IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTIC FOR A POKER TEXAS HOLD'EM PLAYER

DISCIPLINE | SELF - KNOWLEDGE | GOOD MEMORY | MATHEMATICAL MIND | ATTENTION | COURAGE

When you play Hold’em, there are always a lot of factors to keep in mind. Many things are not covered here. Considering how many books have been written about Hold’em, it would be strange indeed if we managed to convey everything there is to know on our site. But becoming a good, winning Hold’em player is easier if you possess certain characteristics. What characteristics are the most important, depends on what type of Hold’em you play, and therefore you should choose to play the type of Hold’em that best fit your own personality.

The most important characteristic for a poker player, no matter what style you play, is probably discipline. Without discipline, you will not be able to play well consistently, and you will find it is difficult to win over extended periods, as you will lose more and win less if you play below capacity. Continuously being able to maximise your winnings, and minimise your losses, is the be-all and end-all of poker. Below is a list of important characteristics for a poker player. They are not ranked in order of importance, as that depends on the game being played.

Discipline – the discipline to give it your best at all times, not to tilt, not to call a bet when you know you are beat, and not to play a draw against the pot odds. But also the discipline to exercise good bankroll management and not to play for more than you can afford.

Self-knowledge – important to all poker players, as self-knowledge may save you from committing mistakes you would otherwise make. Without some self-knowledge, it is difficult to avoid playing undisciplined, tilting, or compensating for and adapting to your personal conditions.

Knowledge of people– makes it easier to divide your opponents into player categories. In order to divide your opponents into player types when you play online, knowledge of people is less important, but if you want to add information in excess of the four basic categories, it becomes essential. Knowledge of people is also an advantage when playing live, as it makes it easier to pick up on tells.

Mathematical mind/good memory – a talent for mathematics is a benefit, in order to correctly calculate the odds and percentages during an ongoing hand. If you have a good memory, allowing you to memorise different odds, you could manage with that alone, even if you are not particularly good at mathematics. But know that a good mathematician will always have an edge, as he will se the nuances in the calculations that are lost to an ordinary number cruncher.

Attention – it is important to pay attention, not only to other players, but also to situations. A player that cannot read other players, will find it difficult to focus on the opponents at all, but that could be compensated by having a talent for reading situations. By reading situations, we mean forming a picture of what the other players are holding and how to play your hand, based on what is on the board and on how the other players have acted previously in the hand.

Courage – a player should not be afraid to lose his/her money, as that will have a negative impact on his/her game. If you are afraid of losing your money, you cannot play in full, particularly in NL. That does not mean that you should be careless with your resources, only that you should be prepared to lose your money if the odds are in your favour. Good bankroll management helps. If you only ever play for a small share of your bankroll, you never need to be afraid of losing.

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