come to a conclusion, deal with it, and you will more easily be able to cut your losses by leaving the table.
What is missing in the above scenario is a critical analysis of the situation based on logic, not a hunch. When thinking logically about time, like say, it's time to pick up your kid from preschool, or your spouse from the airport, you must of course leave immediately when the time has come. If you are at the table and the hoped for jackpot is just around the corner so you miss important dates and responsibilities, you are in trouble my friend. The longer you avoid responsibility and remain at the table, the worse your play will be because you know you are expected elsewhere and that burdens your mind and may well ruin your life.
If poker is supposed to be entertainment but you are not enjoying it - this is a good reason to leave early, before the game becomes a tangle nightmare of bad moves and worse moods. You often see player who take up poker as recreation, but when a game gets too much for them, they cannot leave, and yet they cannot play. They stay out of some sort of perverse compulsion to prolong their torment, not willing to walk out losers. They stay and become greater losers with every losing new hand, instead of accepting good-naturedly accepting the situation - which is merely pastime anyway - and leaving the table, remaining in a good mood, and perhaps trying another game later at another table.
To locate the source of the problem, it is crucial to realize that the problem does not really have anything to do with the game itself. If in spite of yourself you persist in a pointless and counterproductive activity you do not enjoy, it must be because you are avoiding something. If poker is not the reason you stay at the table time and time again, yet you don't know why you are staying, it must be that you are avoiding something unconnected with the game.
This behavior is undoubtedly manifesting itself in other aspects of your life as well. You must refocus to help you uncover the source of your problem. Don't waste any more time wondering dumbly why you have once again overstayed your playing time by that murderous extra hour and try to concentrate on envisioning yourself in your other day-to-day activities. This may allow you the insight to discover incidences totally unrelated to your poker game where your behavior is the same.
Keep an open mind when doing this mental exercise, it may be anything from job dissatisfaction to suppressed anger or grief. Once you have come to a conclusion, deal with it, and you will more easily be able to cut your losses by leaving the table.
About the Author:
If, like me, you like gambling, you may like learning how to build poker tables and browsing through all of the top quality gaming products at BYOPT like Blue Suited Speed Cloth or Jumbo Stainless Steel Cup Holders.
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