In advance of you sitting down at a card table; whether at a brick and mortar casino or in front of a computer, you have to be in the right mental state. Poker is a game of using logic to beat your competitor, much like chess. So your mind needs to at all times be focused and alert. Never compete in poker when you are exhausted, upset, or have any number of problems. This is how even the best players are beat.
Unless you are competing with your brother’s children or for enjoyment on family fun evening, the challenge of the game is to win $$$$. You must look at each player you compete against like another installment in your checking account. If you bet on cards frequently each week, record your wins and losses. This will help you see where you are in your game and how your poker game is actually making you.
The object of poker is to accrue cash, but that’s not what you must be thinking about while you play. You must commit to performing the proper decision every time it is your turn to call, check, or place a bet. Always concentrate on doing the strongest decision at the time without worry about the cash. Eventually the more skilled decisions you make in a game, the greater $$$$ you might come away with.
It’s possible to make the correct move and in the end, lose the hand but you definitely will not lose in the long term. The one thing to always remember when you’re competing in poker is that all winnings comes from blunders. The better you are at decision-making, the larger your amount of money will get.