A poker face, sometimes also called a 'blank expression' is a facial expression characterized by neutral positioning of the facial features, implying a lack of strong emotion. Having the ability to turn this facial expression on or off on demand will help you to become a better poker player. Poker Face +20 Max Stamina. Scrum Certification 50% Global Action Speed +2 Free Labor. Self Promotion 100% standing rewards. Knowledge of Influence. Sewing +20 Max Health +2 Max Consumable Stack Knowledge of Craftsmanship. Sports Trivia 100% Cardio Experience Rate, 100% Fighting Experience Rate, +20 to Stamina, knowledge of sports.
We all play poker for different reasons – some play to develop their skills and others play for the thrill of holding a winning hand. What most people don't realise is that while you are playing, either for fun or to improve your game, you are exercising your mind. These are some of the ways that the world's favourite card game trains your brain.
Keeping Your Mind Active
Poker is one of the most popular card games in the world and requires skill, strategic thinking, dedication and lots of practice to master. A single game can be incredibly demanding on your mind, often requiring intense focus and concentration for extended periods of time. It's also a bit of a numbers and stats game, so people who play often find that they become more proficient with their mental arithmetic – which can certainly help in everyday life.
Abstract and creative thinking is also often required at the table when trying to figure out what hands your opponents are holding – picking up on subtle tells and body language and factoring that information into your decision-making at the table is all a part of the game and a great and healthy mental exercise. The more you play and the better you get, the more you flex your brain as you develop more knowledge about the game and become more and more focused, confident and creative.
A lot of players like to roll their chips through their fingers while they sit at the table, and while this is a way of keeping your hands busy while your opponents bet, and maybe diverts a little attention from your face, flipping your chips has some coordination benefits – if you can roll the chips across your fingers you are training hand-eye coordination as well as your dexterity.
The Social Aspect
Whether you are in a brick-and-mortar establishment or your favourite, you are undoubtedly going to be interacting, chatting and bantering with other players – after all, interacting with your opponents to bait their tells is part of the thrill of the game. Playing poker ensures that you are connecting and interacting with like-minded people which is incredibly healthy for your state of mind. Chatting at the table works to develop social and communication skills and can be a great way to learn more about the game, but communicating and having fun with people who share an interest can lower anxiety and stress levels too. Online casinos often have thriving and friendly communities and can be a great place to explore the social side of the game, and by engaging with your opponents, you might even pick up a couple of tips and tricks.
Emotional Control
As we said before, a game of online poker can be intense and requires discipline and focus for extended periods of time. This comes into play with the emotional side of the game too, as you are likely to experience a wide range of emotions such as elation, anxiety, anger, and happiness. An incredibly important skill to train, for anyone who wants to get good at the game, is the ability to control these emotions and not let them influence your decision making or give yourself away to your opponents – you may have heard of the term 'poker face' and this is exactly what that refers to.
Having to constantly control the waves of emotion you experience during a game is a great exercise for your brain and can help to improve emotional control overall. Those who are practiced at controlling their reactions and feelings at the table become some of the most intimidating and dominant players as their opponents are unable to confidently predict their moves – and that can often mean the difference between them calling or folding your bluff. Keep yourself cool, calm and collected and you will keep them guessing.
Strengthen Your Working Memory
A game can take a long time to play through and each individual round can take up to 15 or 20 minutes – which means that you'll have a lot of information to process and thus requires a keen memory. In order to be a good player, you need to pay a lot of attention and remember everything that happens at the table around you. Any and all information is useful to you from the beginning to the end.
Recognising how certain people react to events and weighing your hand against the other cards on the table and the potential hands that your opponents could be holding are all cognitively demanding and taxing on your brain. A poker odds calculator is also a great way to get insight into your opponents' hand. This gives your memory a massive workout and it will become better for it – not only that but the better you get at memorising the goings-on at the table, the better you will get at your game.
Improve Your Sleep
We've discussed how demanding and taxing online games can be on your mind so it should come as no surprise that after a game you might be feeling a little drained and tired. The typical game has your mind doing so much at all times – whether that's memorising the reactions of your opponents or controlling your emotions and maintaining a stoic expression – that you are effectively getting a full-body workout on your mind.
So, when you log out and have been exerting all these different aspects of your mind, you will need to sleep in order to rest yourself and reset for the next workout. During a single session, you will likely work your brain to the point of exhaustion, and you might find that drifting off to sleep is a little easier – which has health benefits for both your body and mind.
Alzheimer's and Dementia
Possibly the greatest test of poker as a cognitive skill is its ability to reduce the effects of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and dementia. A study by Dr. Jeffrey Cummings revealed that playing can reduce the chance of developing Alzheimer's by as much as 50%. Another study revealed that elderly people who play card games are able to encourage mental function and engagement, which can also help prevent the development of Alzheimer's. On top of the cognitive exercise is the social aspect – which has been proven to also help combat neurodegeneration and the effects of aging.
Poker also helps players to get to know themselves as they are having to engage with their emotions and control how they react to certain situations. Self-control is often what sets pros and amateur players apart, as it is those who control how the game unfolds and not vice-versa.
Ready for a Workout?
If you would like to buff up your brain and gain some of these benefits yourself, why nottake a seat at one of our poker tables and start your mental workout? Playing live at Grosvenor Casinos is a truly unique experience and we're available to you 24/7.
We're here to help you keep it fun – remember to set your deposit limit.Click here for more details on the safer gambling tools available including reality checks and the ability to take a break from your gaming.
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Do you wear your emotions on your sleeve? Can people tell if you're happy or sad instantly? Are you tired of that impacting your hand in poker?
We all know that succeeding at poker doesn't just come down to strategy or luck. It comes down to your presence and your personality. In other words, it comes down to having a killer poker face.
Although some people are born with a poker face, many people have to practice building theirs over time.
Let's get into how you can develop yours!
Your Invitation to the Best Online Pokies in Australia
Like a punt on the slot machines?
Our top rated slots for October 2019 are the smash-hit online pokie sites: Ruby Fortune and Jackpot City Casino.
These sites include some impressive matched bonuses – up to $750 and $1600 respectively! With the potential for some seriously big wins, here's your chance to get a piece of the action:
Master The Rules
You can't have a good poker face if you don't thoroughly understand poker rules. Spend some time on researching and observing before you join in on a game.
This may mean showing up at poker night- and merely watching others gamble. It may mean heading over to Youtube and watching tutorials.
You don't want to be in the middle of the game asking for clarification. That's essentially a surefire way to ruin your odds instantly.
Once you have a grasp on the essentials, practice playing with friends first before heading to the casino. If that's not an option, play a low-stakes game. You don't want to lose all your money without knowing what you're doing.
Take Up Meditation
Stress often dominates our emotions. And when we're at the tables and the stakes are high, we're going to feel, well, stressed!
That said, learning how to manage this stress is one of the first steps. The less stressed you feel, the less you have to worry about your expressions, right!
Consider picking up the worthwhile habit of meditation. Meditation yields numerous, incredible benefits including:
- mindfulness
- clarity and sharpness
- stress relief
- decreased anxiety and depression
- self-esteem
- positive thinking
These benefits undoubtedly boost your mental and physical health. However, they can also dramatically improve your poker game!
Meditation doesn't need to be complicated. Start by devoting five minutes a day. Set yourself in a quiet room and sit comfortably or lie down.
You can practice deep breathing on your own. This means breathing in through your chest and out through your mouth. Inhale slowly and exhale slowly. When extraneous thoughts arise, practice diverting back to your breath.
Poker Face Benefits Without
Not a fan of doing it yourself? Consider checking out a guided meditation script or app. They can help orient your thoughts and bodily reactions.
Relax The Face
Your face is the obvious giveaway to your emotions. It's what can make or break your poker game. Through meditation, you can learn how to relax your mind and thoughts.
However, you'll also want to be aware of your facial expressions. Any clue can sabotage your hand. After all, skilled poker players pick up nonverbal cues.
Practice getting comfortable with hiding your reaction. This means relaxing your face muscles in a way that seems natural.
Control The Eyes
They say the eyes are the gateways to the soul. In poker, they can be the gateway to determining your bluff.
Ideally, you want to maintain eye contact with your opponents through the game. Eye contact conveys a sense of control and power. It shows that you feel confident about what you're holding.
If direct eye contact is awkward for you, focus between their eyes on the bridge of their nose. This averts some of the ‘directness,' but it still shows alertness.
Finally, don't forget to blink! Staring can jeopardize your poker face. It may hint that you're not really paying attention. Or, it may reveal a sense of concern about your cards.
Poker Face Youtube
Good poker players blink naturally. Excessiveness shows anxious energy. Staring too hard shows stiffness, and it comes across as unnatural.
Really not sure how to manage the eyes? Don't overlook the power of sunglasses. That way, you don't have to worry about what signs you may be giving away.
Mind The Posture
We carry tension and stress in our bodies. Undoubtedly, poker can be stressful, but you want to demonstrate that you're calm and collected.
Before you even begin playing, loosen up your body with a few stretches. Stretch out your arms and legs. Roll your neck around.
As you sit down at the table, engage in a brief, head-to-toe analysis. Remove your tongue from the roof of your mouth. Drop the shoulders. Unclench your hands and feet.
Finally, check your posture. Slumping around looks sloppy. Likewise, sitting up too uptight can show that you're 'trying too hard.' Keep your posture natural.
Practice Your Voice
Our tone reveals so much about our emotional state. When we're anxious, we tend to babble, as if the words can't come out fast enough. When we're happy, we tend to speak louder.
Before you speak, clear your mind and take a full breath. Visualize moving your mind into a neutral place.
When you do speak, stay objective. Say what you need to say in as few words as possible. This is not the time to tell your life story!
Be mindful of any stuttering or stumbling when you're anxious. This could reveal insecurity or nervousness. Instead, focus on providing short, concise answers (one-word statements are perfectly acceptable).
Not comfortable speaking? Nod your head to indicate yes or no.
Check Your Nervous Energy
Poker Face Benefits For Weight Loss
Most of us have nervous twitches. We often fidget around without even realizing it. However, they can be a huge red flag in showing our emotions.
Some nervous twitches to consider:
- Playing with hair
- Cracking knuckles
- Tapping fingers
- Playing with clothing
- Rubbing or scratching the skin
You want to keep your hands free and calm. Hide any movements that could show tension. For example, if you must release stress, squeeze your hands together under the table.
Finally, mind your grip. Gripping cards tightly can reveal a sense of anxiety. And what's more of an obvious sign than blaring, white knuckles?
Learn The Art of Bluffing
A poker face doesn't always mean complete stillness. It means being able to hide what's going on. Sometimes, that means tracking and bluffing your opponents.
Bluffing takes time and practice. Expert poker players spend several years mastering this craft. Don't be too hard on yourself if it feels awkward and forced in the beginning.
With that in mind, despite Hollywood depictions, bluffing doesn't mean taking huge, dramatic bluffs during every opportunity you have. Instead, bluffing comes in various degrees. And some players don't bluff at all!
You should always understand the stakes. Some poker games have ‘no limit,' which means there can be a tremendous risk. Friendlier poker games, on the other hand, can simply result in you just losing the game.
Successful bluffing means nobody knows you are bluffing. In this case, your opponents have folded before the last bet. You win the pot by default.
Poker Face App Download
However, if there is a showdown, your bluffing will be revealed. This isn't inherently a problem, but if you get in the habit of it, people will quickly catch on.
You should assess how many other players are bluffing. You have a better chance at succeeding with fewer opponents. Bluffing 1-2 opponents will always be better than trying to trick 3+ people.
Observe The Bluffing around You
Poker Face Benefits For Wrinkles
Now that you know about your own poker face and body language, you can learn to spot it in other people.
First, watch the body language. Look for any holding of breath or hand movements. Look for signs of nervous twitching or anxious energy.
Stay tuned of ‘extreme' emotions. For example, if someone is acting 'very weak,' they may be 'very strong' and vice versa.
Finally, watch how other players manage their chips. Research shows that players who place their chips further away from them have weaker hands. Therefore, they may be bluffing.
If a player places his chips closer to him, that may be a sign that he 'values' his cards and assumes money is coming his way.
Ask For Feedback
Poker Face Benefits Online
Are you playing with good friends? Don't shy away from asking from feedback. After the game, ask for an honest interpretation of your poker face.
Do you wear your emotions on your sleeve? Can people tell if you're happy or sad instantly? Are you tired of that impacting your hand in poker?
We all know that succeeding at poker doesn't just come down to strategy or luck. It comes down to your presence and your personality. In other words, it comes down to having a killer poker face.
Although some people are born with a poker face, many people have to practice building theirs over time.
Let's get into how you can develop yours!
Your Invitation to the Best Online Pokies in Australia
Like a punt on the slot machines?
Our top rated slots for October 2019 are the smash-hit online pokie sites: Ruby Fortune and Jackpot City Casino.
These sites include some impressive matched bonuses – up to $750 and $1600 respectively! With the potential for some seriously big wins, here's your chance to get a piece of the action:
Master The Rules
You can't have a good poker face if you don't thoroughly understand poker rules. Spend some time on researching and observing before you join in on a game.
This may mean showing up at poker night- and merely watching others gamble. It may mean heading over to Youtube and watching tutorials.
You don't want to be in the middle of the game asking for clarification. That's essentially a surefire way to ruin your odds instantly.
Once you have a grasp on the essentials, practice playing with friends first before heading to the casino. If that's not an option, play a low-stakes game. You don't want to lose all your money without knowing what you're doing.
Take Up Meditation
Stress often dominates our emotions. And when we're at the tables and the stakes are high, we're going to feel, well, stressed!
That said, learning how to manage this stress is one of the first steps. The less stressed you feel, the less you have to worry about your expressions, right!
Consider picking up the worthwhile habit of meditation. Meditation yields numerous, incredible benefits including:
- mindfulness
- clarity and sharpness
- stress relief
- decreased anxiety and depression
- self-esteem
- positive thinking
These benefits undoubtedly boost your mental and physical health. However, they can also dramatically improve your poker game!
Meditation doesn't need to be complicated. Start by devoting five minutes a day. Set yourself in a quiet room and sit comfortably or lie down.
You can practice deep breathing on your own. This means breathing in through your chest and out through your mouth. Inhale slowly and exhale slowly. When extraneous thoughts arise, practice diverting back to your breath.
Poker Face Benefits Without
Not a fan of doing it yourself? Consider checking out a guided meditation script or app. They can help orient your thoughts and bodily reactions.
Relax The Face
Your face is the obvious giveaway to your emotions. It's what can make or break your poker game. Through meditation, you can learn how to relax your mind and thoughts.
However, you'll also want to be aware of your facial expressions. Any clue can sabotage your hand. After all, skilled poker players pick up nonverbal cues.
Practice getting comfortable with hiding your reaction. This means relaxing your face muscles in a way that seems natural.
Control The Eyes
They say the eyes are the gateways to the soul. In poker, they can be the gateway to determining your bluff.
Ideally, you want to maintain eye contact with your opponents through the game. Eye contact conveys a sense of control and power. It shows that you feel confident about what you're holding.
If direct eye contact is awkward for you, focus between their eyes on the bridge of their nose. This averts some of the ‘directness,' but it still shows alertness.
Finally, don't forget to blink! Staring can jeopardize your poker face. It may hint that you're not really paying attention. Or, it may reveal a sense of concern about your cards.
Poker Face Youtube
Good poker players blink naturally. Excessiveness shows anxious energy. Staring too hard shows stiffness, and it comes across as unnatural.
Really not sure how to manage the eyes? Don't overlook the power of sunglasses. That way, you don't have to worry about what signs you may be giving away.
Mind The Posture
We carry tension and stress in our bodies. Undoubtedly, poker can be stressful, but you want to demonstrate that you're calm and collected.
Before you even begin playing, loosen up your body with a few stretches. Stretch out your arms and legs. Roll your neck around.
As you sit down at the table, engage in a brief, head-to-toe analysis. Remove your tongue from the roof of your mouth. Drop the shoulders. Unclench your hands and feet.
Finally, check your posture. Slumping around looks sloppy. Likewise, sitting up too uptight can show that you're 'trying too hard.' Keep your posture natural.
Practice Your Voice
Our tone reveals so much about our emotional state. When we're anxious, we tend to babble, as if the words can't come out fast enough. When we're happy, we tend to speak louder.
Before you speak, clear your mind and take a full breath. Visualize moving your mind into a neutral place.
When you do speak, stay objective. Say what you need to say in as few words as possible. This is not the time to tell your life story!
Be mindful of any stuttering or stumbling when you're anxious. This could reveal insecurity or nervousness. Instead, focus on providing short, concise answers (one-word statements are perfectly acceptable).
Not comfortable speaking? Nod your head to indicate yes or no.
Check Your Nervous Energy
Poker Face Benefits For Weight Loss
Most of us have nervous twitches. We often fidget around without even realizing it. However, they can be a huge red flag in showing our emotions.
Some nervous twitches to consider:
- Playing with hair
- Cracking knuckles
- Tapping fingers
- Playing with clothing
- Rubbing or scratching the skin
You want to keep your hands free and calm. Hide any movements that could show tension. For example, if you must release stress, squeeze your hands together under the table.
Finally, mind your grip. Gripping cards tightly can reveal a sense of anxiety. And what's more of an obvious sign than blaring, white knuckles?
Learn The Art of Bluffing
A poker face doesn't always mean complete stillness. It means being able to hide what's going on. Sometimes, that means tracking and bluffing your opponents.
Bluffing takes time and practice. Expert poker players spend several years mastering this craft. Don't be too hard on yourself if it feels awkward and forced in the beginning.
With that in mind, despite Hollywood depictions, bluffing doesn't mean taking huge, dramatic bluffs during every opportunity you have. Instead, bluffing comes in various degrees. And some players don't bluff at all!
You should always understand the stakes. Some poker games have ‘no limit,' which means there can be a tremendous risk. Friendlier poker games, on the other hand, can simply result in you just losing the game.
Successful bluffing means nobody knows you are bluffing. In this case, your opponents have folded before the last bet. You win the pot by default.
Poker Face App Download
However, if there is a showdown, your bluffing will be revealed. This isn't inherently a problem, but if you get in the habit of it, people will quickly catch on.
You should assess how many other players are bluffing. You have a better chance at succeeding with fewer opponents. Bluffing 1-2 opponents will always be better than trying to trick 3+ people.
Observe The Bluffing around You
Poker Face Benefits For Wrinkles
Now that you know about your own poker face and body language, you can learn to spot it in other people.
First, watch the body language. Look for any holding of breath or hand movements. Look for signs of nervous twitching or anxious energy.
Stay tuned of ‘extreme' emotions. For example, if someone is acting 'very weak,' they may be 'very strong' and vice versa.
Finally, watch how other players manage their chips. Research shows that players who place their chips further away from them have weaker hands. Therefore, they may be bluffing.
If a player places his chips closer to him, that may be a sign that he 'values' his cards and assumes money is coming his way.
Ask For Feedback
Poker Face Benefits Online
Are you playing with good friends? Don't shy away from asking from feedback. After the game, ask for an honest interpretation of your poker face.
Poker Face Lyrics
What did you do well? What obvious signs did you miss? Were you able to throw off anybody successfully?
Remember that practice makes perfect. Your friends are the ones who are actually seeking your poker face (or lack thereof). If you want to improve, consider their feedback.
Final Thoughts on Maintaining Your Poker Face
Learning and maintaining a poker face can take your poker game to the next level. With effort, dedication, and practice, you'll be well on your way towards winning more games- and landing more money!
Are you interested in learning more about profitable poker tips? Check out our Texas Hold ‘Em guide today.
