Pros step into the poker game with confidence. They have such a
wealth of playing experience that they can make tough betting
decisions in a very timely manner. That means that they give the
odds proper consideration, keep appraised of the other players,
and make their play. This is the persona you need to adopt when
you play.

Sit up straight like a professional. Clean the area around your
computer desk and stay organized. Prepare. Have any note taking
material handy. Plan your game play on a tight schedule. Start at a
precise time; review the casinos and tables for a pre‐determined
period of time before you play. Be observant. Start play when you
are certain you have the right table in your sites. Watch the other
players carefully and make notes. Never be sloppy about your
playing time.

Remember, you are a shark, play at the pace of a shark. You scull
through the water, your eyes alert. You make thoughtful and
purposeful moves. You appraise your environment. Occasionally,
when the time is right and your prey is unprepared, you strike
aggressively and purposefully. You raise and re‐raise. You push
out weaker players. You gain respect from all of those around you.
Your opponents know only one thing about you – that you have a
significant stack in front of you and you seem to know everyone’s
cards before they are shown.

A Pro plays the game with intention. They focus. They don’t play
Poker online while watching TV or eating or having a
conversation.

A Pro talks about the game with clarity. Knows exactly what you
won or lost – or says nothing at all. Lack of clarity is a very bad
habit for success in anything. Sloppy language means a sloppy
approach. It’s not cool to be sloppy about technique or practice in
any field of endeavour.

A Pro takes notes during play and spends time following the game
to evaluate mistakes, to understand the game better, the review
what they have learned. Take clear and concise and useable notes.

A Pro studies the game, knows all the odds and the rules. They
practice using Poker software simulations. They play the game
with intention. And the review their play following the game by
keeping detailed notes on wins, losses, and the things they’ve
learned.

Poker is a game of mental toughness. There are a hundred
factors that can come into play to rattle you, make you mad, take
away your confidence, push you to tilt. Pros don’t tilt. They are
above the concerns of each hand. Focusing on how you want to
play the game for a few minutes before each game can help to
improve your game significantly. Athletes use this process every
day to visualize their event, their performance and the end result.
They are not ‘wishing’ their way to a great performance, they are
simply preparing their body and their mind to perform at peak
efficiency in exactly the way they have seen the best results.

Before a game close your eyes for a few minutes and relax. Breathe
deeply and slowly three times. Visualize your stack and the table.
See yourself acting calmly, intentionally. See the cards in front of
you. See yourself dealt a nut hand. Stay calm. Breathe deep again.
Play at the same pace you would if the cards were garbage. Keep
an even pace of play.

A great example of the opposite of positive visualization is the
kind of thinking we often see in players at bricks and mortar
gambling casinos. I spoke to one manager in a casino who said
most players said the same thing about their plans for playing. ʺI
brought $100 to lose, and that’s when I‘ll quit.ʺ He said he rarely
heard, ʺI’ve brought $100 dollars and I’m going to win.ʺ

You are casino fodder before you ever get started with that
losing approach. If you surrender to the card gods even before
you start to play, your playing style will be affected and you will
have the outcome you prepared your brain for. To lose.

Prepare yourself to win. Visualize your success at the table. This
means more than just winning because sometimes the cards won’t
co‐operate. That’s not important though because you are seeing
the big picture. You’re improving everyday. Your game is getting
better by the hour and you are winning more often. You are
definitely feeling more confident at the table as well.

wtf