The Mental Side of Poker

For me, the mental side of poker is just as important as the technical side. When I’m focused, patient, and in a good mindset, I usually make better decisions and avoid unnecessary risks. But if I’m tired or distracted, I notice myself forcing hands that I shouldn’t play.


That’s why I try to treat poker like any other skill not just about strategy, but also about being mentally ready before sitting down at the table.

Absolutely. Playing well rested after a good nights sleep just feels so much better and usually give better results than playing, when we are tired, hungover, sleep deprivated etc.

Personally, I find it hard to stay focused when I have too many tables open. For example, every Sunday on 888 there are 6–7 tournaments running within 2 hours, and in those spots I notice myself making a lot of decisions on autopilot — which usually leads to bad results.