Do you ever get that itch? The itch to wager, to head to the closest gambling establishment, to find a superior stakes casino game of Texas holdem, to sit at a Black-jack table for hours on end. I like that itch. And I love to scratch it.
I also love to watch people today gamble. No 2 poker faces seem the same. When I wager I like to believe I put on a poker face that’s impenetrable. Except I know I have specific actions. For one, the only time I smoke is when I bet on poker or Chemin de fer. And then I smoke. But I smoke whether I am winning or losing, regardless of whether I’ve a very good hand or bad.
I once bet in a weekly poker game. The casino game was generally 5 card draw. There was a guy who played with us every single week who always wore a hat. When he was given a good hand, unconsciously, he would begin touching and playing with his hat. Pointless to say, he in no way won.
The greatest poker gambler I ever saw was a guy who made more movements and gestures at a poker table than anyone I had ever seen. He was impeccable in the way he dressed. Often an high-priced suit and tie, boots shined and nails trimmed. He was diligent in this manner. And he was generally brushing his pants or holding his hands or putting his chips in neat little piles.
I use to analyze him for hours. I would attempt to see if I could notice his tell. Picking lint off his vest- did this imply he was bluffing? Stacking his chips within a short pile – did this imply he had a excellent hand?
Years later I ran into him in a bar in Chicago and we had a beer. I asked him if he have been aware of all those motions he produced or if they have been unconscious. He informed me that each and every little thing he did at a poker table was intentional. He said that everybody is usually checking out everybody else’s poker face. They’re trying to detect the the tell.
So his method was to provide them lots to consider about. His reasoning was if they were thinking about him selecting a piece of lint off his shirt and what it meant they sure were not thinking about their cards.
His process was distraction. And it worked for him. In no way give up a process that works for you.