How to prepare for your poker session?

Preparing for your poker session nowadays is more important than ever. Every extra penny you win or you save while playing your best poker will support you during the downswings, so it is crucial for players to maintain their A-game for longer. In order to maintain this performance, you have to push every advantage and doing what everyone else is doing simply won't cut it, simply because the field is not as bad as it used to be in this game. So, in this article, we’re going to share some tips that will help you improve your poker performance, by establishing a small ritual before your session starts.

Tip #1 Meditate

So, we start with a classic. If you don't like it, you have probably never done it correctly. Let’s agree to something. You’re here most likely because your preparation isn’t good enough. If you even have a preparation. So do yourself a favor and pay some attention because I promise you, this isn’t going to hurt your game.
Meditation is a huge topic. We’ll stick to the basics. Set a timer on, for 5 minutes or so, make very clear that no one should talk to you. You start working anyway so I think it’s your responsibility to make it clear. Close your eyes and focus on your breathing for 5 minutes. Done. Thoughts will come, try to let them pass. The purpose of this exercise is first to help you learn, how to get in the zone and 2nd how to stay there. Focused. It needs repetition to work, so do not expect miracles. There are no miracles in this game anyway, or at least no miracles that last. You’re going to notice the results after some weeks. It will also train you to be disciplined. You need to do it regularly otherwise you’re wasting your time.

Tip #2 Review hands for about 5-10 minutes

The purpose of this habit is to warm up your “poker mind”. Of course, there is not such a thing, but you get the point.

It’s another step to get you in the zone but targeting specifically poker. I would suggest taking a look at some hands, most likely 1-2, that require some thinking so you can get your brain working. Avoid wasting 5-10 minutes in standard hands. Also, avoid getting obsessed with concluding. Set your timer for about 10 minutes and when the time’s up, close the hand replayer right away. The purpose isn’t to get better or to solve the hand. The purpose is just to warm up.

Tip #3 Get rid of distractions

Close every window on your PC that you’re not going to use. All of them. Leave open your HUD software, any preflop charts if you haven’t printed them, your lobbies and that’s pretty much it. Get rid of everyone in the room, you’re about to work.

If you don’t see the game in a serious way, do not expect results. Get rid of every useless thing you have in your office. Your mouse, keyboard, screen, a bottle of water is all you need. Everything else is a distraction. Turn off your cell phone or at least put it in silent mode. You either going to work, and perform accordingly, either you shouldn’t expect to last. Even geniuses get distracted. Act like a pro if you want to be one. Let everyone know that you start working (that should be done in tip #1 already by the way) so that no one will find an excuse to bother you, because “Hey, I didn’t know”. Visit the bathroom, grab a light snack for later and be sure that you’re not hungry. Everything can be a distraction if you let it be. Now, regarding music, people react in completely different ways. I’ve been able to grind by listening to heavy metal. Some people think better in complete silence. Find out how your brain works better.

Tip #4 Prepare yourself mentally

Go and play with the intention to win. Do not even consider starting, if your mentality is “I wish I don’t lose much today” or something similar to this. Make sure to state to yourself what are your goals for today's session.

Most likely your goals will be related to some leak that you've been working on lately, or maybe a new strategy you're bringing to your game. Think of them for a while, reinforcing your intention to perform in a pre-defined way. If you tend to lose focus, make sure to remind yourself, before firing up tables, that your main goal for today is to maintain your focus for as long as possible. If you tend to tilt, do the same. Accept your weaknesses and keep an eye on it. Your purpose is to play and win. This should bring out your hunger for chips instead of your stress.

Of course, it all requires preparation, study, consistency, but for this article, we will only talk about preparation. A good tip would be to remind yourself, your motivations for playing. Obviously, you want to make money, but why? What else drives you? Make sure that your motives are clear. Motivation is the fuel that keep your motor going, if your motives are clear, you’ll be able to move forward. If your motivation is weak, as to just impress your friends or to just convince your parents that winning in poker is doable, then there won't be any real fire burning, and it will quickly burn away. Don’t expect good results.

Tip #5 Get the blood flowing

That should be something really fast to “wake you up”, increase your heart beat a little. Some examples will be, take 4-5 deep breaths and then do a couple of minutes of aerobic exercises. Don’t do technical stuff or anything advanced. It’s not a workout. Something like 20 jumping jacks, 20 push-ups, 20 jumping squats is more than enough. Do it twice and you’re ready to go. The blood is flowing.

You can do any variations you like. The concept is this: work your brain, your emotions, and your body. It shouldn’t take you more than 30 minutes. And if you think that’s a lot, just think that not a lot of people have routines like that as a part of their job. Those things, if done consistently, meaning ALWAYS, will make you more money. They will make you perform better. But as always in poker, it’s your choice.