perceptions

As my poker game progresses, I have been focusing my attention on the question of perception. How important is it to form the correct perception of another player’s game and how important is it to understand their perception of you? The answer I am finding agrees with everything I have ever heard. Understanding the interrelationships between the players at the table is the most important aspect of performing well in a NL Hold'em game. People become more important than the actual cards. Having an accurate read on both how someone else is playing and on how they perceive that you are playing affects every decision that you have to make, from starting hand requirements, to how much to raise, to whether to push or slow play, to whether to make a tough call.

It is important to understand the fundamentals of the game, but it is more important to know when and why to play outside of those fundamentals. Playing formulaic poker just can't succeed in the long run.

Every action you take and every action that you see and opponent take is based upon perceptions of situations between you. You are successful when you accurately form a perception of why they are doing certain things. They are unsuccessful when they are inaccurate in their perception of why you are doing certain things. It is in your best interest to create situations where you understand more clearly than the other player why a hand is being played out the way it is, both from your side and from their side. When you achieve this zenful state of full understanding, the poker table becomes a magical place where every decision you make seems remarkable, from calling down a huge bluff with an under pair to pushing a set hard when it seems impossible that your opponent will actually call.

I have been there and it is glorious.

But I am not getting there as often as I think I should. Why is that?

It takes time to form an accurate perception of another player. You need to see a lot of hands to get a good read on him/her. What are their requirements for raising? What are their betting tendancies with big hands. Do they only recognize the value of what they hold and not give credit for the potential value of their opponents holdings. Can they lay a big hand down? Do they have buttons that can be pushed. This is my biggest failing. I don’t give myself time to figure a player out. I need to do this better. Rather than coming into a game firing on all cylinders, I need to take a few orbits to observe how they play, why do they bet, what do they bet, what are they laying down and what are they sticking around with, do they push their strong hands and how do they play draws. Once I have taken the time to understand my opponents, I will then be prepared to understand their impression of me ( or to form it ).

It takes much less time to create an impression in other players. Their perception of you as a player can be manipulated in just one hand. It is much easier to manipulate their impression of you than it is to get a clear read on them. Make a ridiculous raise with 97o and win a hand with it and you have formed a perception in their mind that you are a dolt. Bet the nuts and get called down and suddenly, you are a rock in their minds. Understanding where you currently stand in their vault of thinking – your table image – is actually pretty easy. You just have to think it through. Are they getting frisky with you? Are they firing back at you more often? Why is that? It is because of how they perceive you. Your actions have created a perception that has changed the way they are playing. It is in your interest to play counter to their current perception. If they think you are stealing pots, then get a great hand and push it like you are stealing, let them come over the top and commit themselves and then just bleed off the rest of their chips. If you are perceived as a rock, then steal pots with impunity.

When you understand your opponent and then create an impression of yourself in them, then you are in great shape. Every decision you make can be weighted with your newfound knowledge. You know how likely it is that they will play back at you with nothing. You know that when they bet they have something. You know why and when they would bluff and your reads become much more accurate.

But the key is time. I need to take the time to feel it out. I need to take the time to understand what is going on around me. Once I have done this, then I have put all the percentages in my favor and I can start to play some poker.