"A man becomes as attractive as an attractive woman when he becomes successful and is publicly noted. Power’s an aphrodisiac." — 50 Cent

While this series of Poker and Philosophy pieces has generally focused on more, shall we say, esoteric examples of philosophical thought, we're not above looking at the modern leaders in popular thought. It's hard to deny the impact that Curtis James Jackson III, aka 50 Cent has made in the world of hip-hop and the attendant modern urban culture. From his terrifying roots as a 12-year-old drug dealer to the six-times platinum Get Rich or Die Tryin', 50 Cent has shown that being a winner is as much a matter of image as it is actually taking the top spot every time.

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And that's where we're coming from today: to talk about table image in poker and how a winning attitude can help you actually see more success at the table. How do you maintain a winning attitude in a game full of bad beats and sucking out of a pot? By looking at how you're playing in the long term and realizing that as long as you stay on the winning side of the equation, you're doing better than the rest.

I'm not going to lie, though: it can be easy to maintain a good attitude at the table, but the rewards you get out of it make it worth the trouble. For instance, is there anything more vexing to a loudmouth braggart prone to abuse than someone refusing to rise to the bait and comporting themselves well? Is there anything that'll make a player out of their depth relax more than someone being kind to them and maybe offering up a little advice?

Claiming and keeping power at the table is more than just chips and cards: it involves psychology and the willingness to put your natural tendencies on hold while you project the image of someone who's in complete control of the situation. You'll have to be cool with short-term losses and know how to handle your wins with grace, but once you start, you'll find it becomes a lot easier to be the better man (or woman) at any given table.

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So many poker players believe in the rock-star image that a very few players project and you should do the exact opposite. Take a lesson from Mr. Cent.: project an attitude of power and control and you'll likely be able to recoup any losses you make in the longer term.