The ups and downs of poker really test a person's character. How do you react to a bad beat? How do you play after you have made a big mistake? In order to become a great poker player, you need to stay positive after making mistakes. Everyone will make mistakes in poker. Poker is a game of incomplete information, it is impossible to be correct all the time. Sometimes you will simply be off your game and unable to make good reads. The natural reaction when playing bad is to tilt. Emotions start to get the best of you and distract your mind from playing your best game. You have to retrain your mind to stay positive when things are not going your way. Emotions can cause you to become irrational about the game. You may start to blame the cards, your opponents, or anything else that has nothing to do with your playing ability. Face the facts, some people win and most people lose. The winners are simply better at controlling their emotions when things get really tough. The winners have trained their mind to put negativity into the back of their mind. The winners always stay positive or get out of a game when they are playing bad.

Anyone can go on an amazing run and win a ton of money in a short period of time. The best players are excellent at stopping loss before it puts them into a huge hole. It is very possible to make huge profits in one month and then lose it all back in a couple a days. Poker will test every part of your innate human system. If you are unable to control your emotions, your opponents will take advantage. The difference between a good player and a world-class player is the ability to control emotions when things are going bad. The next time things are going bad, actively attempt to stay positive and play your best game. Most times it is best to simply get out of the game and come back when you are more focused.

Return to Poker-A-Z.Com's - Online Poker Index