If you’re new to the game of poker, you likely know that poker is aging. Players are getting newer and younger and the majority of online poker sites are seeing a decline in players. Poker advertising is part of a dialogue that’s taking place as the poker establishment struggles to find the next generation of players. Whether it’s on television, in mainstream media or in blogs and forums, poker advertising tries to make the game more appealing to the masses. Just as it’s important to have a strategy when playing poker to win, it’s important to have a strategy when you’re trying to sell poker.
From the “somewhere between life and art” area, poker advertising tries to make the game more appealing emotionally and it certainly doesn’t have to do with the cards you play. There are plenty of emotional connections to make when you play poker, whether you’re playing for keeps or your job is on the line. But poker advertising does try to get the poker game across in a more emotional way. Whether it’s the tricks you use to try and convince your poker opponent to “call fire and die” or you are trying to convince a friend to switch games and sit with you, poker advertising does get a little more than “fun” and turn “fun” into “deposit 20 bonus 30 slot” and that’s a good thing.
While it’s important to understand the emotional truths of the poker game, that’s only part of the psychology that’s relevant. Generally speaking, poker advertising is all about trying to get you to change the way you think about and act towards the game. If you fall into a habit of always seeing a six when you ought to be seeing a queen, you may not be able to keep your new habit. Just as you’re trying to convince your sixth sense that you see a ten when you ought to see a queen, you’d better be performing under conditions such as seeing a queen regularly.
Even more important than changing your emotional attitude is the changing the way you think. If, after going through a tough spot when you’ve been losing, you return home and analyze your moves, you’d better be doing so mentally prepared. Additionally, the more you learn about the game of poker, the more you can adjust the way you think. If you learn poker Strategy and habit formation at the same time, you’re a sure way to be successful in the field of poker.
While it’s important to focus on other players in terms of your own play, it’s important to also recognize when other players are affecting your play. If, for example, you realize that there’s an “edge” that one of the players is having a lot of success with an “in running” hand, you need to make a few mental notes about that player. In the process, you may want to adjust your own play to make it easier for yourself.
Remember, there’s no challenge without fun and your own sense of humor, and the more you can bring into the table the more you’ll enjoy it. You’ll have more fun if the gameatus you’re playing with is having fun, and you’ll be honing your poker skills.