Do you ever have that itch? The itch to gamble, to head to the closest gambling establishment, to locate a superior stakes game of Texas hold em, to sit at a Blackjack table for hours on end. I really like that itch. And I love to scratch it.
I also really like to watch folks wager. No 2 poker faces seem alike. When I gamble I like to think I put on a poker face that is impassable. But I know I’ve specific actions. For one, the only time I smoke cigarettes is when I bet on poker or Black jack. And then I chain smoke. Except I chain smoke whether I am succeeding or losing, regardless of whether I’ve a great hand or bad.
I once wagered in the weekly poker game. The casino game was constantly 5 card draw. There was a man who bet with us just about every week who usually wore a hat. When he was dealt a beneficial hand, subconsciously, he would start touching and playing with his hat. Needless to say, he by no means won.
The greatest poker player I ever saw was a player who made far more movements and gestures at a poker table than anyone I had ever met. He was impressive in the way he dressed. Usually an high priced suit and tie, boots shined and nails manicured. He was meticulous in this manner. And he was always brushing his pants or holding his hands or putting his chips in tidy little piles.
I use to analyze him for hours. I’d tried to see if I could spot his tell. Choosing fuzz off his shirt- did this imply he was bluffing? Arranging his chips in a very short pile – did this imply he had a great hand?
Several years later I ran into him in the bar in Chicago and we had a beverage. I asked him if he have been aware of all those movements he made or if they have been unconscious. He informed me that every single thing he did at a poker table was intentional. He said that everybody is constantly checking out everyone else’s poker face. They’re trying to spot the the tell.
So his program was to provide them lots to believe about. His reasoning was if they were thinking about him selecting a piece of fuzz off his vest and what it meant they certain were not thinking about their cards.
His method was distraction. And it worked for him. Never give up a process that operates for you.