Poker Articles

It's been a great week since coming back from vacationing in good ol' Costa Rica.  As you might have already seen, I won my second Triple Crown this week...capping it off with a win in a $30 10,000 Guar on Cake Poker!  My first win on the site and I'm looking forward to many more in the near future.  I also ft bubbled a $100 $50,000 Guar on Cake recently.  Good things to come for sure (if you haven't signed up for Cake obv I'd recommend supporting p5s and getting your rake-back through them).  

Everything's spot on right now, feeling great going into next week.  I have
a grab-bag of points of information; hope you enjoy the post.

Did you realize that testosterone levels in winners increases?  Just as the best time for a salesman to make a sales call is AFTER MAKING A SALE!  The best time to play poker is after you're winning.  Confidence is key...but, WINNING also changes your chemical make-up...

The strongest animal isn't always the top of the food chain in the jungle...it's all about ADAPTATION.  Look how certain animals dominate their environment..changing terrain/conditions...changing methods/solutions towards adaptation.  

I'm successfully 95% off of coffee.  Other caffeine products have also been reduced (other than Green Tea and Herba-Mate((sic?))

Poker is such a dangerous profession.  Whenever someone asks what I do...I always tell them I'm a teacher.  No point in painting a target on your head because many people think poker players all carry around tons of cash (or have the cash in their house) etc.  Amarillo Slim's autobiography has a couple very scary stories.  He also mentions being able to count on one hand the number of poker players that ever died with any money to their name.  If you don't know anything about personal finances...you might want to start now and learn what it takes to grow and save money; to build wealth.

Live and online poker are both very easily beatable.  Having a plan is essential...I like to call it a RECIPE for success.  It's like baking a cake.  Imagine, without a recipe...good luck baking a cake!!!!  I was lucky to have had the #1 ranked (pocketfives.com) player in the world at the time, Ari, teach me his recipe for success.  Sometimes it's true, it's not what you know...it's who you know.  Always surround yourself with positive people you can learn from.  As humans, we are greatly/easily influenced by our surroundings.  Understand and accept this.

I recommend getting 4 to 10 books that will "expand your mind."  Both poker and non-poker related will work.  Whatever you like or have always been curious about.  Math, puzzles, other games, science, philosophy/theory, etc.  Give one of these books to your mother, one to your best friend, one to your girlfriend, place one in your bathroom, one should go in the trunk of your car, another will be handy at work, if you play sports...in your gym bag, one by your bedside, and so on down the line.  Become the person you are capable of...work towards that goal.  I highly recommend reading into NLP (Neuro-Linguistic-Programming ((Brain-Language-Patterns)) and any self-help book that appeals to your needs/desires.

I'm up to walking 3 miles per day.  Just bought a water filter and have been drinking more water.  I turned 29 recently and am looking forward to strengthening my mind and body.

If you haven't taken basic self defense courses...partner!  As times get tougher, petty crime can be expected to increase.  Americans are already shunned in many places in the world (as an avid traveler, let me tell you...I've had very serious run-ins...in the middle of nowhere!) 

Change your life for the better.  Start today (tomorrow at the latest), go with your gut.  Focus on your weakest points (life/poker) and start there first.  My father once told me that the sign of a good manager in business...was someone that knew his own weaknesses and delegated to fill those holes. 

Ari once told me one of the biggest keys to being a world-class poker player was being honest with yourself.  You have to know where to direct your efforts, how to optimize your time, know the resources available, work hard, and make your vision a reality.

Don't just dip your toe in the water.  I always recommend my students to jump in head first!!!  It's like a running back who runs hard through the line...he's more likely to succeed and less likely to get hurt.  My 3rd grade Mathematics teacher Mrs. Bean (actual teacher) had two sons in high school at the time.  She explained that though they both had very similar physical characteristics...one of her sons was a stand-out linebacker on the team.  The reason for this?  She explained, "He liked to hit."  He didn't think about getting hurt or holding back; he went full throttle and craved attacking the line.  The same thing goes for infielders and outfielders on defense in baseball.  The best players are the ones that want the ball hit to them.  They're ready and willing to snare the line drive.  This mentality is a re-occurring trend.  You will see this in business, in dealing with women, and on and on.  Winners choose to win!  They have a plan and they execute on that plan. 

Do everything you can to make yourself a better poker player and a better person...every day of the week!  1000% full-steam ahead!!!  Stay focused.  ADAPT, ADJUST, and OVERCOME.

More to come in the very near future.  Hope you enjoyed it; comments always welcomed.

D