Is Talent or Discipline the Crux of Good Poker?
Defining talent is an amorphous undertaking. A person’s potentiality quotient is shown by the goal he is aiming for and how close he comes to reaching it. Relying on pure talent to accomplish a goal may work if the goal requires very low standards or is quite simplistic. What separates the good player from the bad in any arena is the intestinal fortitude and tenacity to thoroughly educate themselves on the subject at hand. Almost everyone has potential and may even know their talents, but they do not have the discipline to pursue them.
The professional player does not dwell on talent and will not be afraid to exert himself. They are self-critical and act on what they find to minimize their weak points and maximize their strong ones. Everyone needs, whether beginning or expert, a general idea of what talented play looks like at today’s poker tables. The pro will take this further and attain the discipline required to understand the game and its strategies, no matter the type of poker.
The successful player gains experience by playing the game constantly and learning from all those hands. This is how they develop the best methods of play in many different situations.
So, talent is disciplined, and undisciplined talent is luck. Your basic amateur is heavily dependent on luck. Taking a chance is the thrill that keeps them at the table. The pro with disciplined talent is hell-bent on reducing chance to the lowest point possible. He is not interested in adrenaline rushes or surprises with the odd win. The pro’s objective is to empty his opponents’ wallets on a consistent basis, no matter how weak or strong the opponents may be. He is doing battle against chance and against the proven methods of good players.
A pro’s methodology starts with a study in self-awareness. Those who undergo self-criticism, find weak spots and ignore them will never seek out another activity that they just might be good at. They may even deny that poker is not for them and create a wonderful fantasy poker life for themselves – every professional’s dream opponent.
A professional poker player will start out by determining which poker to play. Limit poker is far more challenging than no-limit poker. Limit poker, to be played successfully, calls on a player’s patience and cautiousness. It requires time to gain experience to gradually build knowledge and strategies of play in many situations. No-limit poker is the antithesis, requiring seemingly random bouts of aggressive behavior while maintaining control and playing in a cool, calculated manner.
The “talented” non-pro is unable to put constraints on himself, a very common shortcoming. Their focus is on how well they play poker completely ignoring the strategic advantage of getting out when all the signals are there for them to observe and act upon. A good player will not dwell on his “goodness” but will nonetheless maintain a constant winning track record. Being no narcissists, they will know when to fold and do so immediately.
Everyone who has ever played poker has felt the pressure. The good player senses the pressure, recognizes the cause and will stop the bleeding before it gets serious.
The author of this article plays online poker and gets Rakeback at Carbon Poker where they offer the Highest Carbon Poker Rakeback.
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