Does Positive Thinking Help Your Game?

I remember a wsop where Mike Matusow kept saying that his new outlook in the game is Positive Thinking. Think Positive and the cards shall come. I have tried doing this method before and well, sometimes the cards I want do hit. Well of course sometimes it doesn't. Therefore, I believe that they are just coincidental. Maybe the lesson is that even when you don't hit your cards, always have a positive outlook?

im not shore man that the positive thinking is only thing u need to win a hand (game). I think, but many would desagree, that as long as ur in the game u abviesly getting ur cards. Now if there r f.e. 500 people playing freeroll online, u must know that the game will last at least 3 hours or more till final table and winner... If u manage to stay in the game for 4 hours ur on that final table...
What im trying to say is that the patience is no1 and that agressive playing is no2, POSITIVE THINKING is like no 5 or 6 FOR ME!!! It doesnt mean its always like that, after all there is only 1 winner, no metter if its Mike or Gus or U or Me. ONLY 1!!!

haha i love mike, he's the man.
but he is also a massively overrated poker player who does NOT have the skill level of most pros, he's not a winner in poker (he's lost much more than he's won, couple million apparently?)
he's results oriented, he tilts, he does EVERYTHING wrong, including relying on positive thinking to win instead of a solid game strategy.

positive thinking only helps me cope with suck outs. In cash games you have to stay positive or you will lose alot of money going on tilt.

well it sounds to me like mike's lost his confidence, it's confidence you need not positive thinking.
positive thinking works in life. you can be positive before you start playing and be in an up mood but when you start playing you better be confident. i know when i'm more cofident i play a lot better. peace

I honestly do not think I was always positive ie if I lose a lot of mana or much money chips do not know what happened to me but annoy me and hand next give ALL IN with any books I comeD

I agree with Mike on this 100%. its still alittle luck but for the most part having a positve out look on things always helps. And remembering that losing is part of the overall process. And take the Long or broad view on the game will help.

Donkey Smash

You think you are a victim, be it donkey plays from table mates or the obv rigged site, you are subconsciously going to make marginal plays that increase the odds of you losing. Kinda like liberals, you are working back wards from a predetermined conclusion.

I think most of you took mike's comments on positive thinking out of context. He isn't saying that thinking about good cards is what makes good cards come. he's saying that you have to stay positive no matter what is happening hand to hand. If you get negative, ie wallow in self pity over a bad beat, or let some loudmouth at the table get under your skin, then you will not be playing to the best of your ability. You won't detect subtle actions that you should be paying attention to. Think back to the last big win you had...On that final table down to the final two or three were you happy and thinking, i am really in a zone here, i think i'm going all the way,or were you angry and thinking, i'm going get this donks chips if its the last thing i do!!! Point is state of mind affects how you play the game, not what cards come. It's that positive thinking that allows you to stay patient and use controlled aggression when it's time to give someone a tough decision. It's a zen thing.

I agree with the point that your "state of mind" is very important during a game, especially after a Bad Beat!

We all see players take a bad beat, and raise, or go all in the next hand Preflop! But you can not have a "Mike Matusow blow-up" after a bad beat!

So, you must struggle to fight the "emotional side" of poker and stay calm and try to recover with in a positive manner. Good Luck!

Mike also spoke once about "losing his HEART for the game. Very easy to do, after the "donkeys" suck out on you time after time!

However, I have seen certain players that seem luckier than others! .....AND I WISH I WERE ONE OF THEM!

BDDP said:

I think most of you took mike's comments on positive thinking out of context. He isn't saying that thinking about good cards is what makes good cards come. he's saying that you have to stay positive no matter what is happening hand to hand. If you get negative, ie wallow in self pity over a bad beat, or let some loudmouth at the table get under your skin, then you will not be playing to the best of your ability. You won't detect subtle actions that you should be paying attention to. Think back to the last big win you had...On that final table down to the final two or three were you happy and thinking, i am really in a zone here, i think i'm going all the way,or were you angry and thinking, i'm going get this donks chips if its the last thing i do!!! Point is state of mind affects how you play the game, not what cards come. It's that positive thinking that allows you to stay patient and use controlled aggression when it's time to give someone a tough decision. It's a zen thing.

Click to expand...

I think you nailed it. Last night I played in a $3 rebuy on ps, 4460 people in it, I got on a roll, was in the zone, played well. I was happy, positive thinking and envisioned the final table, not the money, not scared I'd screw up and not make it, I saw the final table and me sitting there playing at it.

6 1/2 hours later we were on break, I ran to do some laundry, packed a couple things real quick for kids leaving to their grandparents this morning and started thinking of the million other things I had to do. Came back from break feeling stressed, played badly, shoved all in with a marginal hand against chip leader (bad move, tired, stressed). I was no longer in the zone and happy and picturing the final table, I was thinking of the stuff I had to do to get my kids packed to leave in the morning. I busted out (in 26th place, which is still very good but I could have made the final table). It was a pretty stupid thing to get up and start doing stuff, took my focus off the positive thinking I had going in the game.

I think positive thinking is important for success, who saw Secret movie and does you agree with the message they pass?
I personally noticed at my life some increadible stuff happening with positive thinking but not correctly understand how to clear the hiden negativity that always lays in the mind.

I think a major reason for staying positive is to lessen the effects of tilt. Sometimes you just gotta step back and say, "Hey, at least I have this extra money to play poker. Many others aren't so lucky."

Gorblid said:

I think positive thinking is important for success, who saw Secret movie and does you agree with the message they pass?
I personally noticed at my life some increadible stuff happening with positive thinking but not correctly understand how to clear the hiden negativity that always lays in the mind.

Click to expand...

Now we are getting deep, if you figure out the last part please post an explanation I'd love to read it. I seem to use positive thinking in cards, yet haven't really implemented into my daily life... weird.