Patience, Principles & Discipline Three keys that open doors to the winners' circle
This past month I spoke at the Professional Poker Players’ Conference at The Foxwoods Resort and Casino in Connecticut. I spoke about some winning principles, patience and discipline. I wanted to make sure that I had a clear understanding of each, so I looked up the words for a clear definition.
1pa·tient adj From Middle English pacient, from Middle French, from Latin patient - from present participle of pati to suffer; 1 bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint 2: not hasty or impetuous 3: steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity.
It’s interesting that patience is derived from the word “to suffer”. Are you willing to suffer presently for future gain? Think of the most patient person you know and emulate them. Ask them how they do it. How do they sit and wait hour after hour when everyone else is in there gambling it up and having fun! Find the answer for yourself and apply it to your poker game. There is no quicker way to the rail than through loss of patience. Take pride in seeing how long you can go without playing a hand. Find your breaking point and then work from there to extend yourself. When you’ve broken through, you should find a sense of peace, along with some premium hands that somehow, now that you’re content to sit back and observe, suddenly appear!
prin·ci·ple noun Middle English, modification of Middle French principe, from Latin principium beginning, from princip-, princeps initiator. 1 a: a comprehensive and fundamental law, doctrine, or assumption b (1): a rule or code of conduct (2): habitual devotion to right principles <a man of principle>…
Continue the list on your own and take note when you lose a hand if you can see a breakdown in principle. Here are just a few examples of winning poker principles. Continue with the list, keep it close to your heart and hang onto them when you are faced with the adversity.
1. Big cards win over small cards
2. Always leave yourself an out (Don’t leave yourself
drawing dead.)
3. Don’t go broke on a draw
4. Don’t draw to a straight or flush with a paired
board
5. Don’t play mediocre hands out of position
6. Don’t slow play
7. Respect the game and your opponent
1dis·ci·pline noun Middle English, from Old French & Latin; Old French, from Latin disciplina teaching, learning, from discipulus pupil. 1: training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character 2 a: control gained by enforcing obedience or order b: orderly or prescribed conduct or pattern of behavior c: Self control 6: a rule or system of rules governing conduct or activity. self dis ·ci·pline: correction or regulation of oneself for the sake of improvement.
Moral character in poker? Yes, I believe that those that cheat the game are only cheating themselves. Eventually it will catch up with you. Those that do not strive to learn winning principles, maintain discipline and exhibit self-control will find it difficult, if not impossible, to win in the long run. Their “patterns of behavior” will catch up and their “vices” will leave them broke. Winners don’t cheat others or themselves, but maintain the high ground. They play “above the rim” as they say in basketball, exhibiting discipline, patience and self-control in the face of adversity. Challenge yourself.
Good Flops and Happy Days,
Kenna
