Regular poker players psychologize that they are in the game for the challenge, relaxation or just pure and simple fun, but this way of thinking is actually rubbish. If you play this game, you need to know why you are playing and precisely what you are attempting to achieve. Ask the question “do I want to be a winning poker player”, if the answer is “yes” then you need to change your mindset. But don’t worry too much; the majority of regular players still haven’t come to grips with what they are “trying” to do.
One thing which needs to be understood from the outset is that time is money, just like you punch in and out of work, and are being paid for your time. Winning poker is just the same – if you put in the hours, you should be rewarded for it and be able to measure this reward in dollar chips.
Preparation for games or tournaments is of vital importance, as important as understanding that accumulation of profits is the name of the game in poker.
Some poker players only see bad days, big winning days and prize pots, no matter what the size, and they don’t see the bigger picture. Falling into a trap where you believe that money is made lumps here, bits there and pieces somewhere else, doesn’t make sense. It is fragmented thinking and poker is supposed to be a thinking mans game.
Even the Bible says, “so shall you sow, so shall you reap” and the same applies to playing poker, or any other money making activity. The more you put in, the more you get back and it’s as simple as that! Your poker game needs to be planted, fertilized, watered – in other words “nurtured” so that it pays off.
Winning poker is basically plain hard work and until you get to the very top, it is completely un-glamorous and un-sexy too. Just another job so to speak, and when it becomes a job well done, you become a master, and you reap the rewards.
Playing in tournaments is one way to win, it is also important to participate in these games to improve your game and see how the other side lives. Don’t get ahead of yourself and glamorize poker tournaments they are job, just like we described in the preceding paragraphs.
Tournaments are where your poker skill is rewarded, the rake is relatively low and because skill is valued, tournaments are always a profitable poker activity. It is a good way to use your poker time and the beauty of playing online poker is that tournaments can be played any time of the night or day.
Playing in tournaments is much more profitable than parallel ring games because of the skill:reward ratio, and this is why top players participate in so many poker tournaments. Thank goodness for online poker, because without it, would be extremely difficult to play in land based tournaments as an amateur – flying all over the world and costing you a small fortune, which you more than likely don’t have!