The Importance Of Approaching A Poker Game With A "Business Plan"

On the surface, poker is a straightforward game. You get a seat at the table, get dealt cards, and start making decisions. The goal is to win as many chips as you can while losing as little as possible. 

What makes the game challenging is the number of unknowns you need to tackle. You don't know what cards will be dealt, and what other people are thinking, how they’ll react, and what moves they’ll make.

The abundance of variables makes things complicated. If you want to play like a pro, you need a basic "business plan" to put yourself in an advantageous position.

You vs. Other Players

In a poker game, you play against the other players at the table. While you can't manage other players' actions and emotions, you can master yours. If you want to put yourself in a better spot, try to control what you can.

Poker Player's Cycle to Perfection

The first thing to do before setting foot in the casino is to make sure you’ve mastered the rules and the basic poker strategy. Practicing what you've learned comes next.

Decide and Act 

Once you're at the table, you need to start reacting and acting fast. This is a tough skill to master, and the failure to make adequate decisions can cost you precious resources.

Various game elements and situations impact your decisions. That's why you should use the vast knowledge of the players before you. Watch game breakdowns, read guides and tips, and what’s most important, continue playing even if you lose.

Observe and Learn

The logical next step is learning from all the exposure. 

Fortunately (or unfortunately), there’s no "one size fits all" solution in poker. Each situation is unique and largely depends on the players and the mood of the table. Observation skills serve to find the best decision that’ll work in a given situation.

Look around the table, analyze people's words, body language, and microexpressions. Pay attention to how their reactions change and how people play off of each other.

Adapt and Improve

Say you've successfully applied the mentioned strategy. It would be unwise not to follow up on everything you've learned. All the knowledge you've gained during the game boils down to one crucial thing: reviewing and improving your gameplay.

Lady Luck

Finally, you shouldn’t blame luck if you show up underprepared. Make sure to implement the "business plan," be patient, and you'll eventually become a pro at the poker table.