Before you even sit down at a card table; regardless if it’s at a land based casino or in front of a computer, you have to be in the right frame of mind. Poker is a game of out-thinking your challenger, like chess. So your brain needs to at all times be clear and alert. Don’t ever play poker when you are bored, upset, or have any other difficulties. This is how even the best gamblers are beat.

Unless you are competing with your brother’s kids or for enjoyment on family game night, the challenge of the game is to earn cash. You need to see every gambler you compete against like one more investment in your account. If you play cards regularly every week, write down your successes and losses. This can help you discover where you are in your game and how much your poker game is really making you.

The challenge of poker is to gain money, but that is not what you must be thinking about while you play. You must focus on performing the right decision every time it’s your chance to call, check, or place a bet. Always focus attention on performing the best decision at the time while not worrying about your cash. Ultimately the more great actions you make in a round, the greater $$$$ you will come away with.

It’s very possible to perform the correct move and even still relinquish the hand but you most certainly will not surrender in the long run. The single aspect to keep in mind when you’re competing in poker is that all profits are from mistakes. The better you are at decision making, the bigger your pocket book will get.