New Year, New Challenges

I’m not really one for making New Year’s resolutions. I’m sure it works great for some people, but typically when people make them they spend a week or two plugging their life leak before reverting back to their old ways. That being said for some people having a fresh start is a good way to start altering their mind set and fixing some errors they’re making in their lives. Personally I just try to make good decisions based on the information available. I don’t need the clock to tick over to a new year to be able to do this. I take this approach to everything in life, whether it be trying to win an argument with the lovely Emma about picking out the living room furniture (who wouldn’t want a rocking, reclining and spinning comfy chair in their living room) or the best way to approach a hand. Good, well thought out decisions lead to better outcomes long term. My good decision by the way is to agree to whatever suite she wants, wait till she goes out and then pray she doesn’t notice the giant chair I’ve placed in the middle of the living room.
All the people making and breaking their New Year’s resolutions for the past few weeks had me thinking about what the biggest leaks poker players have. Professionals and aspiring players alike share many of the same leaks and I’m guilty of more than a few of them myself.
Food and alcohol are two of the biggest life leaks I see that people have that affect their game at the table. I know I’m useless at everything if I’m hungry, and I’ve definitely spewed more than a few chips at the table because I had missed a meal. For you fellow Scientists out there the brain uses 60% of the glucose in our diet (JM Berg et al 2002). That’s a lot of fuel needed to keep your head working correctly during the game.
Alcohol is probably the easiest avoided leak at the table, not just abstaining during the tournament itself but the night before also. Anyone who says they can play still play their best game while hung over is just kidding themselves.
Skimping on the hotel budget is a leak I intend never to have again, not after the hooker incident at The Quad in Las Vegas. That was the last straw in terms of that little leak. Needless to say a sound night’s sleep uninterrupted by ladies with questionable morals knocking at the door is a must for tournament poker. And no, not interrupted in that way you dirty dirty reader.
Poker players who get involved in table games like roulette or blackjack puzzle me greatly. I see players who play well and otherwise make good decisions squander their money on these games. Don’t give me wrong if you spin £100 and get the equivalent amount of enjoyment for your money it’s not a leak at all, but I only know 1 person in the whole world who can lose money and still remain just as happy as she had been before she played. My mum is always happy. If she could teach that skill I’d be a better player for sure. If you catch a player playing a table game either before the start of the tournament or at the break then it is fair to say the outcome of their session will alter their mindset and hence how they play once they get to the poker table. More often than not they will lose and typically this will translate into them playing a more gambling style chasing their losses.
The biggest leak a player can have is to stop actively improving their game. Stagnation is recession in the poker world. The best resources I can recommend at the moment are the training videos that Jason Somerville is currently releasing on a regular basis. If you haven’t heard of his “Run it up” challenge, turning $50 into $10,000 then I strongly suggest finding and watching these videos and incorporating some of Jason’s plays into your own game, I know I’m a better player for it.
As I write this I’m just days away from travelling to my first tournament of 2014 as the EPT makes its way to Deauville in the north of France. I’m très excited to be back to the felt after a really nice break over Christmas and New Year. After two years playing the tournament circuit professionally I’m ranked 100th in England’s all-time money list and I’m excited to see if I can improve upon that in 2014. ♠

After spending a year sponsored by Paddy Power Poker through their Sole Survivor promotion, Ian Simpson went on to win the 2013 Irish Poker Open to take home €265,000 euros. He currently plans on doing some work in schools in between travelling the tournament circuit and writing for Card Player Magazine. You can find him on twitter @IanSimpsonPoker