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Maryann Guberman has been a writer and editor with many gaming publications, including Sports Form, Card Player, Poker World, Player's Panorama and Systems and Methods. She also has written and edited numerous books on gambling.

Dec 16, 2006

Achieving Self-Discipline - Poker's Toughest Challenge (Part One)

Challenge is a dragon with a gift in its mouth...Tame the dragon and the gift is yours. -- Noela Evans

Poker players, be they novices or experienced old codgers, often face a difficult challenge. When it comes to exhibiting discipline, they often struggle inwardly or they fail miserably. Either way, the result is a damaged bankroll. Loss or lack of discipline can interfere with play at any juncture of the game, from making the decision of which cards to play all the way to saving a bet on the river.

Something causes a lapse of judgment and that little bitty mistake makes a big impact in both bankroll and in mental attitude. Possibly the lure of the pot causes us to suddenly forget we are actually at risk. Who knows? Actually, it doesn't matter what brings about our forgetfulness or lack of attentiveness. What matters is whether or not we do something about it.

If you don't mind making mistakes or repeating those mistakes in their various mutations, then that's fine. We'll take your money and thank you for a good game. If you do regret forgetting to stay completely out of the next three hands so you don't go out on the bubble, or you can't imagine why you kept calling with your queens when a that rocket showed up on the flop and an early position bet out big, then you are a candidate for change - and that has to be a change in behavior.

The question is can you change your behavior? Yes. Of courses you can. This conviction doesn't necessarily pertain to those who suffer from serious mental and/or emotional problems that might be the result of brain damage or hormonal imbalances, but it does pertain to altering bad habits that cause you to lose at poker.

Before you can change your behavior you have to know what your problem areas are. This is not always identifiable because you are human with ego and you like to think you have no problems.

In his book, Ace on the River, Barry Greenstein offers a test you can take to see if you have the wherewithal to become a professional poker player. The test asks you questions based on situations unrelated to poker, and then Barry evaluates the possible responses. This a great test but if you fail, it doesn't provide any way for you to refocus your life for change. For instance, one of the questions asks: When a car swerves into your lane, do you yell at the other driver? Losing your cool over this kind of incident indicates you might not have what it takes to make a living playing poker.

Anthony Robbins, the self-improvement guru with a smile so wide it scares you, preaches and teaches discipline as a means to almost every conceivable end. His books, tapes and seminars have not only produced a zillion dollars for him, but also they have turned the lives of countless people completely around.

Like it or not, the Church of Scientology also nurtures discipline and self confidence in many who aspired to fame and/or greatness.

But in all cases, whether you have a flashy guy, a subdued guru as your guide or just your own inner convictions, you can own the discipline needed to play winning poker. You might have to get it on the installment plan but you can get it, and the people who read Greenstein's book, watch Robbins' videos or pay for clear from Scientology all start at the same line -- the one that admits shortcomings.

So let's start there.

Study your play for the next week. Listen to how you talk to yourself (Man! Why didn't I see that straight draw on the turn?), how you talk to your competitors (I can't believe you called two big bets with a lousy queen-nine) and how you rehash your bad beats. Get a copy of Greenstein's book and skip ahead to page 56 and take his test. Don't get discouraged. What we are doing is laying the groundwork that will help reveal that we really do goof up. We might even figure out why.

In our next article, we'll start looking at different methods we can use to turn our personality into a poker money making machine, or something close to it.