Why Some Poker Players Maintain Bad Habits

It’s easy to fall into bad habits. This is true both in regular life and in gambling. It can be especially true in poker. No matter whether you’re playing Texas Hold ‘Em, Seven-card Stud, Five card draw, or one of the many varieties of online crypto poker where you can find amazing bonuses, you can still get stuck in a rut. You, like a lot of other players, can end up doing the same thing over and over again, whether or not it actually helps your game at all. There are, however, some pretty good reasons why this happens, and it isn’t because you’re a bad poker player. Today, we’re going to look at the reasons why some poker habits are hard to break.

Confirmation bias and reinforcement loops

If we had to choose the absolute worst starting hand in Texas Hold ‘Em Poker, it would be a two and seven of different suits. It’s a hand you can’t really do a lot with. You can’t combine the two to make a straight, you can’t have them make a flush, and if you were to get a pair with them, you’d be pretty lucky if you won. However, if you were to win with an offsuit two and seven a few times, you might decide to always play with it, even though, logically speaking, it might be better to fold. This is because your brain remembers the big wins (“I played this tough hand well and won!”) much more than the losses (“I didn’t fold this bad hand and of course I lost - what was I thinking?”). This is called confirmation bias and you can see it happen all the time in the real world. What’s happened is called a reinforcement loop. To put it in very simple terms, you do a thing even if it doesn’t work very well, because there were a few times when it worked in the past. You should be logical and see that, maybe, it isn’t going to happen again very often.

Routines avoid worry but can keep bad habits in play

You might be the sort of person who thinks they hate routines. You might dread doing the same thing over and over and over again. But here’s something you might not have thought about. You probably take part in a routine all the time. Whether it’s brushing your teeth in the morning, making your coffee just how you like it, or even driving a car, routines are part of everyone’s lives, they reduce worry, and they can be a good thing. Now, you might well read this and say to yourself “I hadn’t really thought of that”. Congratulations! That is exactly how routines are supposed to work. And what is true in everyday life is true at the poker table, too. If, for instance, you always bet a certain percentage of the pot or even fold with a low, but potentially connecting, hand, ask yourself why you’re doing it the next time you do. Are you doing it because it is the right thing to do under the circumstances, or is it because it’s an automatic response? If it’s the latter, take a quick stop and ask yourself whether you’d advise someone to do the same thing. It could be that you’re using your regular routine as a way to avoid thinking about things, and thinking about your game is absolutely crucial when you play poker.

Fear of change could hold you back

Perhaps the biggest factor in how our habits become habits is as simple as a fear of change. You might feel safer playing a particular hand a particular way, or you might have a set staking strategy. In all honesty, you might want to do things a bit differently, but you may have no idea where to start or whether it will work. You may end up thinking that the risk isn’t worth the reward. Now, in poker, assessing risks and rewards is a big part of a successful player’s approach to the game. However, if things aren’t working out for you as well as they could do, then maybe it’s a good time to take that risk. Being worried about losses is perfectly normal and sensible, but you may have to face your fears and take a step into the unknown before you can become the kind of poker player that you want to be.

There we are. These are some of the reasons why poker players get stuck in bad habits. If you feel that these apply to you, you can work your way out of them. What’s worth noting is that there’s a theory that online poker players are more likely to avoid bad habits than face to face ones. Part of this is that someone playing online might well find it easier to keep track of their playing data, so consider getting some accountability. Similarly, you could make sure to stay mindful, review your sessions, and don’t be afraid to mix things up. Whatever you do, good luck, and enjoy playing!