Before you even sit down at a table; whether at a casino or in front of a computer, you must be in the proper mental outlook. Poker is a game of out-thinking your opponent, much like chess. So your brain should always be clear and alert. Do not gamble on poker when you are exhausted, upset, or have any number of difficulties. This is what makes even the best players are beat.
Unless you are competing with your brother’s kids or for fun on family game evening, the challenge of the game is to win money. You need to look at each player you bet with as another payment in your savings account. If you participate in cards frequently each week, note your successes and losses. This might help you see where you appear in your game and how much your poker game is actually making you.
The challenge of poker is to earn cash, but that is not what you might be thinking about during your play. You should commit to performing the proper decision each time it is your opportunity to call, check, or bet. Make sure to focus on making the strongest decision at the time without worry about the cash. Ultimately the more skilled decisions you perform in a game, the higher cash you may come away with.
It’s very possible to perform the proper action and even still relinquish the hand but you will not throw away your money in the long term. The one item to remember when you are gambling on poker is that all monies comes from errors. The more improved you get at decision making, the bigger your amount of cash will get.