01 Nov 2024 Beginner This material is for beginner players mindset motivation Do you want to play poker professionally? Maybe you saw the final table of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) on TV and thought: "What’s stopping me from winning a million-dollar check like those guys in sunglasses and hoodies?!" Or perhaps you've heard that your old friend — a nice but not very smart guy — quit his regular job and now makes three times your salary playing poker at home for three hours a day. You’ve always wanted to try something new or perhaps you’re just feeling bored during your vacation and want to make some easy money. Well, yes, you can win money in poker! You might be talented and lucky enough to get rich soon, provide for your family, buy a new car, and get a nice apartment. However, I assure you that fish won’t just jump into your lap on their own. Most people who want to play poker "seriously" do not succeed, not because they can't, but because they are not willing to go through the pain. This is the first article in a series about starting your poker career in the modern world. More articles will appear in this section to help you learn the nuances of the game. It’s important for everyone to understand these to avoid the common mistakes that all beginners face. You might avoid some mistakes, but soon you’ll encounter new ones. It’s impossible to teach a newcomer everything they need to know, and some lessons can only be learned through experience. However, until you start, having some cheat sheets can save you a lot of time and money! Why Do You Want to Play Poker? The first question you should ask yourself is "Why do I want to play poker?" You need to set clear goals — both big and small — honestly assess your skills, considering your work ethic, patience, and ability to handle crazy ups and downs (aka variance). If you are an impulsive person, you should think carefully before diving into poker. While there is plenty of excitement here, if you can’t control your emotions, you won’t achieve anything. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that winning money is easy. It’s true that everything in poker is relative. There is no secret formula that will you make you successful. To walk away from the poker table as a significant winner, you don’t need to be the best player in the world or even in the poker room. You simply need to be better than the players at your table. But if you believe people will pay you just for your charming looks, you are wrong. Each player has their own stack and wants to be #1 by the end of the night. Who will succeed? Likely those who desire it the most and are committed to constantly improving their game. Hard Truth of Professional Poker You don’t need to love the game to become a consistently winning player, but you must be prepared for the day when you tire of it. You might even feel like it’s a curse. Analyzing hands, studying opponents' statistics, or even just sitting at the poker table or staring at the lobby can become monotonous routine. However, you will need to keep going to maintain the lifestyle you will will get used to. For hardworking people, all doors in poker are open! You don’t have to be a superhero to earn money in poker. Selecting the right games, maintaining discipline, having a desire to learn, and being able to overcome failure will lead you to success. These conditions already filter out a large portion of beginners. It’s true that poker is far from being the easiest way to make a living. Most who wish to play poker seriously fail, not because they lack talent, but because they give up midway. Success doesn’t come overnight. You may soon lose motivation to improve. After moving up the limits, players might find themselves forced to drop down again — and their pride takes a hit. Profits are often made from such weak players. If you are strong enough to handle the psychological challenges I’ve mentioned above, welcome aboard! In the next article, we will look at where a new poker player can start their journey.
