In advance of you sitting down at a table; whether at a land based casino or in or at your desk to play on the web, you always need to be in the correct mental state. Poker is a game of using logic to beat your opponent, exactly like chess. So your mind must at all times be clear and alert. Never bet on poker when you are exhausted, sad, or have any other problems. This is how even the best players are beat.
Unless you are playing with your brother’s children or for enjoyment on family fun evening, the challenge of the game is to make $$$$. You should look at every person you compete against as just another deposit in your deposit account. If you gamble on cards consistently every week, take down your earnings and losses. This can help you see where you typically are in your game and how your poker game is actually making you.
The point of poker is to accrue money, but that is not what you must be thinking about during your play. You need to focus on performing the right choice every time it is your chance to call, check, or raise. Constantly focus on doing the best decision at the time while not worrying about the money. Eventually the more good actions you have in a game, the higher money you can win.
It’s possible to make the correct action and in the end, give up the hand but you definitely will not surrender in the long haul. The one item to remember when you are competing in poker is that all profits are from blunders. The better you are at making choices, the bigger your bankroll will get.
