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.