My Pre-Game Poker Routine: What I Do Before the First Hand

I used to jump straight into poker the moment I had some free time. No preparation, no plan. I'd just sit down, play and hope things went my way.

Over time, I realised that how I approach a session before the first hand can make a real difference.

I don't have a complicated routine but these are the few things I do before I play.

First, I clear my head. If I'm tired or distracted, I'm more likely to make decisions I eventually regret later.I'd rather take a few minutes to reset than bring the day's stress to the table.

Next thing I do is I take a few minute to review my previous sessions to see some of the mistakes I made, the bad decisions I could have avoided so I don't repeat the same mistake.

This saves me from losing more money.

Then finally, I set a strict budget, and decide my stop-loss before I even enter the game. If I don't do this, my emotions can easily take over and prompt me to start making bad decisions.

It's a simple routine, but it helps me start with a clearer mind. The mindset you bring to the table is as important as how you play.