How To Develop Your Instinct (Part 2)

Written by Nigel

In the last post, we ended with the need of being totally focused on the game, no matter what your situation is.  Corollary to that, being focused means that you never make hasty decisions.  Using your instincts is not the same as merely jumping to decisions.  Instinct is honed and incorporates taking in the situation at the table.  It involves making decisions in a short amount of time.  Thinking is still involved although long drawn out analysis is not.

The next way to develop your poker instinct is to analyze your losses.  Yes, though we emphasized the importance of making quick decision at the table, there is a place and time for long drawn out thinking – but not at the table.  It is inevitable that at one point or another you will experience a loss or two, maybe more.  Learn from them.  Do not let losses get you down.  Instead, think about how you lost and why you lost.  In doing so, you will be able to find the flaws in your game and then start doing something to get rid of those flaws.

Last, but not the least, think about the reason you like playing poker.  More likely than not you will say something to the effect of having fun, right?  If so, then the thing to do at the table would be to relax and enjoy!  Do not be all uptight only thinking about winning.  Enjoy the whole game and you will learn more things than you thought you would.