Poker blog

I need to be honest with myself: I don't always give the game my full attention. In fact, I'd say I rarely do. More often than not, I find myself sipping on a drink, browsing the internet on my phone, watching streams/videos, or whatever is on the TV.

I go to the live poker games to primarily make profit, but also to have a good time with the poker friends I've made over the years. I've become somewhat known for having a couple of drinks each poker night, to the point where other players are surprised if I don't. I've even had them jokingly ask, “Aren't you having your wine tonight, Bob?”

But as the new year begins, it's time for a change. In the spirit of my first blog entry, I've realized that these distractions are getting in the way of my focus and performance. So, I've set a new rule for myself: no alcohol before or during poker games. If I decide to have a drink, that will signal the end of my poker session. Simple as that.

I'm also committed to staying more focused and actively engaged in the game, particularly when it comes to profiling my opponents and identifying exploitable patterns that I can use to my advantage in future hands.

How will I make this change? By shortening my live poker sessions. In the past, I've found myself playing marathon sessions that can stretch to 12 hours, but let's face it: staying focused and playing your A-game for that long is simply not realistic. So, this year, I'm cutting my sessions in half to ensure I'm always playing at my best.