Why poker players like winning but hate losing

As I proceed in this little experiment that I call poker something is starting to disturb me.  There isn't any poker player that likes losing as it is counterproductive to the goal of the game.  The problem that I'm starting to find is that I dislike losing (to the point of hatred) so much more than I like winning. This is an issue that's getting worse and worse with me over the past month.  Perhaps it's because I'm talking more and more horrible beats and have been hit w/ decks that have been stored in liquid nitrogen this entire month but the motivation that my wins have don't have nearly the effects of the losses that I take.  I've talked through this issue w/ a  number of players that I play w/ and have come to this conclusion.

When you're a solid player and you win, the world is just right...nothing special happened, you're 70% hands stood up, no 2 outters to knock you out deep...the game worked out the way it should have.  On the other hand, when solid players get knocked out it's generally get sucked out on in other player's bad plays.  Essentially, you get beat by players that are worse than you...and of course that stings. 

No, I'm not being cocky w/ my evaluation and I spoke w/ a number of players to come to this conclusion.  I guess to sum it up... it hurts a lot more to lose when you're a good player...and winning doesn't make up for it because you're SUPPOSED to win.  It's funny when I think about that concept crossing my mind...like good players are owed something.  We all let these stupid ideas get in our head and mess with us.  Now that I see what the issue is, I'll wear my beats w/ pride and stop Helmuthing about them.  If you can't tell, I'm hating variance right now. As always...Good luck in everything that you attempt.

The beatings will continue until morale improves

Although the no one can honestly tell you where this tongue in cheek one-liner comes from it has always been one of my favorites.  If I were to guess where it came from (disregarding where others think it came from) I would guess Pirates.  No, not those Somalian clowns in John boats w/ a couple of RPGs, but real Pirate of old days.  The humor in this statement comes from how backwards it is.  When we think of it in regards to poker is that really the case though.  Oddly enough, I think poker is one of the only things where this is accurate.

Here is how players generally waste their bankrolls.  First they take a couple of bad beat(ing)s.  That's variance...Aces get cracked, your flopped straight gets four-flushed.  It happens, I know it and any other player in the game knows it, from time to time the odds get turned on their head and you take a run of horrible beats.  I have (and still do) from time to time allowed this to kill my morale and put me on tilt.  When this happens you get stuck in the cycle, second guessing yourself, taking less than profitable shots, and ultimately taking more beatings which then adds to the tilt factor. 

Every poker player should learn this saying and keep it in mind when they find themselves going on tilt because the only way to stop the beatings is to stop and improve your morale.  If this means time off from the game, so be it.  If you can get out using positive affirmations, good for you.  Whatever it takes just remember, things don't change themselves...The beatings will continue until morale improves.

Next blog will likely be about what Florida and California are trying to do to get a piece of the rake and destroy the free enterprise of poker...to make some coin.  Until then.. Good luck in everything that you attempt.