Boot Camp - Ten Things You Need for a Good Session
Having children taught me many things, not just how to change a diaper in the dark at 3 AM; I've used several of
those lessons to improve my poker game. I've presented these tips in a series of articles aptly named Boot Camp (and for more of these, click on the link at the end of this piece that says "more articles by Pokerpeaker" or search this site for "Boot Camp").Most of the lessons are about life, not how to play A-Q out of position, and that's probably the most important thing I've learned from my kids regarding poker. Poker really isn't about how well you play the game.
It's your frame of mind while you're playing.
I'd encourage you to learn the fundamentals of the game, especially when you start tackling the cash games at Full Tilt poker, Bodog , Ultimate Bet or Poker Stars. Read a few books, check out a few blogs, and talk to other players about hands that cost you money.
But once you've what I like to call the "advanced basics" down, it's not up to the cards anymore. You'll get your coolers, your suck outs and your great hands. It's how you play them that matters, and in order to play them well, you've got to have a clear, focused mind that isn't tilting or high from recent victories or distracted by life.
Here are some tips that will help you get in that frame of mind as much as possible for a winning session:
• Get your bottles in line - OK, for me, this means making sure I know where the bottles are for the twins, because it's inevitable at some point that they'll need to eat. Sometimes I even fill their bottles with formula ahead of time, so all I have to do is fill them with water. But what this means for you is making sure you've got everything in line before you start playing. If you're expecting a call, do you have your cell phone by your side? If you're expecting to go to the movies in an hour, do you have your keys in your pocket? And if you're expecting twins, is there a way Mom can get a hold of you?
What this does is relax our minds, and that way, we can think about the game, and only the game, because we've reassured our brains that everything is in order.
• You need permission - To go along with that, you need to be sure it's OK with your partner that you're playing poker that night. Playing poker after a fight, or feeling guilty because you know your partner doesn't want you to play, means you're playing distracted, and that's a sure way to lose money.
• Get your own food and drink ready to go - If you think you might be hungry or thirsty, get a snack, or a beer, before you start. You want to think about the players at your table, not the nachos that are making your stomach growl.
• You need to be confident - If you're worried about losing money, it's probably best if you don't play. You need to believe you're one of the better players at the table, and if you don't, either drop down a level or don't play that night.
• You need aggression - The reason you need to be confident is because many times, the more aggressive player will win the hand. If you think about it, aggressive players have two ways to win. They get the better hand, or they get their opponent to fold his hand. Sitting back and hoping the cards work out isn't the optimal way to play poker because there are times the cards aren't friendly.
• You need to be willing to lose money - Yep, the money at the table is the money you're ready to lose. If you lose half your stack, you can't start thinking about how that would have bought a stack of diapers or paid for college (and if you're thinking about college, maybe you should drop down a level or two!). You'll start to play with what we call "scared money," and it's likely you'll bleed the rest of it away the rest of the night. Or you'll be tempted to move up a level or two to chase those losses, and that's a great way to slaughter your bankroll.
• Sleeping children - You shouldn't play poker when your kids are up, especially when they're really young, as that's a good way to piss off your partner and distract yourself from the task at hand, which is winning money.
• A good attitude - Finally, you need to make sure you're in the right frame of mind during the game, too, not just before it. The moment you start to say "screw it" and call, or the moment you start to feel anger from a suck out (and I've been there many times), or the moment you start to sigh at all the lousy cards you're getting, it might be time to shut off the computer until the next time when you're in the right frame of mind to not only play but have fun.
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