Optimist plays a completely different role in the poker player’s psyche – If Ace doesn’t flop, then he just takes a bet or raises his failure to give his KK, an overpair to the board, a better chance of maintaining leadership and winning the pot. He may know this strategy, but being pessimistic, he fears the fear: What if the opponent drops the set, or Ace could fall in a bend or river – while he doesn’t help.
He’s little chance of chance – the fact that his KK is probably the best, also his odds are 7 on 1 against with Ace in the hole catching the second Ace on the turn or river. The pessimist may never stop to consider card odds. “Why bother,” he said to himself. And,
On the other hand, optimism plays a completely different role. He realized his KK was not vulnerable; there are so many hands that could possibly beat him. So he raised preflop to thin the pitch; Then, his pocket, Raja, had a much better chance of surviving in the river. And, optimistically, he mused, “Wouldn’t it be great if I caught another King.
Of course, I know the odds are about 7 to 1 happening. However, even if I don’t fix my hand, there’s a good chance my pocket will lift it, especially with a little help from me. Towards that end, on the flop he bet – or raised the previous bet, while he used Esther Bluff’s tactics to back up havoc to thin the field.
There may be good reasons why a player is pessimistic. He may not be familiar with the strategies and tactics that are essential to becoming a winner at the poker table. He just wants to play, turn away from books or seminars that can teach him how to be more skilled.
Why take the time? He came to play! Because he lost nearly every session he played, he lacked confidence. That, in the group, leads him to play dread poker – the best way to be a loser. Contrast this with a truly skilled player who has reason to be confident: He is a winner! He’s an optimist!