Can you play poker professionally in 3 months or less. We wondered after seeing some advertisements. You’ve probably seen them. One claims that you can learn a language in three months. Another will help you overcome your fear of speaking in public in a week. Playing professional poker in 3 months should still be possible.
Before we got into poker, we first consulted some organizations behind the advertisements. For example, the language virtuoso Michael Youlden, who appears in Babbel’s advertisements, now speaks 20 languages. The second language, in addition to his mother tongue, may have been a challenge. After that it went quickly, he says. The trick is a system that allows him to learn a new language even in a week’s time.
Learning system
We can be very complicated about it, but we leave that to others. Youlden’s method is simple and can also be used for other learning needs. Buy a good book on the language and a dictionary. That is your basis. Make lists of words that belong together, such as numerals, auxiliary verbs and the like. You hang them on or near places where you are regularly, such as the toilet, the refrigerator, the TV sofa and the like.
Youlden also writes all kinds of texts on 3M-Post it. These are reminders of the lists, words he did not easily remember, sentences he wants to practice and more. During such a learning period, his house is full of 3M stickers.
Finally, collect magazines and audio recordings in the language you want to learn. You read the magazines, trying to better understand what you read. The audio recordings are mainly intended for pronunciation.
Maxwell Maltz
Of course there is much more to say about it. You probably think now, ‘yes, but that is a knowledge process. Professional poker or, for example, skiing are a different kind of skill ‘. That’s true. But in practice it does not seem to make much difference. Because skills can also be practiced in a handy way. The plastic surgeon Maxwell Maltz discovered this.
In 1960 Van Maltz’s book Psycho-Cybernetics was published. The book and its ideas have been (and are) reviled by scientists. We think that is justified. Because, like many other writers, Maltz built on his successful beginnings and made up all sorts of unnecessary things around it in his later books. But the essence of his information is correct. Practitioners tell this in the corridors and you can also hear it from top athletes and poker players who use the technique.
Psycho-Cybernetics
An example best describes the essence of that technique and immediately shows the practice. As you can use it when learning professional poker and skiing. Maltz had three groups of basketball players throw on a basket. They achieved an approximately equal score, for example 3 out of 20 throws. After that one team did nothing more, another started physically throwing the basket daily and a third group started psychological training. The latter group visualized them throwing the ball into the basket.
After two weeks, the first group still threw 3 out of 20 pitches. The other two groups, however, scored 16 out of 20 throws. Both had significantly improved their performance. That one group without actually playing physically. Sports trainers and many others now know that it works. You can train your physical skills, but also your muscles, through psychological work.
Bass technique and / or knowledge
Obviously, for example when skiing or golfing, you must know the basic technique. An experienced skier or golfer can tell and show you this. That basis often turns out to be simple in practice. When working on playing professional poker in 3 months, you naturally start with the rules of the game. After all, they form the starting point of the game.
After the basic technique and / or knowledge you can get started. You can then use the above methods for playing poker. So collecting information, reading, taking notes and the like. And visualize that you are a great poker player. Make it a film in your mind where you practice what you have learned at a poker table or cabinet.
To dream
Dreaming is an extension of visualization. You visualize more or less consciously. With dreams, the knowledge that you acquired works unconsciously. You can of course be someone who says ‘I never dream’. However, according to sleep scientists, everyone dreams, except you may not remember it. If it doesn’t help, it doesn’t harm, we think in this case.
There is a method to make your dreams more emphatic in professional poker in 3 months. To do this, you simply have to read your notes or visualize a bit shortly before you go to sleep. When your brain begins your recovery, which sleep is for, it takes that last information with it. At the end of the sleep cycle, at the final REM stage, you may be dreaming of your poker winnings.
BS (bullshit)
You might dismiss the above as nonsense. We can only say that it works. For example, for professional poker in 3 months you must of course persevere. Don’t say it doesn’t work after a week. That is the biggest problem with people who want to learn something, they drop out too quickly.
The Dutch turn out to be good at this. Did you know there in the Netherlands per capita most ‘help yourself’ – books are sold? But that it is also the country where these books are read least per capita!
Professional poker in 3 months
There are several professional poker players using the above or similar methods. And still use. For example Dutch Boyd is clear about it. He has won several World Series of Poker titles. Boyd confirms that any ‘normal’ person can be a professional poker player in a short time.
Playing is the least important in this regard, he notes. Or as important as reading books, studying videos on training DVDs and sites, watching poker matches, taking notes and rereading them. So applying the learning method described above.
Talent and limitations
Boyd does have a reservation. To become a good professional poker player you also need to have some talent, he says. We mainly think of those extras that distinguish you from ‘normal’, such as having a math knack. But even without an exceptional natural ability, you can become a distinctive greatness.
In general, of course, you shouldn’t have any limitations that get in the way of what you want to learn. For example, without legs it is difficult to play football. And so there are certain limitations in poker, unfortunately somewhat less visible, making the top inaccessible. Or making the game impossible to even play at an acceptable level.
Professional
Boyd makes another comment that we would like to take into account when looking at professional poker in 3 months. After all, what is professional? In some environments it means playing at a high level, in others it means being maintained by a sponsor or being able to support yourself with what you do.
In principle, we assume above playing at a high level. There is more to being able to make a living from poker. Boyd points to the bank advantage, which means that most regular players lose. According to him, the majority of professional players only just stay above the line. They should stop and play just for fun. But that is an other story.
