This video is applicable to anybody, poker player or not. This non-sensationalized, sober commentary is the best poker content going right now. Nice work Phil.
I'm older. Turn 56 Sunday. Been playing poker as an enthusiastic amateur for a long time. Trying to get serious about it again. I never, ever comment. This video is extremely good. Beyond helpful. I will watch it again and again. Really great content. Keep it coming.
Here is why your videos are GREAT. In this day and age everyone has a quick fix, " do these 5 things and never tilt again", "never drink x and have superhuman energy".. You try to go to the bottom of things in just 10-20 minutes. Thats awesome.
I think telling oneself to be lucky is a form of autosuggestion. So it leads in a way to see more of the positive things that happen to us as opposed to the opposite that you also described - seeing all the negative s emphasized which can lead to a downward spiral. Of course one should not exaggerate it. (We should be realistic and be aware that bad things can happen) but in general it can help to just be a little bit more happy and optimistic due to a different perception. Negative thoughts and anger can also make it more difficult to think clearly and make good decisions. Very interesting and inspiring topic, thanks for sharing your thoughts!
i play poker for 10 years + pro for maybe 3 years. i seens millions of youtube advise videos. u always impress me with ur thoughts in and outside poker. the things u said were so so so on point and felt so sincere from u. keep going phil would love to see more .
I will be sharing this video with close friends and loved ones that don't play poker...really enjoyed this useful video and I feel grateful for it...great work keep it up!
Thanks for the video Phil. Always amazing to see a world class player share his unique insights. I will say something that isn't talked about enough in poker is the "when" you get lucky or "when" your hand holds up. I don't believe one player is more lucky than the next but there is a difference running well in a $10 tournament and when you take a shot at the 10k main for example. This happens to many players. Just my thoughts. Cheers. Looking forward to the next video.
I am a lucky man and I am very grateful for everything and everyone in my life. I have been saying that for years, and I mean it. I feel great! And, my poker keeps on getting better. Good for you Phil.
Hi, Phil. Thanks a bunch for this video, it was great, and it's just so nice to hear from a player like yourself on the power of mindsets. I've been using this year to change my personal mindsets in regards to not just poker but life, and I really feel like it's changed many things for me in dramatic ways. Things like this can really do a lot for people and I'm grateful to see you post a video about it! I'll add that if you haven't already seen it or know of them, there is a podcast episode by Andrew Huberman and Alia Crum, two professors from Stanford and they have a great discussion on mindsets and some of the studies that show their power. Might just be something that interests you in in this regard!
@@PhilGalfond Totally! And if he ever does an episode on random interval reward timings/dopamine/gambling I sure hope it's featuring you as a guest! Hard to think of many better people I'd want to see on the same podcast!
I'm a pool player, and this is so damn relevant! The better you play, the better your luck is. The more you complain about someone else's luck, the more unlucky you get. It really does seem that complaining perpetuates the bad luck and bad play. Fear is the nail in the coffin in any mental activity! Thanks for the good info!!! One day I will be at good as poker as I am at pool! Peace ✌️
Hey Phil, great advice, I totally feel it. Regarding the negativity bias, this concept surely exists, I read about it 20 years ago in a psychology book. Regarding complaining to a friend about bad beats, I also did it in the past, it was just a way to justify bad results, I don't know if it affected my future play, but at least I got a reason for bad results. Regarding celebrations, I once started to take screenshots of hands when I cracked Aces and I was lucky, but this behavior is still not good because it's also results-oriented, I should have celebrated some good plays, not good or lucky results. Cheers!
Thank you for this. With all the motivational content out there, sometimes it's hard to tell if you are getting real advice, or being brainwashed into a cult. But negativity bias is very real and relatable, and having a down to earth explanation like this helps bring some clarity.
I really appreciate this comment, Adam. Thank you 😃 I sorry sometimes when I get away from poker strategy that it won’t land as well. Glad to hear that you appreciated this one.
Yes. Enjoying good things happening and keeping thinking about it brings a person to a so-called "Wave of Fortune". I.e., a positive mindset attracts more and more positive events into one's life. No matter how it works, a person will be happier eventually.
I dont feel like I always loose, but I rarely ever have one of those really huge table felting heaters where I have 5x to 10x starting stacks. I see others go thru them, but I've never had one.
Thanks again Phil on another video on very practical solutions vs. just think positive to common problems at the tables and in life. While you are explaining solutions, you go even further and tell us while it worked for your friend, it didn't work for you but you tried it. Keep up the good work and we hope you continue to produce good content like this.
love the content thus far Phil...I just read "The Biggest Bluff" and I am now getting to the WHY much more, as you so expertly explained and thus more successfully playing. New sub thanks!
Yo Phil, this is so spot on. Gratitude is the attitude that determines your latitude - dude that's not just a platitude! Everyone knows the story about when Jesus fed 5000 people with 2 loaves and a few fishes. But I think the real miracle in that story was that when his disciples brought him what they could find for food in the crowd (not much) he didn't complain, he gave thanks!
Hey Phil one of my friends recommended your videos and I've been watching them since. Your poker psychology videos are applicable to trading and I appreciate you sharing your insights online.
Great video Phil. I'm a luckbox player. Generally get my money in good. Sometimes run good sometimes run bad, it's super important to understand that you can only control your own actions, and that the outcome isn't something to get tilted about.
Another great insight from Dharma Phil. Every time you repeat something, it makes another copy in your brain. Every time you repeat something it makes another copy in your brain. - don't fill your brain with clutter. #DharmaPhil
on the gratitude front, I try to say when things go well (or disaster is averted) "thank you god, for this, and numerous other small favors". speaking of me being lucky - I bought the winning Mega Millions ticket for tonight's drawing. but if any of you guys take the same numbers, I'll be happy to chop it with you.
You’re welcome. I think most people with a pessimistic attitude don’t even take responsibility and acknowledge their attitude, so you’re a huge step ahead. I hope some of this is helpful as you keep trying to improve your mindset!
Thanks for listening to this week’s episode of the daily stoic, presented by Phil Galfond. All jokes aside - great video, Phil. You made some really great points. Mainly and most importantly, imo, is that we should never allocate mindshare to things out of our control. Be mindful of yourself, practice self-awareness by making time for quality introspection and strive to respond to your environment(s) and all things encompassing them, not react to them. As an individual who has all too frequently reacted to my environment(s) and their immediate surroundings, this is a major area of focus for me in my life. I encourage all to take a deeper dive inwards, explore the inner workings of thy mind which controls body, soul and don’t stop exploring, ever. Stay learning - remain forever a student of your own self-perception and life as a whole. One final closing thought which is this; If you have the ability to watch this video from a safe location, unconcerned with where your next meal comes from or where you’re sleeping tonight - you ARE lucky. And don’t ever forget it. Wishing all who read this an abundance of peace, health, love and prosperity in their lives. Cheers, friends. 🧘♂️
Phil: Can you do a video on ranges? I think it is all well and good to put people on ranges if you are sitting at a table where people actually know what they are! I think it would be easy to do that if I was sitting at a table with all professionals. But if you have people who are playing for "fun" or they are just starting to play MTT's, I think it is so hard to figure out their ranges. How do you do that? Is it just by getting a sense of what they play after observing them for hours?
it's a very sad thing about human psychology, that we tend to remember shitty things a lot and forgot nice things. Our memory is very selective that way. As poker players I think we have to constantly remind ourselves about that bias.
Thank you. I agree that the content applies everywhere, but I fear non-poker players will click off the vid once they realize I’m speaking about some poker-specific things.
Last night I hit a 1 outer on the river in a 3bet pot. I actually forgot about how lucky I got in that hand until I watched this video. I guess we really do forget the times we get lucky and tend to remember the times we get unlucky.
Somehow u got me to write a comment.. if you decide to change it up ever keep these little tidbits coming… ever since back in the day when I heard you talking about wasted brain energy I’ve always agreed with your insight..very sincere …I just wish this was around back in the day.. it sure makes it a lot easier to get up onto the giants shoulders..
So it's not just me that finds listening to Phil in these videos so relaxing? 😂 Swear to God I could go to sleep listening to these videos (not in a bad way).
I used to lose 10 buy ins in 30 min. and only get a little tilted... today I lose half stack in 1 hand, I sit out and say: "fuck this game" and stop playing, only returning the next day... and if in the next day I lose again then I take 2 days off... the worst thing is not losing, but having to grind for endless hours just to go back where I was... sometimes I think the room is giving me those bad runs on purpose to make me play more! It's so bad that we usually play more when we are down than when we're up... I feel like I'm a slave trapped in this stupid loop of winnings and losses... but that's the nature of the game... and I remember when I played play money chips, how I obviously didn't care for winning or losing, cause it wasn't real money... so I try to think like that... the money you're playing is only numbers in a screen... you shouldn't be emotional about that...
Listen people of the comment section, there are a lot of idiots on the internet giving you fantastical advice about how you can improve your game or even your life. Whereas Phil speaks like an actual adult with actual real life experience and is one of the best to ever do it, so fucking listen because this video is more gold than you can probably comprehend yet (if you are young). Positive thinking won't only make you a better poker player it will make you a better person. It might not be as cool as nootropics, meditation or yoga as self improvement advice, but it's probably the most impactful.
Noted, thank you. We copied this style from some other popular RU-vid videos so we’re gonna discuss and rethink it based on your comment, but may not change it yet.
Phil, do you think it works in reverse? Can being too hyped about winning cause problems as well? I knew a poker pro and he was like you said: expressionless. Even when he won. I always wondered if that was required to be pro. Because to me, the fun of poker is the winning moments and hype. If it's not fun anymore, what is the point?
An excellent way to combat tilt or complaining is to inhale for 4 seconds and exhale for 6 seconds trying to not make any noise while you are breathing. Just do it 5 times and that is it. There is science behind it but just try it out.
I always tell myself "I am a very lucky person in life, but very unlucky when it comes to gambling." and for the most part that is very true. I should have died at least a couple of times by now but narrowly escaped. I have a supportive family that has helped me get pretty far in life. But it seems like 90% of the time I gamble I just lose. Poker is the one area I can gamble and win more often than I lose. That is because I work every day towards being a better player than I was before. So when I have a horrible night playing poker it does affect me pretty hard. I always begin to question if I'm really more skilled than the other players I was against that night. Guys who called my Turn and river barrels with K6o on a A,Q,9,6,3 board. Then after I've had time to cool off I look at that hand objectively and realize that guy was a terrible player who was calling with shit and just got lucky. That more often than not my barrel on those spots with my KJ I had will work because honestly that guy shouldn't have even seen a flop with the K6o. I realize that guy who called me there probably torches his money more often than not by calling pre flop raises with K6o. So then I buck up and go play again and I normally have a great session after analyzing my bad night. That's how I beat the negative emotions. I try to take a step away and look at my play objectively.
@@PhilGalfond it feels like the quality of the content remained more or less the same(although i do enjoy these vids that can be used in life, not only in poker), but it felt like the production got better. I can't pinpoint exactly what i mean, maybe its editing, maybe its cadence, maybe a little bit of both?
Personally I am a really emotional person and I struggle with tilt and having emotions affect my game. Your videos really help me trying to get rid of those feelings and keep on grinding.
I guess that's why poker vloggers to real well putting out mostly winning hands keeping them positive. But in order to learn from our mistakes we look back at losing hands to analyze why we lost. I think almost all poker players are optimists so bad beats hurts more. But let's forget about that and play good poker.
another thing i think is really important is that expressing gratitude which i always thought was what made me more emotional but its the complete opposite! thanks for this phil, you help me explore my mind in ways others dont!
I’m a newer player and I’m shocked at what people call with. I have 88 in small blind. Call 10 preflop. Flop 7 8 10. I bet 15. Guy raises to 45. Everyone folds and I go all in with 120. Now given the board I would think my opponent would assume I have a set or straight. But he calls with JJ. Not even AA! Later again in small blind I have AQ. Call 15 preflop with 5 guys. Flop is Q A 4. I go all in for 200 and get 1 caller who I assume has a set. So I show my cards (I was called) and then he’s like “oh no” and then he doesn’t hit on turn or River so I win. Seriously how do you call that without a set?
I saw this headline, and JUMPED right on it. After watching the video, I have to say I'm disappointed. I was really hoping to learn how to not be unlucky in poker. The past 6+ months i just can't win due to consistent bad luck. I swear if it wasn't for bad luck at the table, I would never have a losing session. I've been playing poker for over 30 years, but im ready to quit the game I've loved since I was a kid. If anyone has any suggestions on how I can change my luck, I'd be very appreciative. Thanks
Hi Phil. Great vid as usual. I have a specific question. Recently I filtered my database of ~400k hands. I looked at when I RFI on the button (around 20k of those I believe). All 22-66 pocket pairs were losing me money, but all the 0 EV/very slightly losing marginal opens were winning money. 1. Is this sample size big enough to really draw any conclusions? 2. If yes, why could this be happening?
How many small pocket pair samples is that? It seems really unlikely to me that you’d be losing with them, but try filtering for 3bp vs SRP, and try isolating the biggest SRP hands and see if you can find something. You might’ve gotten set over setted 3 times in SRP and that’s throwing it off, or you might actually play poorly in 3bp after calling with those hands. There’s no clear path I’d suggest, but poke around and see what you can come up with. Good luck!
When I was younger snl had a character named Stewart smalley who did daily affirmations in front of a mirror. It was hilarious. Now that I’m older doing things like that can actually help. ‘Gosh darn it people like me’ Look up the Michael Jordan skit on snl. It’s hilarious.
Always been a fan of you. Your calm demeanor, your calculated decisions and the risks you're willing to take. One of my fave vids. Appreciate your insight Phil
I was hoping to feel better but damn....I was born in America to two parents broke as a joke. One abandoned me. The other struggled his whole life and hung that weight on ne and essentially blamed me for it. I'm 43 now and my kid won't respond to a simple text message, my wife won't respect my wishes, my Dr's want to blame me for my health issues instead of address them. I'm pretty sure my job is in jeopardy due to those health reasons......man it's gonna be a looooong February
The other Phil of poker has normalized tantrums. It makes for good TV. Some of it is an act, I get that. We often emotionally follow our actions. We can make ourselves happy or angry. Your poker life (and sanity) will be much better if you choose to be positive. The very fact you can play online poker puts you in a very exclusive group of people in the world. Most do not have the resources (money, internet, computer, etc) to do it. Celebrate that fact, be positive!
