Motivation to learn

It's hard to get excited about dry theory. How to get motivated to learn?

Welcome to my article about the motivation to learn.

I know from my own experience that it is especially hard for Bronze members to get excited about dry theory. The tables are luring, yet the prospect of making real money is still far away.

I was like that also. I could easily spend six hours at a table, but if there was one article I was supposed to read, I pretty much did everything in order to postpone the reading. I discovered the sample hand forums not until more than half a year had passed.

On certain limits it is difficult to get motivated for the money, especially since the road to a decent hourly wage is long. And surely not certain for many of you.

Possibility 1: For the game itself

Poker is a very complicated game, and every little success you achieve from studying can shortly turn into profit. I started to enjoy thinking about new lines and analyzing concepts. Many of you will read this and think: But playing is what I enjoy! Very good, because that's the first step.

Now imagine poker was something like soccer. A beginner certainly enjoys running around uncoordinated with a ball, and to hit the ball strongly, yet sort of aimlessly. You would also enjoy mastering an overhead kick, however, and a good cross on your part would also make you happy.

That's why not only the playing of the game should be fun, but also the improvement of our game.

No one should of course jump of joy when reading a strategy article. But to be able to see how one's game starts getting better and better is wonderful, and it surely can make you happy. The raise in the limits will give you additional reassurance, and in the end the improvement of your skills will sell itself.

Possibility 2: Strict intention

This refers to strict intention to make good money. You often hear: Only a few reach the top and make good money. Do not get motivated through material advancement and so forth...

Not everyone will reach 20/40 FL or NL600 of course, but lets look at the reasons why some players reach it.

Something I strictly decline is the idea that variance, meaning good or bad luck, plays any role in the advancement or the failure of a player.

I believe that the question whether a player is successful or not depends on four basic preconditions.

Preconditions for a successful player:

• Intelligence and respectively talent

This is a basic condition in poker. You have to be able to understand abstract (theoretic) concepts and use them in different situations. This is simply necessary to become truly successful.

• A will to learn and disposition to invest time

Now we probably reached the most important point. Anyone who isn't willing to invest time or who is not willing to learn, will not get far. It is just like soccer, chess, or any other activity which you do numerous times. If you aren't willing to practice or to learn, you just won't make it. No expert has ever fallen out of heaven.

• Psychological strength

This is a condition which pretty much counts as talent. Nevertheless I find it important enough to allow it to be a single item. Even if you play well, as poker player you are always subject to variance. If I play my A-game for example, it is still normal on my limit to lose $500 during one game (one to two hours). Despite this, I still win money on average. It is important to get motivated by good decisions, and not by the amount of money you win in a day.

• The willingness to use the propositions made here

This point might sound funny at first. Yet many do not follow this advice! Your capabilities will not improve if you do not let anyone help you. PokerStrategy offers many different forms of aid so that pretty much every type of learner will find something that meets his/her demands.

How do I best use what PokerStrategy is offering?

Strategy articles

You have to be careful that you keep reading. A strategy article might increase your knowledge immensely and should therefore be read. If there is something you don't understand, don't be afraid to ask questions. You have the chance to have these questions answered.

Strategy- / discussion forums

These are available for Fixed Limit and No Limit. Content workers and moderators are encouraging and helping with discussions among users. This will help you a lot: So don't be shy but try it!

Coachings

Coaches are experienced players who are able to share their knowledge with you. You can learn more about how the coaching system works in the coaching area. You can find it here.
There is hardly anything more effective for a beginner than coachings.

Sample hand forums

We hired co-workers for the simple purpose of dealing with your hands. Use this offer! But I want to add the following: Try to ask many questions and abstract the answers into concepts. Therefore, if a professional who is judging hands says something like "raise turn": Ask why! His purpose is to answer your questions » keep him busy.

There is of course a lot more o explore such as the instructional sample hands, coaching videos, etc.

It is important that you understand the following: If things don't go the way you want them to, you can change something yourself in almost any case.

That's why you should learn learn learn. It is the key to success!

On this note:
Good luck at the tables!

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