Poker Playing: Rules for Real Life

I enjoy poker, among other things, to pass the time. When I follow these basic "rules" I tend to win more than I lose, and find they are easily transferable to "real life":

- Don't get into other people's pissing contests.
- Be patient and look for opportunities to play worthwhile cards.
- Fold most hands.
- Don't go in at all unless you can afford to go "all in", or you can afford to lose the chips you play.
- Be patient.
- Fold at least 75% of your hands, but know WHY you are folding.
- Choose your battles. 
- Don't be pressured by someone else to go "all in".
- Don't be pressured by someone else to keep increasing your bets.
- Don't chase a straight or flush.  If it shows up...GREAT.
- If you have enough money to see the flop, do it.
- Don't bluff an "all in" against a player who has a lot more chips than you.
- Don't make a bet in anger, boredom, impatience or desperation.
- Hope and desire to win will not ensure a win.
- Are decisions made on fact or on whim?
- Get rid of a "bad hand" early, otherwise, you will have a sense of loyalty to see it through despite very bad odds.
- Playing "bad hands" just to see where they go only results in a more-than-90-percent chance of losing.
- Just because you feel entitled to everyone's money, doesn't mean you'll GET it.

- If you win a "bad hand" it is PURE luck and has nothing to do you YOU, so don't take credit.
- If you hear yourself say to yourself "I'm gonna lose everything"...you will.  Lay low on those less secure days.
- If you're staring at your cards, figuratively wringing your hands, thinking "I might as well go all in to get rid of my chips"...then, what are you doing at the table in the first place?  Give your money to charity instead.
- Occasionally, you'll run into a player at the table who wants to goad you into a fight. If you bite, you may as well just give them all your money.
- The nasty players who use hatred to piss you off are cowards. If you keep your cool, you'll clean them out. Anger is, after all, every player's downfall. Let THEM be angry.

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