Poker Lifestyle

Ever since poker became so readily available following the internet revolution of the 1990's, the dream of playing the game as a professional and the rewards that such a lifestyle can bring has lured many a player to the brink of disaster.

From the outside, the world of poker is an attractive proposition that promises riches beyond our wildest dreams for simply playing a game of cards that we've all grown to love in our own different ways.

On the inside, that world is a cold, calculated beast that only allows the very best a chance of survival. For every top tournament player that enjoys a television lifestyle and a succession of tournaments where the prize money can total more than some of us will learn in a lifetime, there's a dark alleyway littered with the aspirations of those who made the jump too soon.

To really be successful at poker, it's vitally important to put emotional involvement to one side and analyse not just your opponents, but yourself as well. To enjoy success, one must have balance to achieve it.

The biggest factor most players need to overcome is the tendency to overwork. Professionals that are winning will want to maximise their earnings and will continue until they have won everything, or are simply too exhausted to continue.

Alternatively, losing can obsess you until you've won your money back. Knowing that putting in the hours will equate to making more money, the tendency is to leave oneself exhausted as emotion begins to kick in.

The possibility of playing poker for between 60 to 80 hours each week, whether for real or online, leaves you in a situation where there's little by the way of social interaction and that's simply not a good place to be.

Sleep is vital. If the fish are out at night, you need to be there to take their money. Depriving yourself of sleep isn't going to help, so plan a schedule to rest and stick to it. And make sure you see sunlight for at least a few hours every day.

Allow time to exercise, and stick to a balanced, stable diet that allows for regular meal times. Being mentally and physically stronger will is crucial. The worse you feel, the worse you play!

Avoid alcohol while you play. If you were driving a lorry for a living, you wouldn't drink alcohol so why drink when you're trying to earn a living from poker?

Make sure you allow time for social interaction. Take a night off at least once a week to meet friends or spend time with family. You'll be amazed at how revitalised you feel afterwards.

Until you can find the right balance to suit your own needs, you're never going to function at full capacity for more than an hour or so at a time. In poker, not all rewards come in the shape of a dollar sign. A balanced lifestyle and healthy approach will see you enjoying the trappings of your own successes long after the aspirations of others have gone.