Poker Articles

All's well from my end; vacationing in Costa Rica has been more than relaxing.  It's rather unreal to think with the money I've made/saved this year...I could live frugally here for probably 10 to 15 years (retiring by age 35 seems more than reasonable at this rate).  The closest to poker I've come the past week has been railing some of my better students.  When I get back to the states I'm going to hit it very hard.  This is the calm before the storm.  Below are some ramblings and nuggets of information I'd like to share:

I'm reading a very interesting book, "The Lucifer Principle: A Scientific Expedition into the Forces of History."  The book does a great job of breaking down how individuals and groups succeed (though there is some serious post-cold war propaganda in the book).  Winning is contagious!!!  Surround yourselves with others who are proven winners or hardcore poker enthusiasts bent on future success.  Remember, it is better to be the worst of the best rather than the best of the worst.  

Realize there isn't a great difference between a good player (profitable) and a really good player (hyper-profitable).  In many cases, improving just 10% can increase your profits (and/or potential profits) by 100%!!!

What is your biggest weakness?  ...Guess it's about time you sucked it up and started concentrating your efforts on this particular area (for maximum marginal efficiency/results).

Learn to breathe!  Learn to think positively!  Learn to believe in yourself (even more)!  Improve every day of your life!

As you probably know from my recent post, I am an avid martial artist.  I can't stress enough how much martial arts has improved my poker game.  (To me, if you're not into martial arts and are serious about poker...you've lost your mind!)  If I stub my toe on something or hit my head on something...I can assure you there will be little to no reaction (where before it might have sent me into a mental tantrum).  You are either acting professionally or you are acting unprofessionally (no gray area!).  Set a good example for yourself and others at all times.  Learn to take a deep breath...in the through the nose, out through the mouth...

I can take bad beats with the best of them!!!...I can control my mind, mood, and emotions. 

The beauty of Shaolin Kung Fu (southern Chinese Kung Fu) is that the instructor is not only a trained fighter, but also an expert in Tai Chi, herbs, health, meditation, stretching, breathing, accupuncture, living longer and much much more.  My instructor (Sifu) is a Buddhist Monk!!!  Kung Fu means HARD WORK!  James Brown said it best...gotta pay the cost to be the boss.  As in poker, with fighting...you're either trained or you're untrained.  Think about it...one trained martial artist could feasibly take on an entire gang of men.  In poker only 5 or 10% of people "win" i.e. 90 or 95% of people lose...Make efforts today to pave the way for a better future. 

At the highest levels of Kung Fu, martial artists call themselves IMMORTAL.  What they mean by this is: they are so well trained in martial arts that they are unbeatable.  Imagine that, someone so skilled at fighting that he is known as Immortal because he is unbeatable, unkillable.  I've felt as if I was an "Immortal" at many poker tables...absolutely unbeatable.  Confidence is key; embrace it. 

My mind and body has never been stronger, more agile, or durable.  I've never been able to strike with such precision or force...able to adapt to the changing conditions.  Playing 18 to 30 tables at a time has sped up my mind...I've morphed.  Pay the Cost, Be the Boss!!! 

http://www.labspaces.net/92152/Study_finds_that_searching_the_Internet_increases_brain_function

Pledge to yourself daily you will not make any critical errors.  Make a concentrated effort to play mistake free.  Open your eyes a bit wider.  Concentrate a little more.  Enough with the joking around; time to get serious.  Pay closer attention.  Sit up straight, feet flat on the floor; good posture is a must.  Put a pencil behind your ear if need be..., imagine you're a doctor or a professor.  Act professionally.  Try your hardest!!!

Living up to your potential should be your main goal.  Improve your life and your poker game will follow.

More to come in the near future.  Hope you enjoyed the blog.  p.s. I'd certainly be remiss if I didn't add/edit in the pm I just received from Dyzalot..."Cool most recent post. Just don't forget to enjoy life. Every minute of every day is amazing."

D