Leave your Ego at Home when Playing Poker

The poker table is no place for your ego. Sure, it’s a good thing to be confident and play aggressive poker. You believe in your abilities at the poker tables but if you walk around with a big ego you will make big enemies and pride like this can cost lots of money.

Remember, poker is just a game you are playing. You’re playing this game to win but your whole sense of self shouldn’t be riding on it, it’s the first step to playing poker with self control.

Some things to consider about the dangers of playing with a big ego:

• Ego is cruel - it makes you play with emotion rather than logic and reason
• Ego makes bluffers continue a bluff that is futile
• Ego will make you make plays based on factors other than the realities of the poker game
• Ego makes an early bettor continue to bet even when he knows he’s beat
• Ego makes you stay in the game too long, even when you are losing
• Ego makes you lose big

Ego goes hand in hand with anger sometimes. Ego will cause you to reraise that jerk at the table because you think you are better than he is.

Keep your ego at home.