The Most Important Edge in Winning Poker
What separates the best poker players in the world from the would-be players? Is it intelligence or is it luck? Millions of poker players all dream of fame and fortune, but only a few achieve them.
Successful poker players are not born, they are made. Does this really mean that anyone can become a poker champion? Of course, not. Success in poker requires a combination of intelligence, experience, attitude, psychological edge and luck. The right mix of these attributes make a great poker player.
Take the case of basketball. Not all basketball players go on to the NBA, and only a small fraction of professional basketball players achieve superstar status. Those who become superstars have far better physical and mental attributes than ordinary players. The same goes for the game of poker. Poker superstars have better attributes, both innate and developed, than the ordinary card players.
So what really makes a great poker player? Is it experience? There are many poker pros who have several years experience in playing at the casinos and tournaments. They know how to play the game by heart and they are wise to all the tricks, techniques and tactics. Yet many of them hardly make ends meet. They know how to win the paltry sums, but they don't know how to win the million-dollar pot.
Is it intelligence? No doubt, intelligence is a crucial factor in winning poker games. Your winning largely depends on your ability to calculate pot odds and analyze all the information coming to you. It can be said that most, if not all, poker champions are intelligent people.
But intelligence alone doesn't cut it. It helps you a lot, but it's not everything in poker. If you're a smart person but you lack the mental and emotional toughness, you'll have a hard time winning.
Could it be luck? Although good luck at times can make you win, it is not the winning factor. You can be extremely lucky sometimes, but you can also be unlucky. That is why the best players don't rely on luck to win.
The ultimate factor to winning poker is (drumroll, please) psychological edge. Being psychologically superior to your opponents will guarantee you success in poker, as long as you also take the time to study and gain experience.
The psychological edge can be attained through a strong willpower and a positive attitude. You must be highly disciplined, determined, patient and persistent. This edge can be obtained through constant play and practice, and no book can teach you how to do this. Bluffing, intimidation, falls tells and other psychological tricks can throw your opponents off-guard and leave you a clear shot at the pot.
Skill, experience, intelligence, luck and the psychological edge - these are the factors that make a great poker player. Attain all these attributes and you will be a far better player than you dream to be.