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What It’s Like as a Poker Pro Away From the Table
Poker is a game played in the moment. The goal at the table is to make the best possible decision at every juncture - this is well known. However, there are many ‘away from the table’ factors that impact our ability to do so. The priorities we set and habits we adopt off the felt are crucial in ensuring the ability to play poker profitably, sustainably, and healthily.
Studying
One key component away from the table is study. This may not be thrilling to some, but is necessary (mandatory, even!) in order to improve and compete with better players. With the rise of solvers and the continuously increasing standard of play, regularly dedicating time to studying the game and figuring out ways to improve is more important than it has ever been.
Effective Study Methods
For me, reviewing and analyzing hand histories has always been extremely useful. Talking different poker hands with other players, particularly those better than yourself, is a surefire way to learn and easily one of the most effective paths to improvement.
Gaining an insight into how other players think about the game and approach different spots will enable you to become a more well-rounded and open-minded player.
Disagreement can be a good thing. Hearing an opinion that is different from your own can spark debate, which can lead to deeper discussion and the realization that there are various ways to successfully approach the game.
This said, talking hands with peers may also highlight leaks in your game that might have otherwise gone unnoticed. For instance, regularly receiving feedback from your peers that the hands in question seem too loose pre-flop should indicate that this is an area of your game that requires attention.
Utilizing Tools and Resources
This is where tools like solvers and charts can form a part of your study away from the table. They are extremely useful in providing valuable information quickly and clearly and can allow you to hone in on certain areas of your game by learning sound theoretical concepts. Along with improving theoretically, one of the major benefits that can be found through this form of study is increased confidence at the table.
Balancing Confidence and Openness
If you know you have put time into running spots and have done the requisite work to get all that you can from their output then you can approach similar spots in-game with confidence and in the knowledge that what you are doing is backed up by theory. Poker has fine lines in this regard.
While it is important to make decisions with confidence and trust that what you are doing is correct, it is equally as important to be open and willing to embrace mistakes and learn from them. It is not a game of perfect. Mistakes are inevitable. But being curious and viewing them as an opportunity to improve away from the table will yield the best results.
Focusing on the Right Hands and Spots
It is sometimes difficult to know which hands/spots are the best to run and review. I think a common mistake can be having too much interest in the biggest losing hands. While it can sometimes be true that one of these hands was misplayed, it can be just as true that one of our biggest winning hands from the session was also misplayed.
The Importance of Objective Analysis
It is important to focus on the hands and spots that seem objectively close rather than merely attribute the result of a hand to the skill with which we played it. For instance, we may win a large pot with a big hand. It is very possible that we could have won more in this hand and that while the line we took resulted in us winning chips, an alternate line could have resulted in us winning far more chips.
Similarly, we may lose a big pot and assume that we must have made a mistake during the hand when in reality it was a spot where we were always going to lose chips and we actually played the hand very well. Placing less emphasis on the result of any given hand and being able to accurately detect mistakes in both winning and losing pots will lead to more effective study and maintain a focus on the things that we can control (improving our game) rather than the things we can’t (short term variance).
Diet and Exercise for Poker Players
Another area in which poker players can benefit from adopting good habits relates to diet and exercise. Deciding when and what to eat in poker (particularly tournament poker) can be challenging. The venue will often lack a healthy food option and prices can be extortionate. This is a deterrent to players looking to cut their costs on a probably already expensive trip, though choosing not to eat and playing long hours with insufficient fuel is also suboptimal.
Benefits of Healthy Eating
Consequently, prioritizing eating healthily away from the table can be crucial. Sitting down and playing poker for extended periods, whether in a live arena or online, is a physically demanding pursuit. Some days maximum focus is required for twelve or thirteen hours, during which time countless important decisions are made.
Fueling your body with healthy food will lead to increased alertness, higher levels of energy, and the ability to think clearly for a longer period of time. This will allow you to continue to play your best poker later in the session, having avoided unhealthy foods that tend to cause tiredness. Making healthy choices away from the table can also instill a sense of discipline that can be carried over into the game and result in healthier (better) decisions on the felt.
The Role of Exercise
Exercise plays a similar role, and can be as much of a mental benefit as a physical one. A simple walk can help clear the mind after a tough losing session, during which a lot of time has been spent sitting. It is not uncommon for poker players to acquire poor posture as a result of these extended periods of sitting. Regular exercise can help correct this problem, or at least ensure it is not exacerbated.
Combining Exercise with Leisure
I’ve found that mixing exercise with leisure is a winning combination - playing golf with friends is my go-to. It is great to have a competitive focus away from the table and if you can exercise while simultaneously being outdoors and spending time with people whose company you enjoy, I think this can only lead to a healthier mindset.
Of course, playing golf every day is unattainable for most. Hitting the gym or going for a run are easy ways to ensure more regular exercise and are particularly useful prior to playing a session. Realistically, nobody wants to exercise late at night after twelve hours of grinding and so getting it done early is best. There is also merit to performing a physically challenging task early in the day; subsequent endeavors can seem less difficult and it can be easier to handle the stresses and swings of a session.
Prioritizing Sleep
In order to be able to do these things in addition to playing long hours, getting sufficient sleep is paramount. While this can be difficult, especially in tournament poker, it is crucial that it is made a top priority in order to stay fresh and maintain a positive mindset. Entering a session tired is a recipe for disaster. If you are feeling sluggish in the first hour, how will you be feeling in the fifth? It will be close to impossible to play your A-game and with the level of competition only getting tougher, anything less is not going to cut it.
A good night’s sleep will also result in a better mood. This, in turn, will result in better decision-making and less likelihood of being tilted by things that are out of your control.
Striking a Balance Away from the Table
Finally, it is important to strike a balance away from the table. Doing fun things like going to dinner or grabbing a few drinks with friends/family is necessary once in a while. Leisurely activities like these will help avoid burnout and sometimes address big-picture thoughts. Enjoying some non-poker related activities away from the table is a great way to shift focus away from the results of a bad session and instill motivation for the next session.
Managing the balance of studying, exercising, sleeping well, and spending time with friends and family will ensure a healthy routine away from the table, leading to the best chance of success at the table.
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