Most important lesson you learned in poker

[MrToymaker]

For me the hands or the people dont matter. It is the little voice in my head, thats telling me I that I'm beat in a hand. That voice tells me my straight flush to the king is no good against the royal flush. I still played the hand and lost a monster pot. When I listen to it, I save my tournament life and lose the mininum. My ego always fights that voice and tell me that I'm mucking the winner or that guy is a better player than me etc.. If I could just listen to it more often my playing will be elevated much higher. Thats the lesson that I must remember and use everytime I play poker.

[allthatremains]

I think the biggest life lesson from poker I have learned is when you have a huge decision to make (like calling an all-in for all of your chips) and you are given some time to think about it, take the time given and see if your excitement has made you miss something. I've spent hours playing a tourney only to throw it away abruptly. In review I could see it was obvious I was beat or at least I probably was and there was no need to call off all my chips as I still had a reasonable stack by folding.

[liladypokerpro]

I agree with both of the above posts whole-heartedly. Really sound advice.

For myself, Poker has taught me 3 things that I've needed all my life...self-discipline, control and how to use my will power.

It's also made it easier to pick up on when people are lying to me in every day situations LOL That's a HUGE plus in my book because I've been taken advantage of so much earlier in my life...but not anymore!!!

[hpplaya]

the biggest lesson I have learned is to trust my gut... 90% of the time I go against my instincts I am wrong..... i don't really like to ue odds and outs so much as knowing who I am playing, the action preflop and reading my opnent(s) hand... as soon as I start calc pot odds with maringal or even the seemingly best hand all I end up betting into the best hand ... and losing..

Also I was reading another post about new players learning to play on the internet.. I am one of those who has learned to play on the internet (about 14months) and working hard to break soem bad habits like limping out of position and praying no one raises.... lol or slow playing strng hands trying to make more money in tthe pot... I have played at the casino a couple times and played badly.. I would love to find a mentor and play more live games and learn to play a lot better... But again I am learning to fold those KK 's and AA's when I know I'm playing against 2 pr or the lucky fukka caught his straight against all my raises ....

[liladypokerpro]

I would love to find a mentor and play more live games and learn to play a lot better...

Where do you live hpplaya?

[Mika Ollila]

Poker has teached me to apply expected value to real life situations as well; to cope with losses and wins of life. I can now brush off negative events that previously would have felt like the end of the world.

[Vito_Nuccio]

I love when poker players describe playing from the gut, because that is exactly where the feeling originates and resonates.

It is strange and crazy, you get a gut feeling, you do not know why, you just know it is correct, and you go with it. It does seem the gut feeling is correct most of the time even though the rest of your being and the whole world is saying the complete opposite.

As for translating poker to life, I think it is a good thing to bring the poker skills to real life situations. You are presented with an issue, you decide your position and strength, then make a decision and stick by it taking the good along with the bad in stride.


Poker is Life..............Life is Poker

[MADDAMGAZZEL]

most important lesson in poker.........

BANKROLL MANAGEMENT!!!!!!! cant stress that enough

[MADDAMGAZZEL]

also taught me how to be a true alchoholic

[Vito_Nuccio]

also taught me how to be a true alchoholic

Yes, poker is one of those games like darts and bowling, great game to play to hide the drinking problem. But, hey you only get one life. Great thanks to the ancient Egyptians for inventing beer.

I hope to party with you at the tables someday.

Enjoy

[BUILDMO]

have you ever experienced a situation where you go ALL IN in a real life situation?
people don't like to lose
and they usually fold
poker is a different story because the game of chance is involved
chance favors the prepared mind in real life,
in poker you don't always win with AA
RAISE THE BAR AND RAISE THE BET, TRY AND SEE

[nebster]

Justy like in life, you can do everthing right and still lose. The runner runner that takes down the pot aggainst you after you have set up the hand perfectly. Poker teaches you to handle yourself under duress and to still make the correct moves. Just like the presures of life, you must adapt, change lanes and handle the tough times. It also has tought me self-disipline and when to take risks.