Your 2011 Poker Resolutions

by Bodog Poker | Jan 3 2010

Deke sits down with the Bodog pros to talk about their plans to play better in 2011 and offers of his own observations about their new directions.

With the holidays safely behind us and 2011 now officially underway, it's now time to do more than make resolutions: it's time to follow through with them.  If you're an online poker player, of course, you're likely to have made a few promises to yourself about your game and professional players are no different.  I was lucky enough to get to talk to Bodog pros Amanda Musumeci and Evelyn Ng about their plans to play better in 2011.

Evelyn's always been a bit different than the rest of the pack. “I don't really make resolutions in the traditional sense,” she says. “but I just try to adhere to certain changes I'd like to make and me more conscious of them.”  Her plans for 2011 include “playing more poker (both online and in real-world tournaments), start exercising regularly, continue being a non-smoker, eating less processed foods and drinking less soda” and one item that stands out: “keeping my apartment clean.” 

This last item is interesting, because it may seem unrelated to the game, it actually makes sense for online poker players to consider.  Distractions in your playing environment are something that can be controlled with a minimum amount of work and their removal allows you to focus on what's important when you are playing, whether it's an online poker tournament or a quick cash game after work.

Amanda's using the new year as a way to start leading a healthier lifestyle, another thing that's proven to help many people play better poker.  Her plans include moving away from caffeine and sugar as crutches for focus and energy while playing the game. This, when combined with regular exercise, a consistent sleep schedule, and all-around better nutrition, including “keeping to a diet that provides for more prolonged energy, rather than binging and crashing on fat, sugar, and caffeine.”

Amanda's advice is something that's actually worked well for myself – I hit an age milestone this year and decided to make some serious changes to my diet and exercise regimen and I found that an hour of cardio every other day, combined with some light weights and a better diet that was less boil-in-the-bag and more –steamed-with-some-rice helped me get my energy reserves to where they should be at all times.  I won't lie, I still drink my two cups of coffee every morning, but spending an hour that I'd normally be wasting on the internet and using that to get the blood pumping again helped me get energy and focus back into my daily routine.

What are your 2011 plans for yourself? How can they help your poker game? If you've not made any yet, it's not too late to get started. Take a look at Evelyn and Amanda's advice and see how it can apply to you!

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