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Introduction

In this article

• Virtues of a good poker player
• Finding a good balance

Patience

Patience in poker has several aspects:

• Waiting for a good starting-hand (strict obedience of the starting hands chart).
• Waiting to win a pot. Players who have not won a pot for a longer time often start making weak calls and can't fold losing hands.
• Be patient in climbing up the limits. Don’t put yourself under pressure. Simply keep playing according to the bankroll management.

Discipline

Being successful in poker is closely connected with discipline and sticking to bankroll management, time management, and detailed study of the poker theory. Discipline is also needed to control the emotions that might come up during the game.

Composure

If you learn to accept bad beats, downswings and defeats as a part of poker, you are on your way to become a good poker player. You should eliminate excessive anger, frustration and disheartenment. Learn to stay calm or at least calm down quickly.

Diligence

If you have read all important poker books you should read them a second and a third time.

Objectivity

Being too pleased with yourself leads to stagnation. Even good players have miscellaneous leaks that need to be fixed. The ambition of becoming perfect defines the champion. PokerTracker is a useful tool if you want to detect your leaks. Objectivity also means finding out which limit suits you.

Courage

In the end, poker is a fight with winners and losers. Effective bluffs and brave value bets belong to the repertoire of an expert. Permanent fear that you might be playing against the nuts will harm your game. Anyone who is too weak-spirited will not be able to celebrate the perfect tight-aggressive style.

Spirit

You should accept fate. Only if you accept the variance of probability, you will be able to deal well with bad beats and will not be influenced in any negative way. Being a sportsman and not insulting your opponents is part of being a good overall player.

Rationality

Respect for money and the strict compliance of the bankroll management enables financial success with poker. Gamblers are economically irrational. Thus, they are our customers.

Being concentrated

Sometimes you have to make highly complex decisions. You have to be focused on your game play. Even if you have folded your starting hand, you should still observe the rest of the hand. Being focused on the game, no matter of how long you might be playing, is an important ability. If you feel uncomfortable after a while, you definitely should take a break.

Strong Nerves

If you have put lots of money into the pot, you require nerves of steel. If you actually relish tense and suspenseful situations, it is all the better.

Modesty

Many pros have one thing in common: They learned humbleness because of the many downswings they went through. In times of success, they are aware of the next downswing. If you are still new to poker, you shouldn't let yourself be blinded by success at the early stages.

Next article: Downswing - a psychological consideration