In order to enhance your poker performance, you need to concentrate on particular aspects, and what you do in the short term has to be conducive to your long term objectives.
You can learn a lot about different gameplay techniques and strategies simply by watching seasoned players, including how to spot tells from your opponents when it comes to their betting patterns and physical cues.
Observing Experienced Players
Just as in life, being good at gambling requires you to read the story and be able to analyse the cards and the hand in front of you. The art of risk assessment is one I’m continually developing. Being right on the case involves observation and the idea of breaking things up rightly, to filter out the noise and stay focused on the features that are relevant for the current episode.
Another facet of winning poker play is to learn to read your opponents. Watch their betting; if they bet when they have a bad hand, they might bet when they have a good hand. Watch their physical demeanour and see what tells you might tease out – maybe they twitch nervously when they have good cards and that is why they are always bluffing.
Also essential is watching how more experienced players perform, studying their mistakes and clever moves so as to avoid falling into the same traps and incorporating elements from these strategies in the moves you make, gaining an advantage over your less experienced opponents. Technique alone is not enough; what matters equally for becoming a good player is the ability to think about your opponent and keep your head when under pressure.
Setting Specific Goals
You should first ensure that your goals are properly defined, that they are clear, realistic and achievable. Second, you need to be able to measure your goals, otherwise it may be difficult to tell when you have achieved one. Once you have set out a goal, you can track your progress, use the results to keep you motivated and focused so you can make a steady course of improvement. Short-term or long-term, setting clear goals for your poker game helps you structure your strategy in the most beneficial way for you.
For an entry-level player, a goal such as ‘I will play two hours of poker each day’ might be better than ‘I will improve my winning percentage by 50 per cent in six months’. It can take a lot less time to achieve these more easily measured goals.
You also need to account, as part of your overall bankroll assessment, for your goals and how your account will be impacted by them – a determined hands-on break-even player will try harder than a loose cannon, for instance, who lacks a specific plan for how he can make his goal reality.
Developing Your Unique Style
Poker also asks a lot from its players, in that they must cultivate their own idiosyncratic signature. This calls for the appreciation of subtle cues, the regulation of affect, and the cultivation of a high degree of emotional intelligence — all things that ultimately enhance one’s broader range of social engagements and one’s ability to empathise with others.
One element to a player’s own style is in learning to read your opponents. This can be anything from reading their physical tells to deciphering their bet sizing calculations.
Finally, players need to learn how to make good decisions in a timely manner. This can be achieved by correctly assessing each situation and identifying the best action; making snap decisions; folding when necessary; and seeking to be profitable overall, rather than on each hand.
Staying Calm Under Pressure
The main reason a good poker player is able to win money is because they can remain calm under pressure. No matter how much money you have on the line, if you panic, your decision-making ability will be impaired and poor choices motivated by fear or ego will lead you down the wrong path, potentially depleting your bankroll.
Learning to be mindful will help you stay calm and clearheaded when you’re at the poker table. You might want to try a bit of deep breathing. There’s a technique called box breathing that might work well: inhale for four counts, hold your breath for four, then exhale for four. Or try visualising. You could even use it in advance, as you sit down to play: imagine yourself making confident decisions and accepting wins and losses equally well.
Thus, the ability to read another player’s tells could be a significant advantage at the table, and the knowledge of someone’s betting tendencies can be a clear edge. Poker also involves developing stamina while playing for long sessions of time.
