ALL THE Aces

POKER PLAYAS

You could bring the pain to Spain and make off with a whole lot of pleasure during the ‘888Poker Live Barcelona’ festival that starts tomorrow (23rd May-4th June) at the Casino Barcelona. Play opens with a 100,000 GTD tournament with a 200 + 20 direct buy-in. Plenty of low cost side-events then provide the lead-up to a set-piece 500,000 guaranteed Main Event ( 1,000 + 100). Vamonos!

WAKING UP

Cognitive bias causes you to filter (or see) the world not as it is, but how you expect it to be, or want to believe it is. This can be a real problem at the poker table. Some players see what they want to see, not what is really happening. Dealt pocket Aces or flopping a straight, they believe they deserve to win. They fail to acknowledge any board changes, coupled with aggressive resistance from opponents, that indicate they are beaten by a better hand….

THE TAKEAWAY?

Always try to keep a piece of your poker brain free, aware, and alert enough to question your sense of absolute certainty. You will still take some beatings, but at least you will go into them with eyes open rather than spellbound by a self-created illusion. Over time, your reading skills will improve, helping you know when to make the kind of big lay downs that will stop opponents taking all your chips.