In my opinion to follow the bellow unwritten rules are as important and essential (if it isn’t more important) as to know the basic logic of the game, to understand our opponents or for example when do we need to make a continuation bet. It is true for poker-as well like for other activities- that the player will succeed in poker only if he is at peace with himself and to achieve this he should live a happy and well-balanced life.
Reader of my article! It is essential to clarify in which degree you play poker and how serious you would like to take it before you start this article. Playing poker is only a hobby for you? Do you intend to make supplementary money of it? Do you make or would you like to make your whole income of this?
Answering those questions is vital, because the aim of hobby player is different who plays poker to entertain himself (who is willing to spend money on poker like on cinema or theatre) from a pro player who needs to deal with poker with different attitude.
This article is about the semi-pro player.
Some thoughts for semi-pro players:
If you are a semi-pro player, you are aware of that you have a tough task and your time counts a lot. Your main problem is that the day only consists of 24 hours, and you should sleep at least 6 hours of this time (and than I underestimate the amount) and other 8-10 hours is spent with work. You have a constant feeling that you don’t have time for anything, as if you want to dedicate time for your passion, all your free time is gone. You are thinking about what you’ve done wrong, how could you save time, and how could you learn more and improve your skills in the given (in the not given time)! You need to realize that if you play at nl100 or higher tables, you have disadvantage against many opponents, because lot of the players at this level- and as you go higher obviously even more players- play poker full-time, so it means they have more time for studying.
This typical lifestyle of the semi-pro players determines their main features unfortunately:
- He doesn’t sleep enough, so he can’t have sufficient rest
It’s difficult to do his best at work and in poker as well; the exhaustion often leads to mistakes, which can result 2 days income loss. Typical case when someone can’t fulfill two tasks at the same time. If you often stand up after game thinking you shouldn’t have started playing so tired, this applies to you as well.
- Being off balanced due to time pressure
The no-stop rush leads to frustration. If you try to save 5 minutes on your journey to work, this is true for you also.
- Lack of sports
The player- who used to do sport frequently- now he feels that sport takes time off poker “Instead of football or tennis I rather play a little bit of poker today, later I can catch up with sport”-convinces himself. Neglecting sport has lots of disadvantages in long term, because his physical condition, stamina decrease radically- not to mention other good effect of sport likes positive effect of sport on mental condition. If you do sport only once a week, this is true for you also.
- Not enough entertainment
Similar to the point above the player has a feeling that there is no time for going out. If he goes out, he won’t spend time with playing and studying poker. The comfortable chats above beer, “disco” becomes rather a common poker hand as it’s possible to chat, relax, have fun in this way as well. If you go out only once a week, this is true for you also.
- Troubles, problems at work influences the game and vice-versa
There’s a common problem that the player’s head is full of problems of work at the end of the day, which has an obvious negative effect on the game. The opposite is also true; the player with the thoughts of the bad beats of the previous day can’t concentrate on work properly.
- The poker mainly only means playing without studying
The main reason for this is lack of time, because a sensible semi-pro poker player should know he needs further improvements not only spending few hours playing after work. If you spend 30% or less time with studying then this is true for you as well. If you don’t analyze your big hands after each session this applies to you as well.
- There is no time to switch off at the weekend
The weekend is the time when you want to catch up with your delays. You couldn’t read enough about poker? Let’s do at the weekend. You couldn’t play enough to reach the time for the bonus. Let’s do at the weekend. As a result of not having a single free day to rest, eventually you will collapse. Probably it’s easy to decide if this is true for you, or not.
- You don't have enough time for your girlfriend and family
You often have got the feeling, that they don’t understand you. Obviously they are right as you spend time with poker when you should be with your girlfriend/wife/family. They can’t understand easily “ that this allow us going to fancy holidays not only going for trips in the neighborhood”
Some thought above may relate to the obsession with poker. However, in my point of you the main purpose of the poker for semi pro player is to have a supplementary source of income, so he plays mostly for money and not because he can’t stop playing. A semi-pro player enjoys the game, but he doesn’t mind a few days without poker.
Some advice to semi-pro players:
- Plan your day ahead! A good schedule is very important!
Sleep at least 8 hours! The time spent with sleeping is essential, if you try to save on this you can get tired even after 2 days and you can lose more than you won in previous days. Moreover, the more you sleep, the more you live!
Don’t try to save time on the traveling to work; it is better to use well this time. Read the print outs of the previous days lost hands and analyze them! (Obviously my advice refers to those who use public transport and not car!)
You shouldn’t spend time on poker during your work time. That is not the right towards winning! In my point of view few minutes search in forum after lunch is acceptable, but never spend your work time with active game!
Don’t start playing as soon as you get home. Everyone needs time to adjust, to forget the work problems. This time should be at least an hour as I see it, when you can have dinner or watch a film (half of the filmJ). Don’t think about poker for a while, as you aren’t a machine.
You should start playing if you really feel refreshed! If you think you can’t make good decisions, you should rather read the forum or watch a tutorial video or read a book.
- Accept that the day only lasts 24 hours! It’s not worth trying to do more of it.
- Time spent with poker should be planned as well! Don’t just play poker, but you should read the forums, hand analysis, books and watch tutorial videos! Ask yourself if you can play really well. There is always more to learn for you, isn’t there?
- Don't sit down to play after a difficult stressful day. Believe me those who‘s had better day or play poker full time will defeat you. Switch off rather, go out and have some beer with your friends or take your girlfriend to the cinema. Doing some exercises at home (get some fitness DVDs) could be ideal. I’m sure it’s not big news for you that you can play poker much better, if you sit down smiling.
- Have a day off from poker too weekly when you don't play and you don't deal with poker. Trust me this helps in a long run!
- Do some sport regularly at least 2-3 times weekly! Choose a sport that distracts your attention off from work and poker also.
- Don't save money on holidays! Don't dare playing poker instead of traveling. Both the passive and active holidays are important. Depending on what you can afford you should go skiing, rafting, mountain climbing, hiking for a few days and you can forget work or poker these days. Obviously seaside can be a good destination also. During your holiday don’t play poker, the aim is different here (it’s difficult to resist going to the local casino at least once. :-)
- Spend enough time with your family! The key factor for being well balanced having as less arguments as possible, you shouldn’t be or more specifically the poker the reason for that. On the other hand try to make your family understand that poker is the second shift for you to earn money, and ask them to support and not to disturb you while playing.
I hope I could give some useful advice for you. The next article will be about the well-balanced life of poker pros.
Barry Greenstein: Ace On the River book is recommended
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