You must have heard the phrase 'fake it till you make it' at some point in your life. But did you find it easy to follow this advice?
New beginnings are never easy. Whether you start on a new career path or you decide to try and take over the poker world, it is hard to face new challenges with complete confidence in your abilities. More often than not, feelings of confidence often come hand in hand with experience, which is hard to come by if you don't have faith in yourself.
That is why many coaches and self-help books recommend you fake it till you make it. In other words, to act confidently even when you aren't sure of your own capabilities.
And while that sounds easy enough, this advice is relatively hard to follow. What does it really mean to fake it? And how can you appear confident when you play online poker, even if you don't have enough experience to back up your bravado?
Well, there are a few tips that can help you get better at 'faking it' until you actually become a better poker player:
- Adopt a confidence-boosting pre-game routine – Getting into the right frame of mind before a poker session is crucial if you want to appear calm and collected as you play. Listening to music, chanting some positive mantras, and even exercising can help you appear more confident than you actually feel.
- Don’t let your emotions show - Poker is a game of skill and strategy, but it's also a game of psychology. Keep your emotions in check, whether you're winning or losing, and try not to give away any tells that could give away the strength of your hand. Even if you have zero confidence in the moves you make, you can't let your opponent know that you doubt yourself, as any display of weakness at the poker table will be used against you.
- Study your opponents – If you're not sure whether you're doing good or not, try to get clues on how to act from your opponents. Do they take you seriously and see you as a threat? Or do they think you're a weak player? Study their reactions to YOUR moves to understand your own influence on the poker table and use this information to adjust your strategy accordingly.
- Practice, practice, practice – At the end of the day, the best way to boost your confidence and become a better poker player is to practice regularly. Play in low-stakes games or online to hone your skills and develop your confidence at the table. The more you play, the more comfortable you will become and the sooner you will no longer have to fake it to feel good at playing poker.
Are You Ready for a New Adventure?
Many people avoid tackling new challenges, like playing poker for the first time, due to fear of failing. The only way to deal with the fear of failing is to take the plunge and just start playing until you gain enough confidence and experience to become great at what you do. Are you ready to set out on this exciting journey of becoming a great poker player? We're here for you at Everygame Poker.