There have been years of discussion in the poker world about how much of the game is skill and how much luck. While I don’t pretend to have a number for you, I can tell you that at least 10% is mental attitude.
A positive mental attitude makes a big difference in most sports, and poker is no different. If you go into a game thinking you’re not going to win it, then your chances of winning are going to go down.
I don’t subscribe to some crazy theory that you win more fifty-fifty if you believe in yourself, or that your aces will hold more often. There is nothing you can do about the cards and luck of the game, but your own mental attitude contributes greatly to how you play.
For starters, poker is all about confidence, and the better frame of mind you have, the more confident you will be and the more likely you are to play your ‘A’ game without inhibitions.
If you enter the game with a bad attitude, you will have a tendency to think the worst during the tournament or session, putting your opponents in better hands than you, and rarely bluffing or trying moves.
When things get really bad, a bad attitude can lead to angry tilt plays, pushing AJ just because the bully at the table has re-raised, etc.
With a positive attitude, you’ll be more confident to make moves and bluff, and confident to trust your instincts. You’ll play more hands aggressively and won’t worry about losing chips.
When the chips are down, PMA will also help you recover from a low stack, rather than just throwing it away because you’ve lost a big pot.
In live play PMA is even more important, if you are the bitter soul berating your luck and seem like you are never going to win a pot then people can see the lack of confidence in your body language sometimes so even when you try something complicated, they look up to you.
If you don’t feel in the mood, then don’t play. If you’re on a losing streak and feel like you’ll never win, then you’re much less likely to win and it’s only going to get worse. The games will almost always be there tomorrow, so do your budget a favor and stay away from the tables. It’s hard enough to beat luck sometimes, without having to beat yourself too!