Before you ever sit down at a card table; whether at a casino or in front of a computer in your office, you always need to be in the right frame of mind. Poker is a game of out-thinking your opponent, like chess. So your brain should always be clear and fresh. Never play poker when you are tired, upset, or have any other problems or mental distractions. This is how even the best players can loose. Have you ever seen someone loose one big hand then several hands later they loose the rest of their money from making a poor decision?
Unless you are playing with your brother’s kids or for fun on family board game night, the object of the game is to make money. You should look at every person you play like another deposit into your bank account. If you play cards regularly every 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 actually profiting you.
The object of poker is to make money, but that’s not what you should be thinking about while you play. You should concentrate on making the correct decision every time it is your turn to call, check, or bet. Always focus on making the best decision at the time without worry about your money. Ultimately the more good decisions you make in a game, the more money you will win.
It is possible to make the right call and still lose the hand but you will not lose in the long run. The one thing to remember when your playing poker is that all profits comes from others mistakes. The better you get at decision making, the bigger your bankroll will get. If you haven’t tried out online poker, some good sites are UltimateBet and PartyPoker.com.