The Humanity of Poker Players
To err is human, and poker players are only humans. And while it is divine to forgive, poker opponents are sure not there to be so but to win---and they will never take pity on a poker error or weakness. So the only remedy to the hindering humanity of poker players is to use it to one's advantage.
Basic to humanity are emotions. Though they have a saying that leaving emotions at the door before entering a poker game is a must, emotions will always be a part of a poker player as long as wit, judgment, and preferences are employed. Let's not be too harsh on poker emotions and treat it as a blight in Pandora's Box. Emotions can and do have good effects on poker plays if we only know how to put them to out advantage.
For one, poker emotions give us enough energy and impetus to take our situation in a game to the next level. Without hyped up emotions, we tend to fall into a disturbing state of complacency. Poker emotions can propel us to aim for heights of learning and progressive achievements which alone lead to poker mastery instead of misery. They are what goad even the most unrefined among us to further improvements. The main thing to watch out for emotions is when failures start to hurt and the whole thing turns sour that we see other's winnings and strategies as personal offenses against us.
When immature poker emotions start to show up, it's when the humanity of poker players fall to its nadir state. Emotions reveal what we're up to and what our real situation is, and opponents love it that way. Our tendency then is to do foolish moves that we think would scare of opponents, like making unreasonable calls or bets, talking too much trying to faze other players, not knowing that we lose more focus and strategizing in the process.
Hence, we need to understand emotions and how they work for or against us. There are scientific ways of analyzing poker emotions, how they are triggered, how they work in and about us. If we understand human nature and its manifestations through body and facial expressions, we can reduce its effects and also detect its symptoms in others. Human nature, both good and bad, are best kept secret in poker games.
Finally, we can use modern tools in controlling poker emotions. Online poker can help us conquer the humanity of poker players---opponents and ourselves.