The Pain is The Reward

One of the eminently frustrating things about poker is the lack of correlation between action and result.  When playing golf, if I aim and swing correctly I will strike the ball well and be rewarded with a good shot.  Correct actions receive positive reinforcement, and that is a system which operates in harmony with our brains.

When playing poker however, correct plays do not necessarily correlate with pleasing results.  In fact, correct plays regularly lead to bad short term results.  As a result, poker can cause a dissonance in our brains which we must overcome to operate in this system.

So recently I had an experience that may provide that positive reinforcement that our brains crave ...