Ingredient List for a Good Poker Player
Patience: All good poker players are patient. To succeed at poker, you have to play only good starting hands, which means that you’ll fold many, many hands. The riches go to those who are patient enough to wait for the best hands. The best players fold hand after hand after hand, waiting for a good one.
Persistence: Poker is a frustrating game. Sometimes you’ll lose even when you start with the best hand and do everything right. You’ll suffer through some long losing stretches. Good poker players are persistent and never, ever give up.
Research: Good poker players invest in poker strategy books and are always analyzing their play, always trying to improve. They know the odds behind the plays they make and don’t rely on gut feelings. Poker is a skill-based game and good poker players are always trying to increase their skill.
Control: You have to have your emotions under control if you want to be a good poker table. Yes, you’re only human, yes, we all get angry at times, but you cannot be a good poker player if you let that anger get the best of you and cause you to bet in situations where you normally wouldn’t.
Aggressiveness: Good poker players are aggressive and confident. They don’t sit there passively calling, hoping that they’ll get lucky on the river and make a pair. If you wait for good starting hands, then take charge when you get them, aggressively betting and raising.
Resources: Good poker players only wager what they can afford to lose. They don’t play with “scared money”, as they know it causes them to play poorly. You should always have money in reserve in case you hit an unlucky stretch of cards.
Perseverance: Poker can be one of the most frustrating games on the planet. You can do everything right but have that last card kill your hand, with your idiot opponent who should have folded making their miracle straight.
