Welcome!Perhapsyouarejuststartingonyourpokercareer.Ormaybeyouhavealreadybeenplayingforquitesometimebuthavefoundyourselfgettinginvolvedinhugebreakevenstretches.Heresastepbystepguidetogiveyouagoodideaonwhatyoushouldbeworkingontorisethroughthelimits.ThisguideiscateredfortheaspiringprofessionalNoLimitHoldemPlayer,althoughmanyoftheconceptsarelargelyapplicabletootherpokervariantsaswell.

HowtoUsethisGuideThisguideisfairlyshort,soIwouldrecommendreadingtheentirethingatonce.Readtherelevantpartsagainwheneveryouarereadytomoveupthestakes.

Chapter1:ImprovingyourTechnicalGameForthissection,Iwillprovidesuggestionsonwhattoworkonateachstageofyourpokercareer.Thisincludesactivitiesyoushouldfocuson,aswellasconceptsyoushouldbeattemptingtograsp.Level1:Newbie($0.01/0.02)So,youverecentlygainedaninterestinPokerandwishtopursuethisseriously.Maybeyoureadtherulesafewdaysagoandarewillingtotestthewaters.Orperhapsyouhavebeenplayingregularlyinhomegameswithotherfriends.YoumighthavecomeacrosssomeepisodesofHighStakesPokeronTV.Regardless,youreprobablynotasgoodasyouthinkyouare.Oneofthemostimportantskillsasapokerplayeristorealizeyourownlimitations.Workhardtofixyourflawsasaplayer,andyoullfindthemoneyrollinginsoonenough.ImportantConcepts

1. RulesandTerminology2. Aggression3. StartingHandChart4. IsolationPlay5. BankrollManagement6. PickingtheRightSite

1.RulesandTerminologyIwouldstronglyrecommendreadingtheWikipediapageforHoldemtogainagoodunderstandingoftherulesandterminologyofpoker.Understandingcommonterminologyisimportantsothatitismucheasiertolearnfromexistingliteratureonthesubjectofpokerstrategy.2.AggressionUnderstandthatitshardtomakeahandinPoker.Onaverage,anunpairedhandmakesapairontheFlopapproximatelyathirdofthetime.Thus,themajorityofthetime,onewillfindoneselfwithoutamadehand.Insuchsituations,theplayerwhoshowsmoreaggressionwillusuallyfindhimselftakingdownpotsmorefrequently.Getridoftheslowplayingandtrappingmentality.Giventhatmakingastronghandisrare,oneshouldformulateonesgameplanaroundaggressiveplays,asopposedtotrappingandbaiting.

Ingamesinvolvingweakopposition,theaggressiveplayerwilltypicallywinmanysmallpots,losesomemediumsizedpots,andwinbigpots.Overthelongrun,theaggressiveplayerwillwinasizableprofit.WhatTypicallyHappensWinSmallPot:Youropponenthasnothing,andgivesupimmediatelyLoseMediumPot:Youropponenthassomething,andyougiveupafterasinglebluffWinBigPot:Youropponentbluffcatcheswithhisweakhands,puttingyouonabluff.Hehasseenyoumakeplentyofsmallbluffsandincorrectlyassumesthatyouaremakingbigbluffsaswell.3.StartingHandChartThestartinghandchartisabsolutelycrucialforbeginners.Chartsgiveyouagoodguidelineonwhathandstoplaypreflop.PreflopsituationsoccurthemostfrequentlyandhavingasolidPreflopstrategywillensurethatyouminimizethenumberofmistakesyouendupmaking.Whatisthemostcommonmistakesthatrecreationallowstakesplayerstendtomake?Theyalmostalwaysplaytoolooseandpassive!Howdoweexploitthem?Bybettingoutwithourstronghands,andmakingsomesmallbluffsoccasionally.Remember,whenstartingout,TightisRight!4.IsolationPlayHavinganaggressivePreflopgameplanisextremelyimportant.Raisingisalmostalwaysbetterthanlimping(callingthebigblind)asitallowsyoutothinthefield.ItismucheasiertobluffoutasingleplayeraftertheFlopthantobluffoutmultipleplayers.RaiseSizeAnyamountwhichgetsyouabout12callersonaverageisprobablyagoodraisesize.Ifyouaregettingwaytoomanyfolds,yourraisesizemightbetoolarge.Ifyouendupgettingwaytoomanycallers,youshouldincreasethesizeofyourraise.Theoptimalraisesizeishighlydependentonyouropponents,aswellasyourstartingposition.Butifyoureallywantasimpleguideline,Onlinegame:3BB+1BBforeveryadditionallimperLivegame:5BB+1BBforeveryadditionallimper

5.BankrollManagementWaytoomanypeoplethinkthattheyneedseveralhundred,orevenathousanddollarstogetstartedonplayingOnlinePoker.WhattheydontrealizeisthatPokerisatotallydifferentballgamefromthestockmarket.A.TheReturnonInvestmentforPokercaneasilyexceed1000%,comparedtotypicalannualinvestmentreturnsof10%inthestockmarket.B.Thedifficultyofplayingpokerincreasessignificantlyathigherstakes,butthedifficultyofinvestinglargersumsofmoneyinthestockmarketremainslargelythesame.Idontcareifyouarefromarichfamily,orhaveahighpayingjob.Overestimatingyourownabilityandplayingaboveyourmeansisarecipefordisaster.Depositingmoremoneythanyouneedtousuallyresultsinyouplayingmuchhigherthanyoushould,whichleadstohugelossesmostofthetime.Atthestartofyourpokercareer,yourmainaimshouldbetominimizelosses,andnotgetoverlygreedy.Increasingyourstakesby10Xwillmostcertainlynotleadtoatenfoldincreaseinwinnings.Infactitlloftenresultinhugefinanciallosses.Manyofmyfriendshaveignoredmyadviceonthisandhaveregrettedtheirdecisiontodoso.Iwouldrecommenddepositing$50atatimeifyouarejuststartingout.Betterstill,lookforsiteswhichprovidefreebankrollssuchasPokerstrategyorAsiaPokerAcademy.Agoodruleofthumbistohave3040buyinsforaparticularlimit.Ifyouareplayingthe1c/2cgames($2buyin),youshouldhaveatleast$5060inyouraccount.Moveuptothenextlimitwhenyoufeelconfidentinyourskilllevel,andwhenyouhaveatleast30buyinsforthenewlimit.6.PickingtheRightSiteFactorstoConsider

Traffic DifficultyofGames Software Rakeback

TrafficPlayertrafficisoneofthemostimportantfactorsinselectingasuitablepokersitetoplayat.Thenumberofplayersplayingwilldeterminetheamountoftablesyoucanplayatasingletime,andthetimeatwhichyoucanstartplaying.Ingeneral,thelargestsiteshavehugeplayertraffic,andallofthesewillhardlybeofanyconcern.

DifficultyofGamesGenerally,thegamesatthelargersitesareslightlytougheroverall.Mostofthebestplayersaredrawntothelargersites,duetohugeplayertrafficandstablesoftware.Atthesametime,thisiscompensatedbythefactthattherearemorefishesatthelargersitesaswell.SoftwareLargersitesreinvestmoremoneyintoimprovingontheirpokersoftware.YoulltypicallyfindthesoftwareofPokerStarsandFullTiltPokermuchmorestable,pleasantlookinganduserfriendly.RakebackRakebackwillhaveasignificantimpactonyourentirecareer.Thus,itisimportantthatyoutakerakebackintoconsiderationwhenyouarechoosingasuitablesitetoplayat.Rakebackatthelargersites(PokerStarsandFullTilt)aregenerallyverypoorincomparisontothoseofferedbythesmallersites.Thisisbecausethesesiteshavehugemarketshareandhavelargerbargainingpower.Onthecontrary,smallersitesusuallyhaveinferiorplayertrafficandsoftware.Thustheyneedtoofferhighrewardstocompensateforareastheyarelackingin.ActionSteps1a.Findapokerschoolwhichoffersafreebankrollandsignup.1b.Alternatively,youcandeposityourownmoney.2.Findapokersitetoplayat.Makesurethatyouuseamarketingcodewhenyouaresigningupasyouwillnotbeabletoaddonelateron.Bysigningupthroughanaffiliate,yougettousetheservicesprovidedatnoextracost.3.LearnbasicPreflopandPostflopstrategy4.LearnbasicpokerterminologyUsefulResources

PokerSchool:Pokerstrategy ListofTopPokerSites

AboutAffiliatesItisveryimportanttoensurethatyoupicktherightaffiliatewhilesigningupataPokersite.Mostmajorpokersitesonlyallowoneaccountperuser,andyouwillnotbeallowedtoaddamarketingcodetoyouraccountonceyouhavesignedupataparticularpokersite.HowDoAffiliatesWork?ThePokersiteearnsmoneyfromitscustomersthroughrake.Rakeisthescaledcommissionfeetakenbythesite,usuallybetween2.55%ofthepot.Affiliatesaregivenacutoftherakegeneratedbyitsplayers,inexchangeforitsmarketingeffortsandhelpinbringinginnewplayers.

WhichAffiliateshouldIchoose?BadAffiliatechoicesincludeHoldemManager,PokerTracker,PokerNews.Basicallyanythingwhichdoesntprovideusefulservicesonaregularbasis.Thebestpokeraffiliatestosignupatarepokerschoolsandtrainingsites.Inmyopinion,Pokerstrategyisthebestoptionbecauseitprovidesthemostnumberofusefulservicesincluding

StrategyArticles StrategyVideos RakeRacesandRewardsSchemes HandEvaluation VIPServicesforBlackMembers

Otheraffiliatesusuallyprovideonlyafractionoftheseservices.

Level2:Beginner($0.02/0.05)Youshouldhaveatleast$150beforeeventhinkingofmovinguptothenextlimit.Bynowyoushouldbefairlyfamiliarwiththerulesofthegame.Letsfocusonimprovingyourabilitytoplaymorehandsatatime,andequipyouwithsomenewsoftwaretoplaywith.ImportantConcepts

1. Multitabling2. BettingAction3. MathConcepts4. PokerTrackingSoftware

1.MultitablingAsabeginner,youareprobablyplayingonly12tablesatatime.Itisnowtimetoincreasethenumberoftablesto~4tablesatatime.Itisimportanttobeabletoplaymoretablesatthesametime,simplybecauseitwillincreaseyourhourlywinrateandvolume.Ahighervolumewilloftentranslatedirectlytoafasterrateofimprovementbecauseyouwilljustendupgettingmorepractice.Atthesametime,playingtoomanytablesmaycauseyoutoautopilottoooftenandmaybedetrimentaltothelearningprocess.Thus,itisimportanttofindthesweetspot.Ifyoufindyourselftimingoutonyourdecisionstoooften,itsprobablytimetocutdownonthenumberoftablesyouareplaying.2.BettingActionThegameofpokerrevolvesaroundBetting,Raising,CheckingandCalling.Beginnersoftenfindthemselvesmakingthevariousplayswithoutevenknowingwhattheyareattemptingtoaccomplish.Heresahighlysimplifiedversionofwhenyoushouldmakeeitherplay.Betting/RaisingForValue:YouhaveastronghandandwanttogetcalledbyworsehandsToBluff:YouhaveaweakhandandyouwantstrongerhandstofoldChecking/CallingWhenyouhavenoreasontobet,youcheck.Ifyouarefacedwithabet,callifyourhandisstrongenoughtocontinue.FoldIfyourhandisnotstrongenoughtocontinueagainstabetandraisingasabluffisnotsuitableforthesituation,fold.

BasicFrameworkforMakingDecisions

CommonQuestions

Sometimesitmightmakesensetotrapwithastronghand.Shouldwealwaysbetwithastronghand?Thatstrue,butthemajorityoftheyoushouldjustbetorraisewheneveryouhavesomethingstrong.

Butfrompersonalexperience,peoplealwaysfoldtomewheneverIhavesomethingstrongandIbetlarge.Isthatreallythecase?Ifsomeoneisfoldingalot,youcanexploithimbybluffingmoreoften.Whenyoustartincreasingyouroveralllevelsofaggression,peoplewillstartcallingyoudownwithweakerhands.

Whenisitgoodtostartbluffing?Whencardswhicharescaryorhelpyourperceivedrangefallontheboard.Theyaretypicallyhighcards,flushcards,andstraightcards.

3.Mathconcepts

Outs EquityandPotOdds

MathisexceptionallyimportantinthegameofPoker.Dontworry,youdontneedtoknowcalculustoplaygoodpoker.Justsomebasicarithmeticwilldofornow.MakesureyouunderstandtherelationshipbetweenEquityandPotOdds.ItrepresentstherelationshipbetweenRiskandReward.

4.PokerTrackingSoftwareKeepingTrackofalltheactionmayprovetobeextremelydifficult,especiallyifyouareplayingmultipletables.Ithinkthatitisanabsolutenecessitytopurchasepokertrackingsoftwareintodaysgames.PokerTrackingSoftwareallowsyoutokeeptrackofyouropponentsbettingfrequenciesinmanyspotsandalsoenablesyoutoreviewyourhandsmoreeffectively.Infact,itissoimportantthatIwouldevenrecommendgettingitrightattheverybeginning,aslongasyouareverycertainthatpokerissomethingyouwouldliketopursueoverthenextfewmonthsoryears.Understandwhateachstatisticmean.Understandhowtointerpretthenumbersandusethemtomakeeducatedguessesaboutyouropponentsrangesincertainsituations.BasicHUDName/NumberofHandsVPIP/PFR/AttempttoSteal/FoldvsSteal3bet/Foldto3bet/FlopCbet/FoldtoFlopCbetPopularForumPostsonhowtointerpretstatisticsSomeofthelinksareslightlydatedbutshouldstillbeusefulforabeginner.http://archives1.twoplustwo.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=4946669http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showthread.php?t=165898http://archives1.twoplustwo.com/showthreaded.php?Cat=0&Number=8009768&page=0&vc=1ActionSteps1.GetPokerTrackingSoftwaresuchasHoldemManagerorPokerTracker2.SetupyourHUD

Level3:Rookie($0.05/0.10)Timetomoveuponceyouhave$300ormore.Inthefirsttwolimits,youhavemostlybeenplayingagainstrecreationalplayerswhoarelargelycluelessaboutwhattheyaredoing.AtNL10,youwillstarttofacesomeseriouspokerhobbyists.ImportantConcepts

1. Light3bets2. BlindDefense3. Betsize

1.Light3betsCheckyouroverall3betstatinyourpokertrackingsoftware.Itsprobablygoingtobetoolow.Startbyincreasingyour3betfrequencyineverysingleposition.Recommended3betFrequency6playergame:69%9playergame:46%Askyourselfwhatisyourvaluerangeineachspot.Thenaddasimilarnumberofbluffscombostobalanceyourrange.Example:SomeoneopensintheCO.IamintheBU.Whatismy3betrangehere?ValuerangeJJ+/AK(3%)BluffrangeAddasimilarnumberofbluffs>K5sK2s,86s,75s+,64s+,54s(3%)2.BlindDefenseWhenyoufirststartedplaying,youprobablylearntthatyoushouldplaytightfromtheblindsbecauseyouwillendupplayingoutofpositionwithouttheinitiative.Nowitstimetolearnhowtowidenyourdefendingrangefromtheblindstomitigateyourlossesandincreaseyourwinrate.MitigatingyourLossesEverytimeyoufoldintheSB,youlose0.5BB(lossrate:50bb/100)EverytimeyoufoldintheBB,youlose1BB(lossrate:100bb/100)Itisverydifficulttoachieveapositivewinrateintheblinds.Yourmainobjectiveistoreduceyourlossesintheblinds.Anytimeyouareabletodefendahandinawaythatallowsyoutoloselessthan0.5BBand1BBintheSBandBBrespectively,youaremakingmoremoneythanyouotherwisewouldifyouhadfolded.Thiscaneitherbeachievedbyactivedefense(3bet)orpassivedefense(calling).

3.BetsizeUnderstandtherationalebehindcommonbetsizing.Youcancheckoutoneofmyarticlestolearnmoreaboutwhycertainplaysaremade.ActionSteps1.GetaPokerEquityCalculatorsuchasPokerstrategyEquilaborPokerStovetoimproveyourdecisionmakingskills2.WatchsomeTrainingVideosatmyYoutubechannelorPokerstrategy3.StartPostinghandsatPokerstrategyHandEvaluationForumsorTwoPlusTwoUsefulResources

PopularPokerForums:TwoPlusTwo OtherForums:LiquidPoker,FlopTurnRiver,PocketFives,Reddit

Youmightfeelalittleoverwhelmedbythesheernumberofoptionsfordiscussingpokerstrategy.TwoPlusTwoisthelargestEnglishspeakingpokerforumssoyoushouldprobablyjustvisitthatsite.

Level4:Rookie(0.10/0.25)Yourbankrollshouldbeclosetoathousanddollarsnow.Atyourcurrentskilllevel,youshouldbeabletobeatmostlowstakeslivegamesforasmallwinrate.Timetotakeyourtechnicalskillstothenextlevel.ImportantConcepts

1. PreflopStrategy2. PostflopPlayasthePreflopRaiser

1.PreflopStrategyItstimetofurtherrefineyourPreflopstrategy.Wellfirstfocusonincreasingyouraggressionlevelsbecausethatismucheasiertoimplement,asopposedtoincreasingyourpassivedefensefrequencies.

Learnwhentowidenyouropeningandcallingrangesagainstdifferentopponentsatyourtables.YourVPIPata6playertableshouldbe>23%.Ifnot,youareprobablyplayingtootight.

Youareprobablynotplayingasaggressivelyasyoushould.Itstimetoincreaseyour3bet%.Tryincreasingyour3bfrequencyby2550%andseehowthatworksout.Especiallyfromtheblinds,againstalatepositionsteal.

Increaseyour4bet%aswell.Areasonable4betrange%is>3%.Your4bet%shouldbeatleast20%.

YourFoldto3betshouldbelessthan70%. YourFoldto4betshouldbelessthan55%.

2.PostflopPlayasthePreflopRaiserMuchofourPreflopGameplanrevolvesaroundseizingtheinitiative.SincewewillusuallyendupplayingasthePreflopRaiseraftertheflopthemajorityofthetime,weshouldfocusonplayingwellasthePFRfirst.

UnderstandthedifferencebetweenDryandWetFloptextures.LearnhowtovaryyourFlopcontinuationbetsizebasedonthefloptexture,andlearnhowtoadjustyourbettingfrequencies.Youshouldbebluffingmuchmoreoftenondryflopsandlessoftenonwetflops

KnowwhichTurncardsaregoodtobarrelonandwhichTurncardsaregoodtogiveupon.Cardswhichimproveyourequityoryourperceivedrangearegoodtobluffat.Cardswhichimproveyouropponentsrangearepoorforbluffingat.

ActionSteps1.Signupatanothertrainingsitetosupplementyourlearning.2.ConsiderhiringaprivatecoachOptional:StartaSkypegroupwithafewotherfriendsplayingsimilarstakes.Activelydiscusshandswitheachother,andsweateachotherwhileplaying.UsefulResources

TrainingSites:DeucesCracked,CardRunners,IveyLeague,RunItOnceIveyLeagueandRunItOncehavehigherlevelcontentsoifyouareplayinglowstakesitmightbeabetterideatosignupatDeucesCrackedorCardRunners.

Level5:IntermediateLevel($0.25/0.50)Atthispointintime,youarealreadyprettygoodatpoker.Ifyouplaymorethanahundredhourspermonth,youmightbeabletomakemorethanathousanddollars.Heresalistofthingstoworkon.1.GetaCoachIdidnotrecommendthisoptionearlierbecauseprivatecoachingistypicallypricedat$50/hrorhigher,andthiswouldusuallybetooexpensiveforananostakesplayer.CoacheswhochargelowerthanthatareprobablynotverygoodplayersthemselvesandIthinkitsnotverywisetopayforcoachingwhenyoumightbereceivingbadadvicefromlesscompetentplayers.$50/hrmayseemfairlyexpensive,butitwillusuallyshortenyourlearningcurvesignificantlyandshouldpayoffinthelongrunifyourcoachisdecent.Ifyourbudgetistightandyouarelookingforaquickfix,Iwouldrecommendrecordingasingle3060minvideoofyourselfplaying.Requestforthecoachtodoavideoreview.Videoreviewsareprobablythemostcosteffectivewayofimprovingyourgamerapidly.Aftervideoreviewsessions,Iwouldsuggestlookingforacoachwhohastheorymaterialavailabletoteach.Theoryfocusedcoachinghelpsalotmoreinmyopinion,asitallowsonetofocusonaparticulartopic.2.ReaduponGameTheoryGameTheoryisthemagicalanswertopokersunsolvedmysteries.Unsureaboutyouropponentsbluffingfrequenciesinaparticularspot?UseGameTheorytoformulateyourowndefensivestrategy.Earlieron,youwereprobablyfocusedwaytoomuchonmakingexploitiveplays.Asyouriseupthelimits,youropponentsarestartingtobecomemorecompetentandadeptatexploitingyourleaks.Itsimportanttounderstandgametheoryconceptssothatyoucanpluganyholesinyourdefensesandpreventyourselffrombeingexploitableagainsttoughoppositioninmanyspots.UsefulResourcesTheArtofPokerforAdvancedPlayersbyGalvinBayApplicationsofNoLimitHoldembyMatthewJandaMathematicsofPokerbyBillChen,JerrodAnkenman

Mybookhasagoodgametheoryprimerforthosecompletelyunfamiliarwithgametheoryconcepts.ApplicationsofNoLimitHoldemismoreadvanced,butprovidesmanypracticaladviceforNLHE.MathematicsofPokerisoneofthemostmathematicallydensepokerbooksIhaveeverread.Itsformoreadvancedplayersandmanyoftheconceptsaremoreabstract.Neverthelessitsareallygoodreadandmostplayersregarditasthegametheorybible.3.WorkonPassivePlayAfterlearningaboutbasicgametheoryconcepts,youshouldknowunderstandtheconceptofautoprofitingandhowtopreventyourselffrombeingexploitabletoanautoprofitspot.:Howoftenmustabluffworktoautoprofit1:MinimumdefensefrequencytodenyopponentanautoprofitsituationWiththe1%conceptinmind,useittoformulatedefensefrequenciesthatareclosertooptimal.Thisconceptcanbeappliedbothtopreflopsituations(blinddefensevslatepositionsteals)andpostflopsituations(calling/raisingfrequenciesfacingabet).4.RefineyourAggressivePlaysUseGameTheoryconceptstoaidyouinbalancingyourbluff:valueratios.Thisappliesforbothpreflopandpostflopsituationsaswell.

Level6:SemiCompetentLevel($0.50/1.00)Atthislevel,youshouldbeabletomakeadecentlivingplayingpoker,especiallyifyouarefromalessdevelopedcountry.1.FormulateYourPreflopGameplanYoushouldhavearoughideaonappropriatebluff:valueratiostouse,basedoncommonbetsizesandraisesizes.Itsprettycloseto1:1for3bet/4bet/5bet.Usingmultipliersisagoodwaytoderivedynamicreraisingrangescateredforvariousopeningranges.Thisallowsyoutoadjustappropriatelyagainstdifferentopponentsutilizingdifferentstrategies.Example:A3betMultiplierof33%Opponentopensfromaparticularpositionwith15%,30%,60%15%:15/3=5%Weusea5%3betrange30%:30/3=10%Weusea10%3betrange60%:60/3=20%Weusea20%3betrange2.FormulateYourGameplanforcommonPostflopsituationsThinkaboutyourrangesincommonspots.Whatdoyourdefendingrangeslooklike?Whatdoyourbettingrangeslooklike?Looktobalanceyourfrequencieswithareasonableamountofbluffs.Example:Mostplayersopen2BBintheBU.Itypicallycallwith40%ofhands.TheFlopisAd2c2s.Mostplayerstendtobethalfpothere.HowwideshouldIdefendagainstacontinuationbet?%:33%1%:67%Defendatleast67%ormoreofyourrangetodenyBUanautoprofitspothere.Selectthetop67%ofhands.Thisrangeincludesalldraws,pairs,andsomeKingHighsorbackdoordraws.Repeatthisprocessforotherflops.Whenyouaredone,repeattheprocessforotherpositions.

3.UsemoreAdvancedSoftwareCardRunnersEVandFlopzillaarehighlysophisticatedsoftwarewhichcanhelpyouimproveyourpokergamedrastically.Themaindrawbackaboutthesoftwareisthatitmaybealittledifficulttolearnatthebeginning,anditisfairlytedioustorunthesimulations.Nevertheless,ifyouregularlyreviewyourownhandsandusethesesoftwaretoworkonyourgame,youllfindyourselfimprovingatanextremelyrapidpace.

Chapter2:ImprovingyourProductivityandMindsetTobehonest,ImstillnotthemosttiltfreeorproductivepokerplayerbecauseIfocusedmostofmyeffortsonmytechnicalgame.ButIstartedreadinguponproductivityandmindsetbooksinrecenttimes,andIhavemadehugeimprovementsintheseareas.Youshoulddothesame.1.ProductivityMakinggoodandproductiveuseofyourtimeisoneofthemostimportantskillsetsthateverypokerplayershouldhave.Playingpokerasaprofessionoffersunparalleledamountsoffreedomandflexibilitybutitcomeswithaprice.Itsprettyeasytolosemotivationandwastelargeamountsoftimeonunproductiveactivitiessuchasgamingorsurfingthenet.Attemptingtoovercomethesemotivationalissueswithwillpoweraloneisoftenarecipefordisaster.Mosttopperformersovercometheseproblemsbysettingupsystemstohelpthemmaximizetheirproductivity.Oneofthebestwaystodosoistohaveadailyscheduleforsomedaysoftheweek.Thisensuresthatyouhaveaminimumvolumewhichensuresthatyouhavesomeincomeeveryweek.Thisalsopreventsyourskillsfromdeterioratingifyouareconsistentlyworkingonyourgameandplaying.IwouldhighlyrecommendreadingPrimozsmaterialonskyrocketingyourproductivity.Useittohelpyourselfformbetterdailyhabitsandincreaseyourwinnings.

2.MindsetFirstdiagnoseyourtilt,thencureit.JaredTendlerwroteaprettyinterestingarticleaboutthesevenformsoftilt.Beforereadingthatarticle,Ithoughtthatforthemostpart,IwasmoreorlesstiltfreeasInolongermadeextremelystupidplays.ButIfoundmyselfsufferingfromInjusticeTiltandEntitlementTilt,whichweremuchmoresubtleinnature.Focusonlearningandhavingfun,notmoneyPersonally,IfoundmyselfenjoyingpokerwhenIwasanalyzingthegameoffthetablesandhavingthoseEureka!momentswhenIlearntsomethingnewaboutthegame.Whenyouareabletokeepyourmotivationlevelsup,itsaloteasiertoimproveandworkonyourgame.Andwhenyouhavealargeskilledgeoveryouropponents,themoneywillcomerollinginnaturally.DonotcheckyoursessionwinningsorCashierwhileplayingChangingthisbadhabitofminewasthesinglebestdecisionofmypokercareer.Itsharplyreducedmyoveralllevelsoftilt,focusbetter,andpreventedmefromobsessingoverfactorsbeyondmycontrol.UsefulResources1.SkyrocketYourProductivitybyPrimozBozic2.TheQuickGuidetoSkyrocketingYourPokerandLifeProductivitybyPrimozBozic3.TheMentalGameofPokerbyJaredTendler4.EightfoldPathsofPokerbyTommyAngeloRequiresDeucescrackedsubscription5.ElementsofPokerbyTommyAngelo

ThatsAllForThisGuide!Thanksforreading,anddosharethiswithyourfriends.Ifyouhavenotalreadysubscribedtomyemaillist,youcanvisitmywebsitetodoso.Illbesendingoutfreecontentonaregularbasissostaytuned!WebsiteYoutubeChannelBooksGalvinBay