In is a fact of life, that words reflect and influence our attitude. Our attitude influences our behavior, and our behavior CONTROLS our life.
Good or bad.

This use of the proper words, is so big, there is even a system designed to control people, just by the use of certain words (NLP) Man, words are POWERFUL.

Because of this, I want y'all, my readers to change the words that you speak (if terms of poker) to become more successful winning players.

Please don't think this doesn't mean anything, cause it DO!

Ok, how many times have you said "I'm going to PLAY this tournament"
or "I'm going to PLAY three-six hold em"

We all have. But, I'd like you to start saying "I'm going to WORK this tournament." I'm going to WORK three-six hold em".

It doesn't cost you anything to say this, and it can really be helpful towards maintaining a proper attitude. We are'nt KIDS, and poker ain't no GAME (it's a BUSINESS)

Next: The use of deragatory terms, to refer to people who are not skilled players. These people are not FISH!! They are not: Mopes, Balloons, Live ones, etc. THEY ARE our wonderful CUSTOMERS, and should be treated as such.

Today I was playing on TRUE POKER, (200 nl) and was shocked to see that they site included the word FISH for their choices of player types for the player notes.

Man, how stupid. The "fish" should never be told, or in any way even alluded to, that they are "fish" They have the attitude that poker is luck, and the people who win, are just luckier than them. Since in their perspective, luck can change, this is the attitude you need to reinforce.

"Man, you sure got unlucky there" "Boy, I got lucky"


Moving right along, we come to BAD BEAT. Their are no bad beats, just
STATISTICAL FLUKES.

If no one ever called, when mathmatically and strategically innapropriate, poker sure would be unprofitable.

To maintain sanity, just say to one's self "Oh well, 9 pots for me, 1 for the CUSTOMER. "Glad he won one, because that'll keep him a HAPPY customer (and happy customers continue doing business with you)


Change " Damn, I missed my flush draw" to "Well, I owned 35.6 percent of that pot, after the flop, since there were six players, I'm making a long-term profit"


Change: How could he call a raise, with that 8 2 to " I think I'll go to Cancun this year, off the people who play 82"


Making my suggested changes in words, will really help you to cope with the short-term frustrations, and be a better and more successful player.

Something to think about

Adam,

I think this is excellent advice, the value of which will be underestimated by many, particularly, and ironically, by those to whom it would be of most use, i.e. those who are prone to tilt etc.

It is very easy, when calm, to see that you shouldn't be telling the customers (am doing it already) what they are. However, all that logic goes out of the window when he hits his runner runner straight, or at least that can be your initial reaction. Your first human reaction (using, as I saw someone describe it once, cognitive dissonance) is to point out why you were right and why he was wrong, and make yourself feel better in the process.

Psychologically conditioning oneself to be prepared for this, and not allowing it to alter one's game with even an oblique comment about fishiness, is, I think, hugely important- and doing something as simple as altering the words you use, as you suggest, is an easy and simple way to prepare yourself.

By modifying one's vocabulary, even if those words are used purely internally, you remind yourself of these facts, almost without realising it.

Thanks for this- would never have considered it as an issue.

this is good advice advice that the author should spend time thinking about. there are times when i have seen you berate peopl and had same thought you expressed. i love the idea of not categorizing people with deragatory names. even in my own mind i use terms like Loose aggressive or loose passive rather than fish or cash register. on a side note just bgecause they are not good poker playersdoes not make them stupid people. Is the millionaire doctor who comes to the local cardroom to blow off some steam a cople time a year the fish or us who are always waiting to get a piece of what he can obviouskly afford to lose.
just some thoughts.
matty

Ok, ok, there is NO need to point out that I go apepoop, when I h ave a bad beat. Everyone knows, that I'm mentally Ill and not capable of following my own advice.

The classic words of NGJS: Whatever you do, listen to what Adam says, but DO NOT DO WHAT HE DOES.


Yeah, I'd be a lot better off, If I had emotional control.

But, if that ever happened, I 'd make so much money, that the days of free poker advice, hoping to get a student here and there, would be OVER.

So, it's to the benefit of all, that I am not emotionally stable.



Here's a good rule, that I wish everyone would follow:


do not sit down, at a table with ATE

I would prefer, that you DO NOT watch, as well. You have nothing to gain, as I may be playing badly, or making clever plays to appear bad, and you'll never know which.


If I sit down at your table, please inform me that you're an ATE fan/reader, and this might help me control myself

How many times do I have to say this, Flint? There is Absolutely NO WATCHING me play. First of all, my backer spent most of his bankroll, and I'm doing very LITTLE playing anyway.

But, the main thing is: DON'T FRIGGIN' WATCH M E (it won't do you any good)


JUST LISTEN TO WHAT I SAY, BUT DON'T DO WHAT I DO