Keeping records

Keeping records
Many poker players, especially recreational ones, have no idea where they stand in terms of overall winnings or losses. And if you're a recreational player with all the money you will ever need, that's fine. But for everyone else, it's a good idea to keep track...

Common sense poker: handling adversity

Continuing with my "common sense" series, I revisit my blog entry from April 7, 2011, where I talked about running bad and having the right mindset. Click below for the full article.

Common sense poker: handling adversity
So, self, here's my advice to you. First, stop focusing on the results. You can do everything right and still lose. Focus instead on making the best decisions you can, and let the results take care of themselves. Second, ...

Common sense poker: bluffing

Common sense poker: bluffing

I was at my bank last week and met with my account manager. During the course of our conversation she asked what I did for a living. When I told her that I was a writer but most of my income came from poker, she said, "Oh, that's something I could never do." I asked her why not? "Because I don't think I'd ever be able to bluff." The simple truth is, you don't have to bluff to be a profitable poker player...

Don't play distracted, play focused!

Food for thought.

Common sense poker: eliminate distractions

Nothing beats common sense at the poker table. If you have KK, the board reads 4578, and your opponent check-raises you, common sense tells you the villain has a 6 for the straight, and you'd better have a very good reason to think he's bluffing if you're going to continue in the hand. Of course, if both you and the villain have a lot of money on the table, it doesn't matter if he has it or not, you're never going to be sure enough he's bluffing to justify a call in that spot. There are all kinds of common sense decisions when it comes to playing hands, but some of the most profitable common sense applies to how you approach a session before you even sit down at the tables...