Challenging Yourself in Poker
Players often mistakenly think challenging themselves on poker requires a player to find a tough game, or a game filled with the better player’s their card room has to offer. While this may satisfy the ego, giving you the satisfaction of believing you can hang with the best of them, such beliefs are potentially hazardous to the bankroll.
Challenging one’s self at poker stars efficiently and effectively should consist of methods that do not serve the ego. My bankroll does not require me to hang with the top ten players in the local card room. That would be my ego talking, wishing to be considered among the best the card room has to offer. My bankroll merely requires me to be among the best at the table where the money flows easiest to my chip stack.
When I challenge my poker game, and myself I do so in a manner that is beneficial, while trying to avoid putting myself to risky testing. Unless I am playing a poker tournament, I do not wish to face off against the elite group in the poker room. I want the easy money and I am not ashamed to admit it. Instead, I challenge my discipline.
I challenge myself to walk away from unprofitable situations. When a game becomes unprofitable, whether it tightens to the point of squeaking or it becomes too wild for my playing style, getting up and leaving is a challenge I wish to be up for. My ultimatebet bankroll will thank me later.
Along the same lines, if a game becomes “good” in terms of a bad player whom I own sits down, an appropriate challenge I set for myself is to focus on that player without distraction. If I was anticipating ending my session, the presence of this player should cause me to adjust my plans. Again, my bankroll will thank me for facing this challenge.
My bankroll appreciates me when I put challenges to myself that are healthy to my bottom line, while taking on minimal risk. My bankroll does not appreciate my experimentation on whether or not I can hang with the big boys. Poker is a game reliant upon win rate and long-term profitability. It is a game of prudent decision making, with the bankroll in mind. My bankroll does not require my ego to agree. Bankroll is money and profit driven. As far as I am concerned, my bankroll directly pads my ego. My ego does not pad my bankroll.