If you play for very long, you will have both kinds of sessions: Those where you get the option whether or not to display humility, and those where humility is imposed upon you.

Having had the former for the first time in a good while this past weekend (live, at least), I tried to keep a clear head and remember that just sitting behind $1200 after buying in twice for $100 didn’t make me a smarter player than the previous sessions where I was running terrible. A couple of people commented, and I just said I was really lucky the last few days, which was absolutely true. I also called poker “gambling for smart people” which is also true — the point being not that I’m any smarter than anyone else but that it’s still a game of luck.

What I didn’t make a big point of — and this is hard for me, because I love to talk about the game — is that my great sessions are more than good enough to make up for my horrible sessions. But it’s still awfully tempting to think you’re really that good. You’re never really that good, not as good as your cards when they’re running good.

You are just saying you have been beaten by poker..you cant win except in your turn..

you play poker every day and mystifyingly you cant play poker.

very zen..

Learn how to win when the cards dont fall for you. All the top pros consistently win. You just sigh and say the cloud isnt moving its really the world that is turning.. ommmmm

In general I have a bankroll of 30 times the max buy-in for that NL game (play deep).

If on any given day, by the end of the day I have more than 30 times the max buy-in in my bankroll then that leaves my bankroll and moves into my bank account. (I am comfortable playing the limit I’m at, why ruin a good thing, I’m not gonna move up)

If my bankroll dips below 30 times the max buy-in, then I never cash-out again until I am above 30 times the max buy-in.

Problem is everyone lives beyond their means. They will win at a lower limit, move up to a higher limit and get wooped, only to find themselves trying to rebuild their bankroll at a lower limit.

Over-extent yourself moving to a higher limit too quickly without proper bankroll and you will SUFFER.

Awesome article!

Consentrating on winnings/losses too much is probably my biggest leak I have. When I’m running hot I forget to stay “humble” and when I am having a bad day I tend to make it even worse, just to get even.

Reading articles like this really help my lay down the bad habit.

Thanks Ed,

Arctic

Fantastic read and phenominal advice. Keep up the good work Ed!

Beef

This is one of those articles that I will have to come back to again and again just to get it all digested. I think I like your answer on this subject better then any other that I have heard. Good job!