We know there are many psychological aspects to playing poker. But how much can poker teach us about our own psychology? Blind Straddle wants to know. And we think we’ve found the right person to write about it: Dr. Aaron Rochlen, a licensed psychologist, psychology professor, and amateur poker player. In his monthly column, “Under the Felt,” Dr. Rochlen integrates his academic research, poker experience, and humorous observations to stretch each player further—at the table and in life.
We’re down to nine guys who will comprise the “November 9” in the 2011 World Series of Poker Main Event. Unfortunately, I’m not one of them. I’m not even in the “November 9000.” The truth is I don’t own any WSOP bracelets, just have a hat—that’s it. I’ll get there some day—and it sure would help my “street cred” for this article. But for now, I’m just a bracelet-free amateur who isn’t about to quit his day job as a psychologist and university professor.
Thankfully, my wife supports (i.e., allows) the occasional poker-purging Vegas trip. I suspect she thinks I’ll return one day a more appreciative, balanced, and focused husband/father. Can’t blame a girl for dreaming. But I do know one thing. These adrenaline-filled, sleep-deprived “Mancations” do something for me—and it’s not all about the cash. My poker trips are more than enjoyable—they’re therapeutic.
With these non-professional credentials on full disclosure, I do know something about the game. I conceptualize poker as a three-headed monster comprised of Skill, Luck, and Psychology.
Skill: Skill distinguishes the winners from the losers. Some argue for an innate “Poker IQ,” allowing the strategy and the math to come more easily to some than others. But everyone can improve their skill. How? Read books, watch videos, attend trainings, play endless hands and keep meticulous track of your progress. Any joker can take down a tournament or rake in a big pot. Over time, only the skilled players consistently win.
Luck: Phil Hellmuth said if it wasn’t for luck, he’d win every tournament. I doubt that. But his point is valid. You need but can’t control luck. With it, you win your coin flips, hit draws, and spike the occasional set. Avoiding bad luck and timing are equally important. Aces needs to hold up against deuces. And unless someone has a strong “second best,” flopping the nuts won’t get you paid. Luck comes and goes. And neither the “poker gods” nor your snazzy NFL card protector is going to bring you any more than the next guy.
Psychology: Given my career choice, I like to think I know something about this one. I see poker psychology surfacing at two levels. The first, a focus of many books, is using psychological principles to improve your game at the table. People who grasp this psychology effectively read opponents, identify tells, analyze table “flow” and betting patterns. Understanding the psychology of the game helps with avoiding going on tilt and taking advantage of the tilted player.
The second type of psychology is different. It’s more introspective and, I’d argue, ultimately more important. I call it “Poker Self-Analysis.” This involves using your reactions to poker situations and players to better understand yourself. Doing so may help at the tables. It can definitely help in life. Often in very raw forms, poker exposes our emotions, conflicts, and weaknesses. The good news? If willing to take a look, you can become a more actualized, more aware, player and person.
Below are five areas and principles that may prepare you for a more in-depth poker-analysis. Think of this as your first session on the felt-lined couch.
Poker Persona
Your poker persona is how you present yourself to others while playing. Our personas can be framed as social masks we “choose to wear” in different contexts. Most likely, you know how you are “seen” while playing. But how, if it is at all, is your on-felt self reflective of your non-poker life? Do the nine people at the table experience you similarly as others? When swept to the rails, what part of your poker persona is left on the felt? What aspects (e.g., aggression, passivity, emotional restraint) might you regretfully take with you?
In poker, most players consciously change or evolve their personalities to some extent. It helps their game. In life, adopting different personas can also be effective. But having too many masks can be confusing and detrimental. Equally troubling is the person who is all masks, all persona, with no real self. These people always present in ways they think others want or need them to be. Their real feelings, reactions, or preferences get left behind or neglected.
Being aware of how your character changes away from the tables is a good first step. Doing so allows you to see how the concept of persona surfaces in your life. Striking the appropriate balance between presenting oneself to meet the demands of a situation and being true to your authentic self is a challenging, yet critical, life-long endeavor.
Logical versus Emotional Decision Making
In life and in poker, we regularly face high-stakes decisions. Knowing your decision-making style and influences is essential. A poker example: Midway into a tournament you are dealt A-6, hearts on the button. After calling a pre-flop min-raise, the flop comes J, 6, 4, two hearts. Three handed, your opponents both check. You bet and a tall-stacked maniac pushes all in. He has your stack covered. Stuck with middle pair and an enticing nut flush draw, do you risk your tournament life?
The logic-driven player makes their decision based exclusively or at least primarily on the math, chip stack, pot odds, and time in tournament. The emotions-based player has an idea of the stats but leans heavily on their intuition. They “feel” that heart coming (or not) and make the call (or fold). Life is no different. Reflecting on how much your decision-making is influenced by logic versus feeling will yield considerable gains. Does your everyday decision-making style parallel or contrast your poker play? Have you ever folded or gone “all in” on a major life decision while overly relying on emotional or logic-based decision making. Looking back now, what were the consequences? Ideally, in life and poker, a combination of the two approaches is most effective.
The Power of the Poker Projection
Have you ever noticed how easy it is to form almost instant evaluations of everyone at your table? After just a hand or two, you think you “know” their game and character. Sometimes these reads are accurate. More often, they are way off base. In poker and life, we constantly (yet unconsciously) project on to others. Our first impressions of people often have nothing do with that actual person! Instead, these views are based on other significant “players” in our lives. These projections are often more pronounced when the original source guiding the projection has hurt us in some way, real or imagined. Considering the range of characters we encounter at the table, the game is ripe for such projective encounters.
Next time you play, be curious of any strong reactions (negative or positive) that may surface to those around you. If your reaction is negative, reflect on who this person reminds you of. What unfinished business might be guiding this projection? Alternatively, who do you like at the poker table? Are you allowing your positive feelings toward these players to impact your game? Watch both tendencies. Doing so can help you understand how the consequences of problematic projections may be unfolding in your life.
Handling Variance and Bad Beats
Any pro will tell you it takes time to fairly assess your poker game. You can’t judge your skill on a few hands or games. This relates to bankroll theory. In poker, you need a healthy bankroll to not let the brutal swings or downturns that can last weeks, months, or even years determine your strength as a player. Even in a single day of playing, you need to handle the highs and lows that come your way. While playing, it’s critical not allow bad beats to bring you down or change your approach to the next hand. Bad beats are an unavoidable, natural variant of the game.
The same principle applies in life. But keeping the highs and lows in perspective is easier said than done. Our moods and evaluations of ourselves are often unfairly swayed by what is happening in any precise moment. And this can be a big problem impacting our lives and relationships. Outside the poker room, think about how you handle life’s unavoidable swings. Are you overly elated when things go your way and equally devastated by the downturns? Or can you appropriately experience these inevitable life swings while staying focused and stable. Poker can be eerily reflective of struggles in this area of our lives.
Poker Face and Emotional Expression
Perhaps one of the most classic psychology references to poker players is the poker face. Thanks to Lady Gaga, now everyone has a basic sense of what this phrase means. Arguably, it’s one of the easiest to reflect on in terms of its non-poker relevance. On the felt, there are endless examples of players that encompass the classic poker face. This can be an effective table presence. It’s the normative approach. But it’s not the exclusive option. Players like Jamie Gold and Daniel Negreanu show us that being friendly and emotionally expressive can be successfully applied—even advantageous. I describe my own table presence as “consistently inconsistent.” I look equally scared when I am praying for a fold on a bluff as I do hoping for a call after flopping the nuts.
With Poker Face, the area for self-analysis involves being aware of the presence or absence of this approach in your everyday life. Having a good poker face—a useful, formidable table presence—has few, if any, real world benefits. People don’t want to hang out (or date) those who show no emotions, reactivity, or passion. Being “hard to read” also isn’t a particularly useful or attractive trait either. Research supports this point. Data has consistently documented that appropriate emotion regulation and expression is related to a wide array of positive psychological health indicators.
In conclusion, be a self-reflective poker player. Considering most poker players fold between 70-80% of their hands, there is plenty of time to work on yourself while playing cards. To start, reflect on the above five themes. Note the parallels and differences on these points on and off the table. And just like any good poker player, be appropriately self-critical. Recognize that your poker game and life likely have holes to fill, room to improve. Work on both. Ultimately, doing so will get you paid.
Aaron Rochlen, Ph.D. is a Licensed Psychologist and Associate Professor in Counseling Psychology at the University of Texas. While not at work, in Vegas, or discovering new poker-life parallels, he spends time with his wife and two young children.
