Are You The World’s Best Poker Player?

So how do you rate your poker savvy? Can you stand up to any opponent or are you easily intimidated? Do you have a sound knowledge of the game, or just learning the ropes? And most important, can you look at yourself honestly, without ego, and know when you’re beaten?

Let’s face it, all poker players have an ego, some display it openly, others keep it tucked away inside and Everest Poker welcomes all of them equally. Just as there are myriad personalities, so too are there multiple styles of play; but the question is this; can you be honest with yourself and not let your ego get in the way?

There are always going to be winners and losers, that’s simply the nature of the game, but can you play without letting your ego enter the picture. If you can’t, you’ll find yourself losing a lot of hands that you should have won. Being competitive and aggressive are both strong points for playing Texas Holdem, but there are times that being too competitive (like hanging onto a losing hand) can cost you money and possibly a seat at the table.

Have you ever called a hand knowing in advance you were beat, but you… “Just had to keep you honest”… “Just had to see the cards”. Here is a fact… you are going to lose a lot of hands. Does that hurt your ego? Sorry, it’s simply a statistical fact and you shouldn’t take it personally (turn OFF the ego). The trick is to win the big pots and bet the cards when the odds are in your favor, couple that with savvy and psychology and a good bluff and you might find yourself sitting at the final table in the WSOP.

In case you didn’t know, poker is a game that only begins with the cards you’re dealt, then grows from there with mind games, raises, checks, bluffs, re-raises and sometimes verbal intimidation (not a problem at Everest Poker). In order to succeed, in order to become a winner and leave others with expressions of defeat, you must focus all your attention on the game and particularly the hand in play and leave your ego out of the mix.

At one time or another we’ll all experience a bad beat those are the memories and emotions that make this game so great. But even then, get over that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach, and stick with your plan. If that bad hand or bad beat knocked you for a loop, then take a break.

EDITOR’S NOTE: My bad beat was in Laughlin, Nevada playing seven card stud. I had four of a kind… four lucky ladies and I bet them strong, knowing in my heart (ego talking) that this was my big hand, my shining moment. WHAM… showdown, my opponent had four Kings and I lost big.

Everest Poker has a goal of customer satisfaction and that comes from a good and honest game; while they can’t (and never would) force you to play a certain way; we do encourage the old gambling strategy… “Bet with your head… not over it”.

Written By Tim