In any competitive game, including gambling, there are multiple skills you can use to defeat the other players. We all know that skill plays an important part, but what about the psychological side to winning? How can you use psychology to manipulate your opponent and take the game?
What is a psych-out?
First, it is pertinent to understand just what it means to “psych out” your opponent. Basically, what you want is for your opponent to feel insecure, possibly frightened to a degree, and begin to doubt their own abilities as a player. Many people who play sports are intimidated into submission through shows of aggression and intensity. This can also be accomplished (in a non-physical way) when playing poker, or any other competitive gambling scenario.
Making Noise
While every player has their own unique style, researchers have found that grunting, or making a sudden glottal noise, can cause people to make mistakes when predicting their opponent’s next move. While this study was originally done with tennis players, it might not be too far off to suggest that it could work in other areas as well. Granted, grunting at the card table might seem a bit much, but perhaps a cough or sneeze will provide similar results. Sudden loud noises can distract your opponent from analyzing your strategies, and in turn, make your moves less expected.
Poker Face
We’ve all heard of the poker face, which evokes a strong sense of self-control. By maintaining an icy gaze regardless of outside circumstances, you can intimidate your opponent into feeling less secure in their own hand. Practice maintaining your composure and do not look away from your opponent. To win a possible stare down you can try looking at the other person’s nose rather than their eyes. This will help you avoid showing any emotional responses and give off the impression that you are in charge of the situation at hand (no pun intended).
Less is More
Interestingly, some psychologists believe that doing less might actually be more in specific instances. This theory maintains that when you consciously try to psych someone out, you may end up trying too hard and distracting yourself instead. If you put too much energy into coming across as intimidating it can actually end up being more distracting for yourself. You can end up becoming overly anxious or nervous and throw off your own game. Furthermore, you can raise your own adrenaline level and in turn affect your ability to think through your moves. Just as with the poker face, keeping a completely cool and calm composure can be more troubling to your opponent than anything else. Instead, you should recognize this thought process and instead do the complete opposite – stay cool.
Lastly, you can always try fooling your opponents into believing that you are a horrible player to lure them into your trap. This can also help you to gauge your opponent’s skill level and observe any particular strategies that they may have up their sleeve. As observed by some players on situs sbobet using this strategy in the beginning when the stakes are low and then surprising opponents with a big conquest when there is more on the line is quite effective.
