| Think your way through all
situations. When things have gone badly, sit
there just as tough as when you first came
in. That can be very discouraging to other
players.
3. Respect your opponents
Try not to think you are better than you
are. Remember that you are only as good as
your last mistake. There is something to be
learned from every hand, whether you are in
it or not. Even bad players can teach you
something - like how to play against bad
players. Keep working on your faults and
patterns. It's all going to take much longer
than you think. Don't play your cards, play
your opponents.
4. Embrace Risk
Do not kid yourself about poker. There
may be more skill than luck in the game, but
there is still a lot of gambling involved,
particularly in tournaments. Don't become
too attached to your chips. In competitions
they are shrinking all the time as the
blinds go up, so put them into play and make
them work for you. Make sure that you
control risk, rather than it controlling
you.
5. Control your Impulses
Embracing risk doesn't mean going crazy.
Think every bet through, every time. Do not
ever play emotionally. If you find yourself
saying ' I end up with all my chips in and
don't know how they got there' , then you
are a victim of your own impetuosity.
6. Have Fun
Until the day comes when you decide its
time to go pro, you are playing the game to
enjoy yourself, so enjoy! Keep it light,
maintain your sense of humour and don't get
grumpy. You should work hard to improve your
game, but do it with a smile, not a
frown.
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