Not everyone knows what "mindset" means or why it matters. Beyond the game's technical nature, some say a strong mental game is the last competitive edge. Which is more than how we react to a bad beat, or to mean players. This is foundational work we do in every hand because tilt never dies.
Live-cash poker is a beast of a game and many come to the table with baggage—trauma from one's personal history, weak competitive skills (true for some women thanks to gender barriers), and how we absorb financial loss. When we change our awareness, and focus on what we're thinking and feeling, more is possible as we learn to perform with greater insight. I invite you to treat this work as strategic and tactical. Because in the end, we play against ourselves.
The work starts with getting to know ourselves and reinventing belief systems. We’re trained to observe others, yet may ignore our own tripwires. Punitive "inside voices” may sabotage our play for a hand, a session, or several days, reflecting a fear of failure, even a fear of success. Performance-destroying thoughts take many forms. If, say, we make mistakes and feel shame, naturally we feel less composed and capable. "Imposture syndrome" is common early in our poker lives.
Unexamined mental habits rise in any sport. Before we know it, tilt happens and pain arrives more than we'd like. Joy disappears. Creative play is silent.
The slam-dunker within
Ideally we train with an athletic mindset. When you are aware and present (no phones, please), you lay the groundwork for a consistent A-game. Progress over time can mean different, or no, reaction to hard moments.
There’s a reason serious cash players perform optimally. Hand for hand, they get over the mental finish line more often because they've devoted countless hours getting better at it. I also know profitable players with years in the game, some at high stakes, who play through cycles of pain and physical act-out because they haven't made their mental game a priority. There’s nothing automatic about mind-fitness. It’s a set of muscles we grow. Poker games are the gym. Our mind must do the reps. Practice is all.
Mindset work in live cash
Based on years of study with poker mindset legend Tommy Angelo, I take inspiration from Buddhist principles which can deliver less pain and more focus. Beyond "stay calm and do the best you can," actionable mental-game strategies are not just for poker's elite. Mindset is a peeled onion whose layers require time to master. How well we know ourselves determines how we feel in every session.
There is a defined path to still the mind, get closer to our feelings, and slow the harder moments so the lines we take ultimately enhance results. Should you want to move beyond casual play, we can fine-tune how you reinvent your performance in areas that include:
- Detachment and patience
- Session length and quitting
- Bankroll and VPIP
- Tilt and table talk
- ROI and downswings
- Mum poker and info wars
- Avoiding "compare and despair"
- Practicing presence
- Observing and recording progress
Custom approach
Like snowflakes, no two players are alike. We will thoroughly investigate your stress points so we can identify weaknesses in mind-fitness that are holding you back.
There's nothing mysterious about learning to perform in superior ways. It starts with a willingness to engage yourself, and the game, differenty. As a start, I can suggest behavioral changes that can shift how you're feeling, judging, and reacting to your thoughts and your play.
I've studied the game for over a decade, and can suggest materials including books, videos, articles, podcasts, and streams. As a start, you might explore "Zen and the Art of Poker," a book I consider a masterwork in advanced mindset work.
Fees
Sessions are one hour and can be in person, on the phone, or via Zoom (recorded on request). I charge a competitive $100 hourly rate for individual training as plug-and-play, meaning no contracts. As a bonus, if you're in Vegas, we can share a game and I can observe your play.
Credentials
I teach live-cash strategies for NLHE. Privately and in major Strip casinos, I’ve played 1/2, 1/3, 2/5, and 5/5/25 games. I also play online, and have coached low-to-mid stakes NLHE players. I remain a passionate advocate for those curious about poker, especially women. I invite you to explore my journey under "Cards."
Let's connect
If you have questions, a first meet-and-greet consult is complimentary. Please reach out on the Contact page. For paid sessions, I will send a payment link once we book a time. I very much look forward to meeting you and sharing ideas about your poker ambitions!