Poker is an interesting game. It’s thrilling when you win, depressing when you lose and addictive when you’re not playing. Whether you’re coming off a win or a loss, you will always be itching to play more. If you’re hot, you want to keep it rolling, and if you’re cold, you want to get back on track.
Let’s analyze that last statement for a moment: when you’re cold you want to get back on track. This is the absolute worst approach you take and one of the worst pitfalls for a poker player. When a sports team is playing poorly and making bad decisions, it’s the equivalent to being on tilt. What do they do? They call a timeout. In more cases than not, they will come out of that timeout with renewed focus. There’s not a guarantee they will play better, but there’s certainly a better chance of it. The point is that when you’re running bad, the best thing you can do is take one month off. This will clear your head and subconsciously reset your brain to playing your A game when you return. It’s a matter of getting back to the basics.
Another potential pitfall of poker is poor money management. If you’re the type of player who brings hordes of money to every cash game, you’re not going to be a profitable player. How many times do you see someone reload numerous times in one session? You don’t want to be that guy! The best poker strategy in regards to money management is to bring a set amount to a game and leave your ATM card at home. This will allow you to minimize your losses and maximize your gains. Also make sure you keep records. This will allow you to see how well this strategy can pay off. You could even have a losing w/l record and be way ahead.
One of the trickiest traps with poker is time. If you have a family or job, it can be difficult to play poker a lot and have everything else in your life run smoothly. The key to this is to set time aside just as you would set money aside. Do not abuse that time. This will keep you, your family, and your employer happy.
If you follow the rules above, you will have a much better chance of being a successful poker player. A little luck couldn’t hurt, either.