Zen and the Art of Poker Maintenance

Originally posted by ClerkenwellBoi
In the article, Robert Crampton of the Times undergoes with McNab the sort of neurological test that supposedly can determine a psychopathic character. This involves sitting in a cubicle wired up to various machines monitoring brain functions while watching a succession of scenes: some neutral, some pleasing and then at unexpected moments, images of extreme horror – victims of accidents and murder, dismembered bodies and all sorts of gruesome gore. And throughout this – with the added stress of sudden blasts of white noise through headphones – the electrodes measure how the brain is reacting.

For some reason, I'd really like to take this test now and see how I would do.
Reminds me a little of those "screamer" pranks that were popular on the internet about a decade ago...

In my opinion, the importance of emotional control in poker cannot be understated. It is, in the end, what separates successful players from unsuccessful ones.
I think a good way to combat potential tilt problems is to train yourself to have the same emotional response to receiving pocket aces as to receiving 72os, and the same response to flopping quads as to completely missing a draw-heavy board. Not only does that help you to find the most rational solution in whatever situation you may be in, it also enables you to get rid of all those feelings of entitlement and other tilt-inducing nasties.
For live players, it might be even more important, because it would also help you to avoid giving away tells.

+1 for book

I agree Akira, this looks like an interesting book to get both in terms of lessons for poker but also life in general. Besides, it gives me a cracking excuse next time someone criticises me. My response will be, "Oh sorry, I'm just embracing my inner psychopath" ♦

I think a good way to combat potential tilt problems is to train yourself to have the same emotional response to receiving pocket aces as to receiving 72os, and the same response to flopping quads as to completely missing a draw-heavy board. Not only does that help you to find the most rational solution in whatever situation you may be in, it also enables you to get rid of all those feelings of entitlement and other tilt-inducing nasties. For live players, it might be even more important, because it would also help you to avoid giving away tells.

And this is very true Harrier, particularly as you say, for live players. But clearly this is a temperament and general attitude that would be good for us all to adopt as much as possible both for the sake of our game but also our mental and emotional health.

I like the image of training oneself to receive AA and 72 with the same mind. It made me think of those words from Kipling's poem "If" which is what players at Wimbledon see engraved over the door just before they walk out to Centre Court....

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same

It is why Buddhists say that equanimity is one of the four brahmavicara, the "divine abodes". Demonstrating how important it is to have the mental strength and poise to be able to handle the flow of life or - as Buddha the poker player might have said - each new riffle of the cards and whatever that may bring.