How to cope with the fear of making mistakes in poker?

The fear of making mistakes accompanies every poker player. Sometimes it manifests as uncertainty before an important hand, sometimes it's the urge to play too cautiously. But the fear itself is not the enemy: it’s a signal that helps to better understand oneself and improve decision quality.

In this article, we'll explore where the fear of mistakes comes from, what reaction types exacerbate anxiety, how to handle tension in key spots, and which practices build a resilient 'immunity' to paralysing fear.

This material will help establish a professional attitude towards mistakes and strengthen psychological stability over the long term.

In the article, you will learn:

• the types of attitudes towards mistakes and why some of them increase anxiety

• how to stop perceiving a blunder as a threat to self-esteem

• what to do at the moment of a key hand when fear intensifies

• how to maintain long-term focus and reduce performance pressure

• which exercises develop resilience and a professional attitude towards mistakes.

Types of Fear of Mistakes: How We React to Blunders

Before dealing with fears, it is important to understand how exactly we deal with mistakes. This attitude directly determines the strength of the emotional response.

There are several types of attitudes towards mistakes — below we will look at each of them more closely. 

1. Perfectionist Style: 'Mistake = Catastrophe'

Players with this mindset tend to catastrophize — a cognitive distortion where a small mistake seems like a failure. The blunder becomes a label of 'I'm not good enough'.

This perception creates strong tension — focus narrows, fear of making the wrong decision arises, and the feeling of tilt grows. For a perfectionist, a mistake is a threat to self-esteem, not working material.

We discussed what tilt is and how to battle it in one of our posts in our Telegram channel. Follow the link to the post and stay updated on the foundation's news. 

2. Avoidant Style: Trying Not to Make Mistakes at Any Cost

Players with this style fear not so much the mistake itself but the situations where one might occur. They choose excessively safe play — folding more often, avoiding intricate decisions, preferring only obvious lines.

This creates an illusion of control but stunts growth. Without stepping beyond one’s comfort zone, adaptation doesn’t form, and thinking doesn’t develop.

3. Learning Style: 'Mistake = Information'

This is the healthiest and most professional form of response. The player separates the mistake from self-esteem: an action can be wrong, but it says nothing about their worth as a player.

In cognitive-behavioral psychology, this approach is called healthy interpretation: an event is information that can be studied, not a sentence.

This style creates a psychological foundation for mastering poker.

Shifting Focus — From Outcome to Process

The fear of mistakes intensifies when the focus is fixed on the outcome — tournament ranking, potential winnings, expectations from a specific session, personal financial goals.

In such moments, the brain overestimates the significance of a specific hand. This distortion is called 'high stakes investment' — when undue importance is given to a particular event.

This creates an internal conflict. The player understands that one hand almost determines nothing in the long run, but emotionally perceives it as crucial.

In this case, it helps to maintain focus on long-term goals. What is needed for this?  

• evaluating progress, not a single outcome

• perceiving a mistake as a training element

• being aware of the long-term effect of decisions

• regularly returning to strategic development goals.

This forms what can be called the professional nervous system of a player — resilience to performance fluctuations.

What to Do in the Moment: Techniques for Key Decisions

When fear builds up right on the table, there is no time for deep analysis. Short mental techniques are needed to quickly regain control.

1. Technique: 'Stop-Thought'
Goal: to disrupt 'catastrophizing'. When thoughts arise, like 'I'm going to lose everything now', or 'this is a foolish decision', the player gives themselves a command: 'Stop!'

Then they ask two questions:

• What do I definitely know about the situation?

• What decision will be correct in the long run?

This technique switches thinking from an emotional to a rational mode.

2. Technique: 'Observer'
Goal: to break the cycle of emotions. For a moment, the player imagines watching the situation like a coach observing a trainee.

They ask themselves calmly — 'what would I advise in this situation?'. The observer position reduces emotional impact and clarifies decisions.

3. Technique: 'Minimal Regret'
Goal: to maintain control over the situation. The player asks themselves — 'which decision will I regret the least tomorrow?'.

This instantly removes emotional noise and focuses attention on decision quality, not on the fear of making a mistake.

How to Develop 'Immunity' to the Fear of Mistakes

A professional’s confidence is not 'I don’t make mistakes', but 'I can work with my imperfections'. Below are three practices that help build resilience.

1. Small Daily Risks. Each day, a small step out of the gaming comfort zone — a thin value bet, a new line of play, analyzing a complex hand.

This way, the brain learns that risk is not danger, but a space for growth.

2. Challenge 'Make 5 Mistakes'. It’s not about making mistakes on purpose, but about not avoiding them.

During a session, record five situations where a decision was wrong. Write them down, analyze, draw conclusions. This reduces fear and erases the association 'mistake = threat'.

3. 'Evidence Bank'. Start a note where you record:

• complex decisions that were made well

• situations where you managed stress

• moments when risk paid off.

Over time, this forms an objective image of your competence and replaces the internal dialogue 'I can't do anything'.

A New Attitude to Mistakes

Paradoxically, the fear of mistakes is not an obstacle but an indicator. It appears where growth occurs — new decisions, unfamiliar situations, complex lines.

If you learn to perceive a mistake as information, manage attention in the moment, and gradually train resilience, fear will no longer block the game. It will become a hint: this is where development lies. 

If you want to learn how to manage anxiety, strengthen mental resilience, and develop a professional attitude towards mistakes — apply to FunFarm. We help players build a stable, conscious, and strong game in the long run.