Poker News

Jennifer Matiran

Once upon a time, there were three demons. Satan asked them all “what will you do to bring people to me, to the dark side?” The first demon responded, “I will tell them that there is no such thing as God.” Satan said “no, no, people will not believe that.” The second demon said “I will tell them there’s no heaven and no hell, that this life is all there is.” Satan responded “no, no, there’s no way people will believe that either.” Finally, the third demon says “I will tell them that they have all the time in the world and that they can put things off until tomorrow.” Satan smiled and said yes, that’s good, that way they will not achieve their lifes purpose, ah, yes, play with their thoughts.”

I fold an 8, 3 off suit, the flop is then 8, 8, 3, and smacks me across the face. Then, after, I start thinking I should play such crap; it came last time…that my friend is called the Poker Devil. He says “play these non-sense cards they came last time, come on, it will only cost you eight bucks, what’s eight bucks?” P.D.’s job is to mess with your brain, your thoughts, and your common sense. Folding the 8, 3 off suit and the flop hitting is a matter of chance, a small chance and when things like that happen that’s when he strikes. He strikes when you’re irritated, when your will power and discipline are lacking. He truly is a punk… The Poker Devil also strikes when you’re feeling good because one puts his guard down when he’s feeling good and becomes careless. I’m up a couple hundred and he says “call, call, call, it’s a kill pot, do you know how much money you will win, if you just call? Go for it, it’s a kill pot.” So you do, you call, thinking yes, my runner, runner will hit and of course itdoesn’t.

P.D. also says “come on give your opponent some action, you’re up and he’s lost, good people share, your so selfish, he has a wife and kids to feed, you live with your parents, you don’t need the money, he has a mortgage, come on give him some action.” So you do and that same poor person ends up winning all your chips without even giving you a second thought. The Poker Devil then says “that worthless, ungrateful bum took all your money, you know the two hundred dollars you’re saving for your car payment, cash that in for some chips so you could show that creep who’s boss.” You cash in the money you were supposed to save for the payment, your car payment for crying out loud and you target your “ungrateful opponent.” P.D. knows the worst thing you can do in poker is target one player. You are on the worse tilt and you don’t even realize. You lose and go home feeling worthless while P.D. celebrates.

He loves toying with your patience threshold. He tells you things like “you’ve been sitting here for forty-five minutes and haven’t won even one pot.” He doesn’t want you to wait for a great opportunity, he makes you forget that poker is a waiting game; he tries to make you feel you have to make things happen at the wrong time. He wants you to lose your self-control.

Stand guard at the gates of the mind; do not let dark thoughts take control. Beware of thoughts that do not belong to you. When this happens, quiet the mind and heart and let the river rush in, breathe, and breathe deeply, oxygen is the best ammunition against negativity. Until next time, “don’t lose your focus because you are so close to becoming better than you have ever imagined.”

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