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Beyond pot odds and opening ranges, I believe poker training should start with managing our state of mind as we learn to play one of the most difficult people games ever invented.
Some new players like short cuts, and love the sexy idea of "big calls and big bluffs." Likewise, 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.
Live-cash poker is a beast and many come to the table with baggage—trauma from our personal history, weak competitive skills (true for some women thanks to gender barriers), and how we absorb loss. When we shift awareness, and focus on thoughts and feelings, more is possible as we learn to perform with greater insight. I invite you to treat this work as foundational. In the end, we play against ourselves, and tilt never dies.
The work starts with reinventing belief systems. We’re trained to watch 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, 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, pain arrives, joy disappears.
The slam-dunker within
Ideally we train with an athletic mindset. When you are fully present (no phones, please), you lay the groundwork for a consistent A-game.
There’s a reason serious cash players often 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, some at higher stakes, who play through cycles of pain and physical act-out because their mental game isn't a priority. There’s nothing automatic about mind-fitness. It’s a set of muscles we grow. Poker games are the gym. Our minds do the reps. Practice is all.
Mindset work in live cash
Based on my years of working with mental-game legend Tommy Angelo, I take inspiration from Buddhist principles which can deliver less pain and more creativity. 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 explore and master.
There is a defined path to still the mind, get closer to our feelings, and slow the tougher moments so we feel more in control and the lines we take enhance results. Should you want to move beyond casual play, we can fine-tune how you reinvent your performance in areas that include:
- Breath work and practicing presence
- 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"
Custom approach
Like snowflakes, no two players are alike. We will investigate your stress points so we can identify weaknesses in mind-fitness that hold 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 also 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. PLEASE NOTE: My early Black Friday sale starts now and runs to December 31st, 2025. New clients will receive a 20% discount on hourly fees for the first two sessions.
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!