4 month reflection

The end of April marks the fourth month since starting on my poker journey. 

I have concentrated my studies well, trying to remain focused on what it is I'm trying to achieve. 

There's no point dabbling in poker. If I'm going to study this game then I'm only going to go all the way, making sacrifices to push myself, further than any past endeavor in my life. 

Some days I'm not at all sure what I've managed to take into my head, what I've managed to compound, but then I'll go for a walk after being at my desk for 5 hours straight and I'll have an insight that suggests that maybe all this work is having some impact after all.

I guess I'm following the exact same path walked by many before me. Begin with a goal, tremendous desire, and determination. I'm compounding the basics and fundamentals of poker into my mind. Except that I'm trying to ignite my mind into a thinking poker mind rather than a mechanical methodical mind.

It is hard work, there's no doubt about that. But then again so is computer programming except I have no interest in learning that.  There has to be one thing in life that you decide right this is something I'm going to excel at, whether it be playing the guitar and music composition, or creative writing and producing a novel. Either of those endeavors if one has the passion and talent can be the basis for a life long career. 

There has never been an area of my life where I've pushed myself hard enough so that I grow beyond my comfort zone. I've decided that I'm going to make poker my breakthrough. 

The most difficult concept I've encountered in this poker discovery stage is hand combinations and some of the tougher mathematical formula. I haven't been taught algebra, and trying to self-learn is difficult. Apart from that I understand the fundamentals so far. 

Believing in probability, pot odds, and equity value concepts

The reason we think in terms of pot equity, and pot odds is because good poker strategy exploits long-term probability. For example 2 outs at the flop requires pot odds of 14 to 1 in order to break even. Making these types of calls will earn money long-term as long as you utilize the odds correctly because probability theory will work out correctly in the end. The 13 times you lose in this example is offset by the one time you win, and therefore break even (make a call at greater than break even odds to make a profit).


lose - lose - lose - lose - win - lose - lose - lose - lose - lose - lose - lose - lose - lose 


Sticking to the correct strategy requires clarity, and belief in the truth of probability theory, and maybe also a little courage in the face of a string of losses.