Poker Articles

Mental Conditioning For Poker
By Mike Paulle

"The Mind is a terrible thing to waste." So goes the ad on TV. It's equally true at the poker table. So many players slip into a semi-coma while playing poker, a GIANT edge you can have on your competition is mental.

As a tournament poker writer, I have the luxury of getting 'Up Close and Personal' with the greatest players in the game. And the main thing that separates the great players from the merely good is mental preparedness.

One of the greatest, John Bonetti, calls it FOCUS. Even at 71 years of age, John brings so much focus to EVERY play in a game that he intimidates those who aren't prepared to play the 'mental' game with him. For those you think older players must lose their edge in advanced years, John will tell you: Forget about it!

Poker is the one game that doesn't have to be for the young only. But you MUST keep your mind shape by using it constantly. How do you do that?

Each individual player has to find his or her own way of getting prepared to play. There isn't a rule that works for everyone. If you are paying attention to how your mind works, you'll notice when you start drifting off. At THAT point you have to stop and say to yourself, "I can't let this happen." Playing in a daze will be very expensive, not just in pots lost, but also in pots not won. Just think of how many 'mindless' bets you've tossed into a pot when you had no chance of winning? What if you saved every one of those bets because you were THINKING? How much more money would you have now?

The easiest way to stay mentally sharp is to only play when you are rested. Most of us play too many hours straight without taking a break. I try to take at least five minutes off every two hours. I don't always do it, but I should. And you probably should, also. It's hard to concentrate at peak performance hour after mind-bending hour.

Oxygen is a primary fuel for the brain. Sitting at a cramped poker table, unable to move around freely, makes us breath shallowly. Our blood becomes less oxygen-rich in a very short time. Hence, our ability to concentrate suffers. Get up, go outside, take a few deep breaths then come back refreshed.

Also, make sure you aren't hungry while playing. Many players will bring small candies to the table that they periodically eat. This keeps sugar in the blood. The brain is a motor; it won't run properly without sufficient sugar digested from food intake.

Some players use concentration-enhancing techniques like crossword puzzles, yoga, jogging or you-name-it. What ever works for you, to keep you focused on EVERY card that comes off the deck, is the right thing.

Remember, you are playing for money, not just poker chips. If you aren't mentally prepared at all times, you are costing yourself an enormous amount of hard-earned cash. Take the time to find out what your mind needs to be at the top of its game. Then bring that game to the table every time you play. Don't let YOUR mind be a terrible thing to waste.