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The Power of Suggestion

By Sherry Nixon

 

Three years ago I was playing in a high limit stakes game in Atlantic City.  It was a wonderful table to be playing on, the players were social, engaging, interesting people telling stories and playing good poker.  Everyone had about 20K in front of them and could easily reach for another 20 if needed; every one except me. 

A Short Asian Man (so we’ll call him Sam) sat down to my left.  His racks were delivered as I watched with intensity.  He, in turn, gave me the once over and began to stack his chips ever so carefully.  Immediately I felt uncomfortable, something about him was concise and calculating. 

A couple of hands into his play, he was in the BB and when it was folded around to my SB, I raised 3 times the BB with pocket 3’s.  Without looking at his hand, the BB called and we went heads up to the flop.  A 4 2.  I was first to act and bet out matching my initial raise pre-flop.  Before calling my bet almost instantly, Sam says, “I’m so tired tonight, I really don’t want to play at this pot.” 

The turn brought another A and placed two spades on board.  Before I could bet Sam yawned with a noticeable sound.  Looking at the board once more I checked.  Sam, slowly painfully tired counted out a pot sized bet.  I stared at the board, even the Aces looked tired and uninteresting.  My head began to muddle and I couldn’t muster a fight, all I could think about was throwing it away.  I mucked.  And Sam flashed 2 3 off suit.

As the night played on Sam kept talking about how tired he was… that it was late.  He would rub his eyes and yawn some more.  It seemed to be contagious.  Action slowed, the table became tight and soon I began looking at my watch and thought about going home.   Instead I took a short walk outside and came back feeling refreshed and ready to go. 

When I returned, Sam’s stack had grown by 3x.  Two players were gone and the table was now short.  I watched him play almost every hand fighting what seemed like extreme exhaustion, but betting out, raising and putting pressure on his opponents.  Within the hour Sam packed up and was out the door.  I marveled at his extreme good luck with cards.  He must have been on a rush. 

I week later I was having dinner in the Casino restaurant, when in walked Sam.  He actually remembered me and nodded his head.  He looked around for a seat and in not find one, he asked to sit with me. 

We chatted and discussed our poker interests.  When I asked about what his real job was, he said psychiatrist, but not practicing anymore, or at least in an office.  I’m a full time poker player now.

“That is a leap” I comment.

“No not at all.  I love playing psychological poker.  I’ve done very well. “

“Really?” I questioned and asked him to go on.

After discussing his teaching fees to help poker players to the next level, I offer to buy him dinner instead to hear more and help me to my next level.

“Well, he smiled.  I use subliminal cues on my opponents.  When I was in college I became fascinated with poker and played in a game regularly that I could play with my friends, give them suggestions and take control of the game.  I thought it was great fun, but never thought I could make a great living doing it.”

“Look” he continued, “as you are what you eat so are you your environment.  People take in information all the time and making it their own information, taking in enough information and it becomes your own experience.  If I say I’m Hungry, enough times, well your going to get hungry.  If I say I’m happy, eventually your body will secrete happy hormones and your going to feel happy.  If I say I’m tired and begin to yawn, well guess what will happen, your going to get tired. 

Suddenly I felt strange, like I had been violated.  I never let on that I had observed his technique in action; I just let him tell all. 

As Sam licked the ice cream from his lips and thanked me for the dinner, I too thanked him and went out to the tables with new knowledge and new understanding.  I have since read everything I could get my hands on regarding the Power of Suggestion, mind control, and subliminal messaging.  Suddenly so much makes more sense.  Everything matters, the colors you wear, the way you speak, when you speak, what you say, how you move when you move.  I have since learned that the pros use it too, but you won’t find it in any poker book.  Although the following list of books may help you.