Positive vs. Negative Thinking and Luck

BlakeC27 · #1 (**permalink**) 01-28-2007, 12:51 AM

I'm just wondering what people's thoughts were on thinking positively vs. negatively when it comes to luck in poker?

For example, winning coin flips. A player will always seem to say that they never win a coin flip and BINGO they lose that particular coin-flip. Or they running bad and they know it, get the money in good then make some comment about how bad they've been running or how they're going to lose the hand and the next thing you know it happens, runner-runner.

Does bad thoughts and negative thinking equal bad luck and vice versa? Or in other words, do you get what you ask for?

bludevilstud5 · #2 (**permalink**) 01-28-2007, 01:11 AM

I think it seems that way sometimes. But we all remember the brutal beats as opposed to the brutal suckouts. Sometimes you just have that feeling like its going to happen, but you can fold a hand that is so big because you think you will get drawn out. At least in my opinion thats how it is.

jojobinks · #3 (**permalink**) 01-28-2007, 01:15 AM

nah. i mean...thinking you always lose with AA will definitely get you beat with AA, b/c guys often fail to protect their hand thinking that way.

but thinking negatively about a coinflip and then losing it? come on...

BrettButter · #4 (**permalink**) 01-28-2007, 01:15 AM

I'm pessimistic. VERY pessimistic. I always assume the worst will happen.

If I expect something good to happen, and it doesn't, then I get disappointed. If I always expect the worst to happen, it's a pleasant surprise if it doesn't, but if it does, then I was ready for it.

I don't assume I'm going to lose, I just don't get too upset when I lose a race.

I have the same view on things like scratch off lottery tickets as I do on cards. The cards are set the way they are, regardless of how you think, how you act, etc. Certain scratch offs win, and they win because they're made that way. As soon as the cards are dealt, one person is pre-determined to win that hand if played to the end, and sometimes there's nothing you can do about it.

Irish Se7en · #5 (**permalink**) 01-28-2007, 01:16 AM

Mike Matusow = negative vibes.
Phil Ivey = positive vibes

Okay I just watched PAD this week and these two players were on the show. For the few who watched it they know how it ended.

Honestly, it's just getting the best hand in and let the Poker gods decide your fate after the cards are layed out. Everyone receives a bad beat once in awhile but you just try to get all your chips in with the best hand. I can live with that, though I may vent, think of other ways I would have played such hand, and think of reasons why the other person played thier hand the way they did.

BlakeC27 · #6 (**permalink**) 01-28-2007, 01:42 AM

Thanks for the thoughts guys. It look likes people have many different points of view on this matter.

jojobinks · #7 (**permalink**) 01-28-2007, 02:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irish Se7en

Phil Ivey = positive vibes

what about when he got all his chips in with the set vs the flopped straight and he rooted for sammy so he could go bust and leave? positive?

Irish Se7en · #8 (**permalink**) 01-28-2007, 03:17 AM

****SPOLIER ALERT******

If you haven't watched last weeks Poker After Dark don't read below.

I think in that hand, he believed he had the best hand after the flop. I guess we all would too. But that wasn't your question.

IMHO Some of these players play this tourney like people play with play money chips. To some of them, losing 20K would be like us losing $20.00. I don't think Ivey would have cared either way financially, but competively I believe he would. If it's not about the money then it should be about pride, that's me but I can't answer for all of them.

When he raised his 6/6 and Sammy Farha pushed him all in, S.F. stated "I hope I'm going to have more money Phil" and P.Ivey responded (inaudible)..."I'm happy to be in this situation anyways." So I believe he was content with his hand. If I had his hand I would have believed S. Fahar had a flush draw. Of course S. Fahar turned over the str8t with the flush draw. Now after the cards are shown, P. Ivey says to S. Fahar "look at your face, you look so nervous." He seems content there and he appears to be worry free. After the turn P. Ivey asks the table "which way do you think I'm rooting", and then points to Sammy and says I have a golf (thing or game) and I'm rooting for Sammy." Without having a degree in Psycology here's my opinion, I believe he was content on how he played the hand after the flop and was now resigned to the fact that he could lose the hand.

I should note that I shouldn't be typing about what these Poker Pro's are thinking, because I'm still in the infancy stages when it come to Hold'em compared to them. I can assume and sometimes I may be right but again I'm an ASSumption about what or how they play a particular hand.

Listening to the players, it's about the "prestige", pride and only A. Bloch stated the money. (have the directors cut Tivo'd)

A lot of babble up above by me, and I think I answered your question.