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.
Top players take a hard look at their abilities and do not run from the strenuous and unfamiliar. They are their own best critics and care about becoming ever better at whatever it is they do. The big winners. as well as everyone else that plays the game. have a sense of what talented play is relative to current poker tradition. What separates them is that they reach beyond whatever talent they have to impose upon themselves a rigorous pattern of discipline.
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.
Among the most common flaws in “talented” and overconfident amateurs is their inability to restrain themselves. They concentrate on the fact that they are “good” at this and neglect the strategic advantages of a timely retreat. If your purpose is not to flatter yourself, but to maintain a consistent record of success, you will have to temper your narcissistic tendencies and learn to leave when there is no way to win or when you are loosing control.
Everyone will find themselves in hot water on occasion, the pro clearly identifies the situation and will get out before the water becomes even hotter. The last of his worries is losing face.
The author is a successful limit cash game player. He plays poker online and receives Rakeback at Ultimate Bet and Rakeback at Absolute Poker.