[Closed] Preventing Frustration ???

Hi Sinnology,

I agree, controlling emotions in the face of adversity is one of the most difficult aspects in poker, especially after you have played a really good hand, reeled the fish in only for them to hit their 1 outer or runner runner etc.

It happens to pretty much every player at some point in time and each will have their own way of dealing with it. I personally can't really avoid the frustration and anger side of things as you described it in your OP, it's a natural reaction to feel hurt and hard done by, but to lessen the consequences of it I just simply walk away for a short break. I think it's ok to get frustrated & angry occasionally, but it's what you do in the next 60 seconds (i.e. donking off chips or looking for action against the same player) that can adversely affect your BR/game, not the original hand(s).

By walking away, you have vital seconds to cool down, refocus and regroup your A game before returning. Try not to think/dwell on the hands just played, but clear your mind, think of a sun soaked beach, mountain fresh air, anything but poker really

The other thing that I struggle with is the chat box, it draws you in like a neon flashing sign after losing a big hand or series of big hands. Obviously the best thing to do is to simply leave it alone or turn it off, or if provoked, simply say "nh". I really need to work on that one myself, so it's a case of "do what i say, not what i do" at the moment ♦

Just remember at the end of the day, people will get lucky, it's the turn of a card afterall, but over the longer term, good play/skill will be rewarded. Don't get drawn into just a couple of hands when you'll actually play hundreds of '000's over time.
Think of the times when you've actually hit a card and remember the smile that spread across your face at the time.

Oh and ofc, the Pyschological aspects in the strategy section are a great read too

Calmly wishing you best regards ♦,

Bart

Hey man thanks for your reply, it helped me alot.
I am going to read all of those articles in Psychology & Didactics section and hopefull learn few things that will help me deal with it.
Regards.

Well, I think the only thing to stop this frustration matter is to STOP PLAYING ONLINE POKER.. I got very frustrated also, I analized a lot my played hands, I reads a lot of articles and poker books, but when u are online, u have no chance.. Simply because of the software (althoguht the admins admit that is ''clean'' I think many players find out that isn't so).. You may be the Pro's of the Pro, the best poker player of the world, If you will come to play online, you will get the idea that you are the unluckiest person, the dummiest or the stupidest.. The only hand that is sure for you to raise it is 4 of a kind or royal flush.. The rest, is only crap, and the software is simply smilling at you, when u receive a straight, cause another weaker hand will receive a flush, or when u have a flush, cause another weaker hand will receive in the end, a full..
I hope you understand my idea.. Still, pokerstrategy learns you a lot, if you will play in real life, so if you would like to earn money, and stop geting frustrated, play only real life poker.. (I still play poker online, but not paying real money, cause this sounds very stupid)
Best wishes and good luck!

Originally posted by sorelena
Well, I think the only thing to stop this frustration matter is to STOP PLAYING ONLINE POKER.. I got very frustrated also, I analized a lot my played hands, I reads a lot of articles and poker books, but when u are online, u have no chance.. Simply because of the software (althoguht the admins admit that is ''clean'' I think many players find out that isn't so).. You may be the Pro's of the Pro, the best poker player of the world, If you will come to play online, you will get the idea that you are the unluckiest person, the dummiest or the stupidest.. The only hand that is sure for you to raise it is 4 of a kind or royal flush.. The rest, is only crap, and the software is simply smilling at you, when u receive a straight, cause another weaker hand will receive a flush, or when u have a flush, cause another weaker hand will receive in the end, a full..
I hope you understand my idea.. Still, pokerstrategy learns you a lot, if you will play in real life, so if you would like to earn money, and stop geting frustrated, play only real life poker.. (I still play poker online, but not paying real money, cause this sounds very stupid)
Best wishes and good luck!

I think you'll find that it happens in real life too. I'm sure most casino regulars could tell you about a few bad beats in their time. Play 100k hands and statistically you are bound to get a fair few bad beats, it happens.

Control over your emotions is at least as important as your play, especially on higher limits. It's also a form of skill which becomes more and more valuable as you climb up the limits, an archetypal skill that normal people attribute to poker players, but not many poker players actually have. There's not really a way to prevent frustration, you can only deal with it on the spot. And the more you detach yourself from your emotions, the more bad beats you can take without altering your game up to a point where you simply stop caring and move on.

Alternatively, you can take out your aggression on sturdy nearby objects like walls, brother, furniture, etc.

I've really had to work on controlling my emotions while playing. I can mostly say that I've eliminated most if not all of the emotion I have from playing poker. What I tend to do now is when I lose a big hand like that I try to make the fish feel good for beating me. I tend to tell them things like:

"OW! STOP THAT!"

"I need to stop playing pocket aces."

Etc. Joke around with the fish and have fun with them. They are people too, and are playing the same game you are (only much more poorly). If you do this, they will be much more likely to stay at the table, and if you are joking around with them you won't feel so bad about losing to them.

I think you'll find that it happens in real life too. I'm sure most casino regulars could tell you about a few bad beats in their time. Play 100k hands and statistically you are bound to get a fair few bad beats, it happens.

who said something about A FEW BAD BEATS???.. I was refferind to more than 50% bad beats.. Manyu people that complains about frustration, and stupid software, are complaining about many many bad beats, not just some few particular hands..