Properly Prepare for Your Poker Session

Have you heard of the seven “P’s” to poker winnings? Probably not because I have only just thought of it! But here it is.

Proper planning and preparation promotes poker playing perfection!

Equally as profound, preparing incorrectly will see you playing less than perfectly. Whatever your efforts into learning how to play poker correctly this will be diluted by a lack of good preparation. Distraction opportunities abound when playing an online poker game so here are a few things you should do to make each session of poker the session where your ‘A’ game shines. Your opponents will be quite happy to take your chips if you ignore proper preparation before you play.

Mute the Phone

If you are midway through the second level of the tournament and your mobile phone rings, meaning you chat for 45 minutes about something that happened at work, gossip about a friend or sports event you are not concentrating on what you are doing. You are not looking at how Player A plays under the gun or whether Player B likes to re-raise when holding a strong draw. This could hurt you later in the tournament. Focus hard, switch off the mobile and concentrate on gaining that all important observational information.

Sitting Comfortably?

When you are sitting in front of a computer screen for a long time you must be comfortable. You can buy computer chairs designed for optimal back shaping. The basic requirement is that if you go deep into a poker tournament you are not squirming around thinking how much your back hurts whilst playing poker. Let all of your efforts be in busting your opponents and not in trying to regain movement in your back because of a terrible chair.

No E-Mail and Bring Food!

During your online poker session you will be hoping to have a tournament run that lasts for four hours or be sitting at a fantastic cash game table for as long as you can. Bring some snacks and drinks with you so you do not need to leave your computer desk, even for a second! Resist the urge to check email, surf the Internet, even in the early parts of a tournament when you are folding nearly everything. This is the time you see how your opponents play, so use that time properly.

Check Your Schedule

My biggest temptation is to start a tournament when I am at a loss to do something for two hours. I then may deep into the tournament only to find my 6pm appointment that seemed so far away at 3pm is now looming and I am nearing the final table. This can make you play bad. I have seen players start going all-in and saying in chat “Please call as I have to go”. Admittedly this is at lower limits but do not waste buy-ins unless you can complete the tournament.

No Messenger or Skype

The Internet allows us to communicate with anyone from anywhere in the world. I am terrible for chatting to my sister down south over Skype whilst playing. I will never win a big tournament watching her dogs perform their latest tricks on webcam. Discipline is an extremely important factor of poker so avoid the use of Internet media to distract you from beating the game.

Record the Tournament

Using a screen recorder will help you later during your hand history review sessions. It will be painful to watch your bust out hand when you knew you were beat but this will ensure you never make the same mistake twice. Search the Internet for free screen recording programs. Your game will reap the benefit of it. Hand history sessions are far better I have found when you get to watch videos of your play rather than lots of statistics.

Set a Series of Goals

Do you want to become a pro? Earn $2000 this month? Maybe both? Set a series of goals so each time you sit down for a session you stick at it and make the most of it. Each session is a step closer to your goals so by setting them you get clarity in your objectives.

Enjoy your poker play this weekend. As Poker Hall of Fame Inductee Mike Sexton says, “May all your cards be live and your pots be monsters!”

By Malcolm Clarke