If I say, \u201cMary had a little ______.\u201d You are going to think, \u201clamb.\u201d No amount of meditation or positive thinking could get you to not think of the word \u201clamb\u201d there. This is what happens when people tell themselves, \u201cJust don\u2019t tilt.\u201d It\u2019s like trying not to think of the word \u201clamb\u201d when you read that sentence. It\u2019s impossible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Similarly, we see someone hit a three outer in Texas Hold’em<\/a>, and we\u2019re programmed to go, \u201cf***ing donkey!!!\u201d You cannot get rid of any word or algorithm that has been programmed into your memory. But you can replace it with something else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If I said, \u201cMary had a little rocket launcher outfitted with a gas-cooled seeker,\u201d then you may forget the word \u201clamb.\u201d If I created a funny YouTube music video that made a joke song out of those lyrics, it\u2019s more likely you\u2019d forget the word \u201clamb.\u201d If I made you watch that video every day for the rest of your life, you\u2019d really have a tough time remembering the word \u201clamb\u201d in that sentence. If you\u2019re laughing at this, you shouldn\u2019t be<\/strong>. This is how the human mind works. Facts and figures do not stay in our memory. Visuals and stories do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Have you ever read the book Moonwalking With Einstein<\/em>? It\u2019s about those psychopaths who literally memorize the order of 50+ decks of cards at a time. Many of them use techniques like this. They tell themselves stories involving all the cards, and that\u2019s how they train their mind to serve them the information they need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We need to do something like this at the table. While rocket launchers are fun to think about, I suggest another phrase for you to repeat constantly: \u201cI am responsible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did a guy river an ace on you after you\u2019d been betting top pair, and he was floating with ace high? Your initial thought is going to be something akin to, \u201cthis is why I can never win a f***ing tournament<\/a>. Donkeys like this keep galloping up to take pots from me-\u201c SHORT CIRCUIT THIS. This snowflake victimhood bullshit is not going to help you win the tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But here\u2019s the thing: You can\u2019t just tell yourself \u201cdon\u2019t think of that, don\u2019t tilt.\u201d That won\u2019t work. Mary had a little\u2026 No, instead, you need to replace it with something. And that phrase should be, \u201cI am responsible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Notice, you\u2019re not saying, \u201cthis is my fault.\u201d Blaming yourself constantly and drowning in your \u201cwoe unto me\u201d stories is just as narcissistic as telling everyone what a great poker player you are every 14 seconds. It\u2019s a way of excusing yourself from the hard work. \u201cLook, it\u2019s okay I lost because I really hated myself for how things panned out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n No. You start with \u201cI am responsible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did someone hit a\u00a0flush<\/a>\u00a0on you, and did you make a bad call? The flush draw coming in is not your fault. The bad call might not even be that bad when you work it out later. We\u2019re not assigning fault right now. That\u2019s not going to help you. What will help you is… \u201cI am responsible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n You need to get your head back in the game! You are responsible for your reaction to this situation, right here, right now!<\/p>\n\n\n\n If some neighborhood kid eggs your house, that is not your fault. But you are responsible for your response. You are responsible for going to his parents and demanding restitution. If you instead find the 13-year-old who orchestrated the egging and kick his ass, you are responsible for your violent reaction in the eyes of the law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You are always responsible, even if something is not your fault.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n You call all-in for most of your chips, and you have Kings to A-J, but then the guy hits his ace on the river? Here goes the old algorithm: \u201cThis is why I never win these poker hands<\/a>, I bet that young pro has never had this happen to him in his life.\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n NO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n RIGHT NOW.<\/p>\n\n\n\n REPEAT IT TO YOURSELF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI am responsible. I am responsible. I am responsible. I am responsible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just gun it into your mind till you believe it, man up, and play out this tournament! Do not give up! You would be amazed at how much this helps you in tournament poker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Almost every tournament win comes after the victor of the tournament lost most of his chips at some point. 40 left. 20 left. Sometimes with two people left. It\u2019s very rare for a 1st<\/sup> place finisher to not lose 50-75% of his chips at some point late in the tournament. If he\u2019s not prepared to be a responsible player during this time, he won’t win the tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s a reason we have a term<\/a> for when this huge lost pot doesn\u2019t happen. We say that the player went \u201cwire-to-wire.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Take responsibility for each moment of the tournament. Repeat it until it\u2019s beaten into your mind. Never use your tilt as a justification for a wild play. Be the tough tournament warhorse<\/a> you know you can be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Good luck to all of you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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