Zen Thoughts from Tommy Angelo

This is great games thinking, just gettin into the free online resource, will buy the book.

SOURCE: tommyangelo.com - Table of Contents and many excerpts

Streaking

All of my good streaks and all of my bad streaks of every length and depth have had one thing in common. They did not exist in your mind. They only existed in my mind. And this is true for everyone’s winning and losing streaks. None of them actually exist. They are all mental fabrication, like past and future. Everything that ever happens happens in the present tense. But how can you have a “streak” in the present tense? You can’t. And therefore, if you are in the present tense, which, in fact, at this time, you are, then at this moment there is no streak in your life. There is no inherent existence to streaks. The streak is there when you think about it, and when you stop thinking about it, it goes away. It blossoms and withers, all in your mind. And when your mind invents a streak, you believe it exists, because you believe what your mind tells you. But the truth is there is only the hand you are playing.

That book is brilliant. Seriously, a great read.

I just bought it so I will wait to concur.

Anticipation: Cake!!

There is one particular anticipation mistake that takes the cake. It’s the simplest one, and the most common. In a headsup pot, when you bet or raise, your opponent can only fold, call, or raise. If he folds, your next betting decision is not until the next hand. If he calls, your next betting decision is not until the next street. If he raises – and only if he raises – you must act now. That is why, when you bet or raise, there is strategically nothing to anticipate except a raise, and therefore, if you have not anticipated a raise, you not only made a mistake, you made the only mistake possible.

OK, Tommy sent me a copy of his book, so now we can discuss some of his ideas, if anyone wants.
The books is Elements of Poker by Tommy Angelo, available at www.tommyangelo.com.

"It turns out that 75% of all poker players think they play better than the other 75%" p.68

Thanks for the heads up been meaning to buy this for ages

A+++ for this book. I can't say enough about it.

Well then, try saying something here, so we can keep this in the spotlight for a while.
Any favorite quotes or insights Chuck?

I haven't read the whole thing yet but his concept of taking lots of breaks and/or finishing sessions earlier (ie lopping off your C game) is really having a great effect on me.

Most people can't maintain their A game for a long session, and if you were to simply take a break right before your A game turns to your C game, that would mean that your sessions would consist of a much higher % of your A game rather than C. ie, lop off your C game.

I just love his writing style too; kind of informal, never rambling or anything, just sticking to the points at hand. I dunno, just a great book for me.

I agree, I've already stopped pushing myself to keep playing. Tommy is talking about taking it easy on yourself (but taking it) in poker, I think.
And the writing style is friendly, funny and personal. Its not linear like Harrington, T throws a lot of different ideas around, in short readable bits...

T talks about practicing leaving the game. When u r up or down, just leave for the practice. Learn how to leave. Dont wait for the 'if I just win one' of 'lose one' mindgames when u r stuck. Learning to leave is key in ring. It takes practice.