In anticipation of you sitting down at a table; whether at a casino or in front of a pc, you must be in the right mental state. Poker is a game of using logic to defeat your opponent, exactly like chess. So your brain should always be focused and agile. Don’t ever gamble on poker when you are tired, sad, or experience any number of problems. This is what makes even the strongest players lose.
Unless you are playing with your brother’s kids or for fun on family fun night, the object of the game is to win money. You really should look at every person you bet with as just another payment in your deposit account. If you wager on cards consistently each week, write down your winnings and losses. This will help you see where you are in your game and how much your poker game is really making you.
The object of poker is to make cash, however that’s not what you should be thinking about during your play. You should concentrate on making the right choice each time it’s your chance to call, check, or bet. Always focus attention on performing the strongest decision at the instance without worry about your money. Ultimately the more skilled choices you have in a game, the greater $$$$ you usually will come away with.
It is very possible to make the correct call and even still lose the hand but you won’t throw away your money in the long haul. The one item to always remember when you’re competing in poker is that all profits are from mistakes. The better you are at decision making, the larger your bankroll will get.