Online Poker: Pastime or Profit?

Do you play online poker for the fun of playing, or in order to try and make a profit? Most people would say that they play for both reasons, but unless an individual focuses squarely on the bottom line, they could be doing themselves a great disservice.

The problem with playing poker for fun is that it encourages you to relax, which in turn could make you less attentive and focused. It could also make you more likely to have an alcoholic drink or two as you play - something that increases the chances of you making mistakes of judgement and losing money as a result. This is not to say that online poker isn't fun, because it often is. But if we set out with fun as our main aim we will always make financial success at the poker tables more difficult that it needs to be.

If you think about other competitive games, you will realise that performance is always better when one takes the game seriously and plays to win. Whether it's a game of squash, tennis, football or even chess, those that excel then to be those who play in earnest, and not simply to pass the time of day or hang out with friends. Online poker players would do well to learn from this, and to resolve to put their focus on winning and making money rather than just having a good time. There are three tips we can give you to help you do just that:

1 - Limit Your Play

The best way to play poker for profit is to limit yourself to the number of games you play. Rather than playing for extended periods in order to play several games and have fun, consider playing just one game and only allowing yourself to play a second if you make the bubble in the first. This will help you to focus your attention on performing well in the first game, and increase your chances of succeeding.

2 - Review Your Performance

Just because you play to win doesn't mean that you will always win. And just because you win doesn't mean that you have necessarily played very well. Get into the habit of spending a little time after every online poker session reviewing your performance. Be honest with yourself and identify the mistakes you made and the things you could have done better. Then resolve to learn from those flaws in order to improve your chances in the future.

3 - Set A Goal

Having a goal for your online poker is a great way of sharpening your focus and keeping your mind on playing well, so set a goal today. It could be something modest, such as making £10 a week profit from your online poker gaming. Or if that is too easy, you could aim to make £200 a week. Or your goal could simply be to finish in the money more than 50% of the time. Whatever your personal outcome, having it clearly identified is sure to help you concentrate more and thereby improve your performance.