After finishing up my Super Hero Powers blog, I realized I left off a couple important potential super hero powers that I'm weak in and where I could use considerable help.

1. Laser focus - The ability to have complete tunnel vision when playing.  You are in the moment, focusing only on your opponent and their moves.  You don't think of personal issues, work issues or whatever.

I struggle with this all the time.  I am constantly considering other issues while I play.  Most of them having to do with Poker Curious; business plans, emails, thinking up blog entries, article/interviews, community events, and lots of little details that I can do while I'm playing.  I am regularly interrupted, either by the phone, AIM or my family. Maybe because I play low stakes, I feel my time is too valuable to be just playing.   I know that I miss a lot of information, timing tells etc that could help my game be more profitable.

2. Photographic memory - The ability to remember every hand played, organize and retrieve it when necessary. 

I have never had a great memory for little details like that.  Try as hard as people might, most people play a very patterned game.  So if you are able to recall how they play certain hands, you can really dominate.  Certainly a HUD with PT or HEM can assist you in this process, but it is a special gift to recall exact hands from hours, days, weeks or months before.


While neither of these powers may seem super human to some, I would bet that 98% of the poker population lacks them, as well as the other four I mentioned the other day.   In some respects, it's amazing that we win despite all the hindrances from our game.  I suppose it's all relative to our competition.  You can be a poor player, but if you are better than your competition you will prosper.  Game selection will always be key.  That along with your fair share of lady luck.