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When You Grind For a Living, Life Tends to Grind You Back

Monday, March 14, 2011

You're Doing It Wrong

I might have been too profit oriented when I first stabbed at short handed poker. Hell I even compared the points I earned between FR and SH based on the number of hours played crossed with the number of tables played per session. What the hell was I thinking?

I should've focused more on beating the game. I mean, I'm new to the whole SH game, I shouldn't be thinking about earning. I should be thinking about playing my best game and beating the limit. Looking back even further I shouldn't even be going up in limits as soon as my bankroll allows it. I should've moved up when my winrate shows that I've crushed the limit. Fixating on monetary will only lead to incredible pain and frustration - and it has.

Also, I haven't been able to play as much as I want/can/should. I have a lot of money riding on this venture I'm starting. This makes me more sensitive to the negative variance I experience. Funny enough, my roommate who I've recently introduced to poker can't seem to stop playing. I've played alongside him for a few sessions now and I say it helps with my focus. I had to answer alot of questions and line checks though but I'd like to think answering questions also help my game. I've been telling him about common mistakes, mistakes that are all too familiar with me. Hopefully he takes them seriously.

I've looked at my goals, and still I haven't made a pre-game routine/ritual. There are times when I feel like my mind isn't warmed up for poker, and I end up pulling a brain muscle - usually in the form of a spazz. I should always be in the right mindset before I play, that way I won't feel rushed and I won't feel frustrated with the usual ups and downs of the game. Tilt is the enemy, and I'm gonna grab every edge I can against it.


I probably won't post my pre-game routine. I'm gonna work on it as soon as I press Publish.

The Poker Mindset

POKER is NOT about making money.

Yes, we measure ourselves by that bottom line, BUT Poker is all about making the right decisions - the best possible decision with regards to that bottom line. It's about making a decision with the best long-term outcome. It's about making this decision EVERY TIME, at EVERY MOMENT, and at EVERY CROSSROAD.

The money we make is just the result that REWARDS the decisions we make.

We are not here "to make money" - if you play that way, you will inevitably make the wrong decisions...even when you do get lucky.

DO THE RIGHT THING. Drop your ego and fold to the outrageous bluff-raise. Make that positive EV call even if it means you could get stacked. Use your best judgment with the available information every time.

Do the right thing, and the rewards will follow.

This is how we play. This is how we live.