If you, like millions of others, have been seduced by the allure of poker, you are likely looking for ways to get an edge over opponents. More people than ever before are playing online or turning up at card rooms, poker clubs and casinos. If you want to stay ahead of all those other players and win more than you lose, these are some of the things that could give you an edge at the table.  

Kai-Zen

Practice kai-zen – The Japanese philosophical approach to management, kai-zen, applied to poker, can give you a distinct edge over your opponents. It is based on the belief that in order to succeed you must constantly strive to learn and grow and you must do so, at a faster pace than your competition. Rapidly accelerating up the learning curve takes diligence, perseverance and a willingness to work co-operatively with others. Participating in poker discussions or development groups and entering into mentoring relationships with other players will allow you to develop and hone your game much more quickly than you ever could by going it alone.

Psychology

Use psychology or “angles” –  In the words of the late self improvement guru, Dale Carnegie, “When dealing with people, you just have to think about how you can get them to do what you want them to do without telling them what you want them to do.” Successful poker players in the professional and amateur ranks have mastered this art. They use any number of angles to confuse or deceive their opponents and throw them off their game. They are mindful of the effect of every word they utter at the table, their body language and even the clothes and accessories they wear.  

Self-Control

Stay in charge of your emotions – When you lose it at the table, you lose. Going on a tilt at the poker table and playing emotionally rather than rationally, hands the edge to the other players and they will take full advantage of it. You need to be mentally prepared for downswings so that you can stay focused and not allow your emotions to get in the way of your game. Funnily enough, some people think that women are far better at maintaining their composure at the poker table than men.

Objectivity

Keep an open mind – Although it is vitally important to observe your opponents carefully to learn their strengths, weaknesses and patterns of play, you also need to be careful not to fall victim to poker prejudices. Your first impression should be only a baseline and you need to continually check out your assumptions. Keep an open mind throughout the game and revise your impressions as new evidence presents itself.  

Know when not to play

Only play when you are at your best – Poker requires your full concentration. If you are tired, not feeling well, have had too much to drink or worried about something that’s going on in your life, pass on the game and play another day. If you can’t give the game your full attention you are likely to make costly mistakes and bad decisions.

Summary

Poker, like anything else, improves with practice. If you are serious about poker, you need to be continually refining your knowledge, scrutinizing your own play, and indentifying and addressing your weaknesses.

Source JackpotParty.com