Variance
Posted by pokereducation on Monday, June 21, 2010
It’s time for my 5th entry! A couple weeks back we veered off topic and instead of ranges and the poker odds table, we talked about underestimated poker skills. The overlooked skills can’t tell you the correct moves in tough spots after the flop, but they might help to conserve your bankroll and cause you to be a well-rounded player. Today I would like to explain variance, another vital discussion for people playing poker. Like the last time I wrote, I am not teaching you about the cards when I teach you about variance. Instead I will display how important discipline and emotional control are when you play this game.
Variance is the fundamental motivation for having a large bankroll when playing this game. Logically, if you almost always win, why would you ever need to have a bankroll? If you were always a winner on Tiger Gaming, you'd never have a losing session ever again…right? If only it were that easy.
Alas, you'll find that despite how perfectly you play, you will still have days in the red when playing Texas Hold Em. Occasionally the poker hands you're given will be awful and you won't be able to find anything worth playing. Or maybe the hands you're dealt will be fantastic, but of course they will still lose because sometimes the opposition is too lucky for you. It's a fact that occasionally you'll manage to lose even though you'll put it in as a 90% favorite. Moments like these make you consider playing online slots rather than poker!
To survive playing this game, you need to remember that variance causes bad players to keep playing cards on real money poker sites. They are the reason you make money. Because you can't wish for variance to disappear, you will need to learn how to ignore it. This can be done by following good bankroll management and also eliminating tilt issues. Learn how to accept the beats and as long as you have enough in your bankroll, you'll be back to your usual winning ways in no time. If that’s too much work for you, I suggest you just download free casino slot games. I know which choice I would make!
Variance is the fundamental motivation for having a large bankroll when playing this game. Logically, if you almost always win, why would you ever need to have a bankroll? If you were always a winner on Tiger Gaming, you'd never have a losing session ever again…right? If only it were that easy.
Alas, you'll find that despite how perfectly you play, you will still have days in the red when playing Texas Hold Em. Occasionally the poker hands you're given will be awful and you won't be able to find anything worth playing. Or maybe the hands you're dealt will be fantastic, but of course they will still lose because sometimes the opposition is too lucky for you. It's a fact that occasionally you'll manage to lose even though you'll put it in as a 90% favorite. Moments like these make you consider playing online slots rather than poker!
To survive playing this game, you need to remember that variance causes bad players to keep playing cards on real money poker sites. They are the reason you make money. Because you can't wish for variance to disappear, you will need to learn how to ignore it. This can be done by following good bankroll management and also eliminating tilt issues. Learn how to accept the beats and as long as you have enough in your bankroll, you'll be back to your usual winning ways in no time. If that’s too much work for you, I suggest you just download free casino slot games. I know which choice I would make!
