Online poker is a game that involves a lot of skill and technique. That’s a fact. But sometimes, when you want to make the most of poker no deposit bonuses, poker knowledge is not enough. In some cases, you will need to rely on instincts to win big.
But when your gut feeling doesn’t coincide with your logic, who should you trust? When should you rely on your intuition, and when should you stick to data and calculations? It is time to resolve this issue once and for all.
Intuition, Poker, and Everything in Between
Poker players who trust their instincts when they gamble are often described as feel players. Renowned pros like Phil Ivey and Daniel Negreanu are often referred to as feel players, as it seems they sometimes have a six sense helping them make decisions at the table.
But first, it is important to understand the definition of instincts. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, instinct is a natural or inherent aptitude, impulse, or capacity. So basically, it means an action you perform naturally, without giving it a second thought.
When it comes to poker, you’re not born with those instincts - but you can sure develop them. So at the end of the day, your intuition about the game comes from a deep understanding of the game. Imagine this: you know so much about the game you can make decisions on an automated level, trusting yourself to choose correctly without overthinking the situation. So while to others your actions might seem to be based on a lucky guess, it’s anything but that.
Now, the question is how do you develop such good instincts? That’s right, you practice and learn as much as you can about the game. It’s just like playing an instrument! If you play a song often enough, soon enough you will be able to play it without looking at the notes – or even thinking about them.
So to be able to develop your poker instincts, you need to play as much as you can. You need to be exposed to all types of situations and learn what the right move is in each case. That way, the next time you encounter a familiar scenario, you will be able to react properly without even thinking about it.
Poker Instincts – Basic Rules
To sum everything up, here are a few tips and rules that might help you in the journey towards becoming a better poker player:
- The more you play, the better.
- Strive to compete against stronger poker players, as this is the best way to learn new tricks.
- Be brave enough to trust your gut feeling. Sometimes, you will have to take a risk to win, which requires less thinking and more acting.
- If your instincts fail you more often than not, you either need more practice or you tend to doubt yourself. If you don’t trust your instincts, you can’t use them to win.
- It’s ok not to be a feel player! While intuition helps some players master the game, that doesn’t mean calculated players are at a disadvantage.
In Conclusion
While poker is a game of skill, some players will attest to the fact that they don’t always bother to analyse the situation when placing bets. In some cases, poker pros prefer to trust their gut as opposed to overthinking the situation. Do you agree with that choice?