As a recreational poker player, you likely find yourself caught between the excitement of playing and the desire to improve your poker game.
Whether your goal is to go pro one day, make some extra money or simply to enhance your enjoyment of the game, effective study strategies can significantly boost your performance at the tables.
Today I'm going to explore how to organise your study time efficiently, helping you strike the right balance between playing and learning.
Let's dive in...
Make Every Minute Count
Most recreational poker players allocate only 1 to 5 hours per week for studying.
With lives filled with work and family responsibilities, it can be challenging to fit any more than that into your busy schedule.
So the first step is recognising that limitation.
If 1-5 hours is what you've got to work with, then you've got to make the most of that time.
Set aside dedicated time each week where you can study uninterrupted.
You'll find that focused study for 1 hour will beat haphazard, sporadic study any day of the week.
Prioritise your study time and make the most of those precious hours.
In Step 7 of my 7-Step “Set Yourself Up for Success” System for Tournament Poker Players I talked about the importance of planning your next study session at the end of each playing session.
Knowing what you want or need to study beforehand protects your study time and ensures you get the most out of it.
Keep Your Focus
When you do study, encourage yourself to focus your study efforts on areas where you struggle the most.
This means identifying your leaks and making a plan to fix them.
Then sticking to the plan.
Additionally, consider how your study time aligns with the types of tournaments you play—whether it's Vanilla MTTs, Progressive Knockouts (PKOs) or satellites.
Allocating time proportionately to these areas will make your study more relevant and effective.
PKOs make up over 50% of most online schedules now, so you should be spending at least 50% of your study time on improving your understanding of PKOs.
If you play 50% PKOs, 35% vanilla MTTs and 15% satellites then your study time on these different formats should look the same.
Balancing Act
If you’re a winning player, I want you to prioritise playing over studying.
However, if you're struggling to break even or you're currently a losing player, it’s time to shift the balance towards studying.
Einstein apparently said, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results."
If you're not winning, or making as much as you want, then something has to change.
This doesn’t mean abandoning play altogether; rather, it’s about getting the necessary reps in at the table while improving your skills through study and training.
Building Consistent Study Habits
Encouraging consistent study habits is key to long-term improvement.
Instead of studying sporadically, aim to establish a regular routine.
This might involve dedicating a certain time each day or week specifically for poker study.
Setting small, achievable goals for each session can also help maintain your motivation.
Remember, the more consistently you study, the more your game will improve, leading to better results at the tables.
Summary
Organising your study time as a recreational poker player involves understanding your goals, managing your time effectively and focusing your study on the areas that will have the most impact.
By prioritising your study habits and making them a regular part of your routine, you’ll find that not only will your playing improve, but your overall enjoyment of the game will increase as well.
Remember, every hour spent studying is an investment in becoming the player you aspire to be.
So, embrace the learning process, and watch your tournament poker game—and your bankroll—grow!
That's it for this week.
See you next time.
Whenever you're ready, here's how I can help you:
The Final Table: Play your best poker when the most is at stake. Detailed analysis of over 100 hand examples at different stages of play. Learn how to make great decisions every time and set yourself up for daily progress.
Poker On The Mind: Listen to my podcast with Dr Tricia Cardner as we discuss peak poker performance and tournament poker strategy.
Train & Play Like The Pros: Join my signature programme that will take you from amateur to training and playing like the pros in the next 12 weeks.
Purposeful Practice for Poker: Gain a clear theoretical understanding of the science of purposeful practice and how you can apply it to your poker study & training. Includes specific exercises designed to create an infallible plan for poker improvement.
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