Apart from needing bucket-loads of patience, optimum poker also involves a huge dose of discipline both at and away from the table. Before we go into the ground-rules of what's required while we play at the table (which we'll postpone for a later post), we'll first record the aims and objectives that are needed away from the table for the time being. The details below are not really categories that fall under a "business plan" as such but do highlight the five main areas that are vital for success when considering playing live poker for a living.
Diet
Out need to go the sugary and fatty snacks along with the processed foods. There'll be a dramatic reduction in burgers, crisps, biscuits, cakes, and desserts etc. My aim is to go for three meals a day consisting of vegetables and healthy ingredients with fish being thrown in now and again or, failing that, A regime that's as close to that as possible. Fruit will be the only option when it comes to in-between snacks. Playing sans alcohol goes without saying so the routine of water only at the table - with a maximum of two coffees - will remain firm. At other times it'll be tomato juice and fruit juice with the occasional coffee and water.
Exercise
I'll be jogging around the circumference of my local park (one and a half miles) for three to four times per week. (This is looking like it'll increase to an extended two to two and a half miles in total as I'm getting more into it.) I'll keep to my routine of walking for 15 minutes to the venue when I arrive for a poker session. On the days I don't jog or play poker, I'll need to make sure I get out of the house and do some form of exercise.
Study
Studying is vital to keep up with the leaders in this ever-evolving game. Personally, I find the videos of Bart Hanson to be sparkling diamonds when it comes to tackling live poker and my aim will be to study four or five of his videos per week. On top of this, I'll attempt to fit in around six hours of reading. This will include works from the following reading list...
How To Read Hands at No Limit Hold 'Em by Ed Miller
Playing the Player by Ed Miller
Poker Plays You Can Use by Doug Hill
Red Chip Poker by Doug Hill et al
Easy Game by Andrew Seidman
Reading Poker Tells by Zachary Elwood
Keeping track of the 2+2 forums and tackling hands from the Insta Poker app will also be a necessary part of my studying routine.
Days
Choosing the right time to play is a strategy in itself when it comes to looking for an edge. Casual and recreational players in full-time employment play in the evenings. For practical reasons, Friday and Saturday are the days when these players choose to play. The action does tend to build from Thursday with Sundays also being quite popular with the tourists on some occasions.
Therefore, from Monday to Wednesday I've decided to play just once or twice per week (depending on how well I feel). From Thursday to Sunday I'll play three or four times per week. Again, this will depend on how things are going but I envisage these days to generally be easier and, hopefully, more friendly on the wallet. Overall, I'll be playing 4-6 days per week.
I've decided not sit for any longer than 30-40 minutes at a tough table. This doesn't necessarily have to be versus tricky opponents, just tables where I feel it's not +EV for me.
Hours
An hourly winrate of £15ph seems to be the figure bandied about by the experts when it comes to £1/£2 live cash-game poker. With an absolute minimum monthly-nut of around £1600 - £1800, I'll need to put in around 120 hours a month which is roughly 30 hours per week. Now in poker you're not paid a sustained, cosy regular rate so at times I know I'll need to put in anything from around 30 to 50 hours per week. No worries: after working the nightmare that is full-time teaching, putting in 40-50 hours a week playing a game I love sounds like heaven!!
I intend to travel into central London at around 7PM to 8PM and to play into the night up until around 6AM the next morning if need be. I'll be driving into central London by car - I have grown to detest public transport - and will travel when the congestion charge doesn't apply. (Another positive about playing live cash-game poker for a living.) Of course, I may only need to put in a four or five hour session but it all depends on how things are going. Sometimes it's necessary to keep your butt on the chair to wait for your moment. I'll also endeavour to qualify for The Empire cash-race MTT freeroll which takes place on the first Sunday of the month.
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Thus ends the aims and objectives that I'll be putting in place while away from the table. In my next post I'll record the 10-point plan that I'll put into place while at the tables.
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