Poker confidence: the key to a stable, stress-free game.

In poker, confidence is not just a feeling, but a strategic state that affects every decision you make at the table. Chapter 8 of Jared Tendler's book ‘Mind Games’ is about the importance of confidence and how to maintain it throughout the game. Let's look at why confidence is so important and how to develop it.

What is Confidence in Poker?

Many players confuse confidence with self-belief or a temporary state of mind that depends on good cards. But real confidence is a deep understanding of your game, strengths and weaknesses, backed up by experience and knowledge. It doesn't disappear when you lose and it doesn't skyrocket when you win. It is a constant value that can and should be developed.

Confidence is knowing that you can make informed decisions, even if the outcome is not always in your favour.

Why is Confidence So Important? 🤔

1. Less Stress: A confident player does not worry about temporary setbacks. He knows that any losing streak is part of the game and will not let emotions take over.

2. Better Decisions: When you are confident in your abilities, you avoid making decisions based on fear or doubt. You follow your game plan and strategy.

3. Steady Approach: Confidence helps you avoid extremes ranging from ‘too passive’ to ‘too aggressive’ behaviour. You are in control regardless of the outcome of the hand.

What's undermining your confidence?

1. Focus on Results: If you evaluate yourself only on wins and losses, your confidence will be unstable. Successful hands will build it up and bad hands will destroy it.

2. Perfectionism: Trying to play without mistakes can destroy your confidence, because mistakes are inevitable. The key is to learn from them and not let them demotivate you.

3. Comparing yourself to Others: When you constantly compare yourself to other players, especially successful ones, it can make you doubt yourself.

How to Develop and Maintain Confidence? 🚀

1. Focus on the Process: Evaluate your game by the quality of your decisions, not the result. Analyse your hands and draw conclusions, even if the result is not in your favour.

2. Keep a Success Diary: Write down your achievements and when you made good decisions. This helps you to see your progress and build confidence.

3. Work on your Weaknesses: Recognise your weaknesses and work on them. Confidence does not mean the absence of weaknesses, but the willingness to overcome them.

4. Positive Self-Analysis: After the session, note the good and bad points. Ask yourself: ‘What did I do well?’ and ’How can I improve next time?’

Practical Assignment 📝

Right now, make a list of three strengths of your poker game. These could be, for example, your ability to read your opponents, your discipline, or your knowledge of poker theory. Then pick one weakness and write a plan on how you will improve it. Remember: working on yourself builds confidence! 💪

Conclusion

Poker confidence is not just a sense of self, but a deep knowledge of what you do. Develop it through introspection, understanding your strengths and weaknesses, and don't let the results determine your self-esteem. Remember: a confident player always maintains control, regardless of luck.

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