When poker players are struggling to reach their goals, if they do hire a coach they tend to do so with a desire to focus on strategy. The thinking is that if they just brush up on some technicals like bet-sizing and 3-bet pot strategy, the money will automatically flow in. Once in a while this is true, but more often than not, there are leaks in the player's preparation, mindset, and overall approach to poker that block the successful execution of any strategy knowledge they do attain. It's as if the player has one aptitude when studying or working away from the table when the pressure is off, and a completely different (much lower) set of abilities when the money is actually on the line.
Why Poker Players Choke Under Pressure
What can explain this underperformance in the biggest moments? A lack of preparation. Too often, players are not putting in the active study time that is required to be successful. Or even if the player does study, they are not doing the right things that are needed to put their minds and bodies in the right condition to play. The following video will hopefully convince you that poker is a high performance activity that can be prepared for much the same way an athlete approaches their sport in terms of preparation and recovery.
How To Prepare for a Poker Session YouTube Video:
For those who just want the Poker SparkNotes version, here is a quick recap of the video:
Poker is Won in the Preparation
Approach poker preparation like an athlete: Focus on mental and physical readiness.
It is important to wipe the emotional slate clean before sessions through exercise or meditation. Otherwise it is very easy for a residue of emotion from past poker sessions and events to build up and affect decision-making.
Common Pitfalls:
Players often carry unresolved emotions or distractions to the table (e.g., from work or personal life).
Many approach poker passively by watching content without active practice or critical thinking. It's one thing to watch Mariano or Hungry Horse Poker make moves on YouTube. It's quite another to understand the logic behind the plays well enough apply them to your own game.
Creating a Routine:
Incorporate exercise, healthy meals, meditation, and sufficient sleep. Without 8 hours of sleep per night, it's easy to be running at only 80% capacity (or even lower) and not even be aware of it.
Review previous sessions actively using tools like FlopZilla or GTO Wizard to refine strategies.
Address emotions after sessions using logs or journaling to offload mental baggage.
Maintaining Fun and Engagement:
Tailor activities to individual preferences to keep preparation enjoyable. If the process starts feeling joyless or forced, switch it up!
Choose exercises and habits that are both effective and enjoyable to avoid burnout. The most important thing is to find what works for you and is sustainable.
Key Recommendations:
Use meditation and visualization to prepare for challenging scenarios in gameplay. It can help to simulate a situation that has been causing difficulty, feel the emotions through, and prime your mind to make the best decision in real-time.
Sleep consistently and eat a high-protein, low-sugar diet to maintain focus and energy.
Prioritize active, hands-on study rather than passive content consumption.
Accountability for Poker Success
It's not easy to always follow through on the items above and turn them into long-term habits. But it's also difficult to show up for poker coaching sessions and have to admit that you didn't do the things you said you were going to do. One of the core functions of a good poker coach is to provide that accountability and keep you on track towards building the lifestyle habits that are needed to be successful.
Make no mistake about it: If you just want to talk poker strategy and refine your hand-reading skills or improve in areas like check-raising or 3-bet pots, PTO Poker has you covered. But if you truly want to optimize yourself as a player, you won't ignore the other elements of successful poker preparation.
If you want to build a routine that sets you up to feel great and play your very best game each and every time, book a free consultation with me here. I'll be sure to hold you accountable, and I'm confident these skills will enhance your life away from the table as well.
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