How I Make Money

Things continue here at the WSOP. I’ve been playing well, I think, but have yet to have a big score. The cash games continue to be good, so a few nights a week I’m playing the mixed games, which usually include some version of Badugi, Triple-draw lowball, and Omaha Hi/Lo.

I know that a lot of people who play casually wonder how skilled you have to be to make it as a pro. Well, I’ve been playing professionally for almost fifteen years, and I’ve become pretty skilled with cards. I think I play the Hi/Lo games especially well. But the fact is, that many of the people I play with have similar levels of talent. So how is it that I’m able to win consistently over a decade and a half while playing against people who are equally good?

The short answer is that I’ve got good command of my emotions. I don’t tilt easily, and if I do tilt a little, I do it quietly, then I leave the table and go home.

The guys I play against really steam. They take a beat or fail to make a draw and all of a sudden they’re playing terribly. It may not last long – fifteen minutes or maybe a half-hour. But really, it’s in those periods when I make my living.

You can get a lot of poker advice from a lot of places. There are all kinds of books, and you should read as much as you can. But as far I’m concerned, the most important thing that most players can do to improve their results is to get hold of their emotions.

Just some food for thought.