Monday, February 9, 2009

Lose to Win

By Eddie Parker

Even if you are one of the best poker players around you still have to lose on occasion. Just ask some of the WSOP winners and they will tell you that losing is part of the process. Whether it is a single hand or leaving a game out of pocket, losing at poker is a rite of passage. Losing may not be an enjoyable prospect, but it will make you a better player in the long run.

We can't expect to win all of the time at anything in life, and seasoned poker players certainly don't let a few losses affect them. Sometimes you just don't have the best hand, so you lose. The sooner you accept that fact the less it will bother you and you will become a better player for it.

Some of us get frustrate if we are on a big losing streak. At this point we have to remember that a losing streak may be necessary in order to get on a winning streak.

If you find yourself getting down about your loses, keep in mind that ultimately the money will tell you how you are doing. Consider a game of poker to be just a part of the big picture, even if you lose a game, or even a few, as long as overall you are earning money then you are still a winner.

Every game of the world series of poker features a different winner, and although you will see the same winners from time to time, if poker were truly just about skill then the best players would win every time. Instead you often see a new face at the final table, because a specific portion of the game is still about luck.

As long as you look at poker from the standpoint of your overall winnings, instead of an individual game, you will be better able to track your progress. For example, you could lose $50 on a game, which would be disappointing, but if over all you are up $500 then it is really no big deal, just a minor setback and you can try to do better next game.

Consider losing a learning experience. A great way to learn how your opponent's mind thinks is to see what he's holding, which means that on occasion he might have a better hand than you, but at least you will have learned something. As long as you walk away from the table with a bit more information than when you walked in you are victorious.

In some cases, you will need to lose a hand or two just to beat that player the next time around. If you get the right information you may be able to take his money for the rest of the game.

Poker is a very in the moment type of game, so sometimes it is hard to remember that it is all part of a grand scheme. One game may feel like the world when you are playing it, but after it is done it is time to focus on the next game, and to take what you have learned and apply it. In your next game you will be more prepared and focused than ever before, and winning will start to come naturally.

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