10 Ways to Lose at Poker (5)

We have already pointed out that: not applying ourselves to gaining an understanding of the personality of other players; that failing to play the game rationally by applying the laws of poker statistics; that giving away too much about our own style; and that drinking even a little too much alcohol will all contribute to our losing ways at poker.

We have (tongue in cheek) also indicated that desirable day jobs for poker players are psychologist, particle physicist and actor. Professional drunk, though a much rehearsed characteristic of a Hollywood poker player should, on the other hand should be avoided.

That brings us to the fifth way. The fifth way is lacking sufficient desire to win.

Naturally you will protest this, and, as we will come to in a moment, if you have really previously endured the first four articles in this series you might have some reason to. Naturally all of us poker players want to win (if we didn't have a desire to win we might just as well give our money away) but it is not just about wanting to win. It is about how much we want to win and to what we are willing to do and what we are willing to sacrifice in order to achieve this goal.

Poker is a highly complex game. It combines many elements of the human mind and body. Although it might be argued otherwise regarding some professional poker players, there is not a poker gene. We do not leave the womb with an innate ability to play poker. To be good at poker requires study and more study. It requires study of statistics, arithmetic, card play and people skills. It is never possible to know all there is about playing poker. Winning at poker requires a lifetime of study. A good poker player always strives to improve his or her game by studying and by practice.

It is this need to continually improve that drives the successful player to ever greater success. Not wishing to win enough to invest this effort is our fifth losing way.

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