Self control is important in the game of poker. Self control means not only not gambling outside of your limits, but also controlling your emotions. Poker is a bingo game of strategy and skill.  The player must analyze the situation every time a card is turned. Should he stay, fold or rise?  What do the other players have?  If he raises, will the other players stay or fold?  How much can he raise without forcing the others out? Analysis requires a clear head and thinking without emotions. If you are right, you may win; if you are wrong, you will lose.  This is all a part of the game of poker.

Suppose you have three kings. You think you have a lock on the pot and are rising all through the hand. At the end, you find you find one of the other UK bingo players has three aces.  And he never even raised! You lose after all of that betting and raising!  Don’t become trashed emotionally and act emotionally in the following hands. You lost big and that’s it.  That is a fact of the casino game. Get over it quickly so you play with a cool, rational head. Analysis requires thinking without emotions. You need to be able to think logically as soon as the next hand begins. If you are past your limit that you budgeted for the session, then quit. Controlling your emotions and behavior also means don’t reach into your pocket and pull out another $50, thinking you’ll win. Money management and sticking to your predetermined limit is also a part of controlling emotions and behavior.

If you can’t think logically without emotions in the following hands, then don’t play.  You will be more apt to make stupid moves, like raising on a nine or something like that, thinking you have a chance to recoup your losses. In order to have a chance at recouping your losses you need to be able to think and analyze without emotion.