In poker, it’s not enough that you’re just playing. If you want to get better at the game, one of the things you should be doing is reviewing the poker session you just had. At the same time, it can be pretty hard to do so if you don’t know which aspects of your last session to assess. To help you out with that, here are some of the factors you should take a look at when conducting your review:
The Mistakes You Made
They are the most important things to consider when reviewing your poker session. By identifying your mistakes, you can learn from them and ensure not to repeat them in future sessions.
However, it is not enough to count your mistakes and then promise not to make them again. You also have to assess the impact of this mistake, whether it was avoidable, and what you should have done differently now that you know better. This way, you’re less likely to repeat the same mistake. At the same time, you won’t be beating yourself up over it.
The Wins
Of course, you also need to look at the hands and the money you won. It will give you an idea of what worked well for you, what strategies were effective, and whether and how you can replicate them in the future. Reviewing your wins can also help boost your confidence, which is essential in poker.
Your Win-Loss Ratio
It is another critical metric to look at when reviewing your last poker session. A win-loss ratio will give you a good idea of your overall success. If you have a higher win rate, that means you’re doing something right, and you should try to keep doing it. On the other hand, if your losses outweigh your wins, then that’s a sign that you need to make some changes.
Your Overall Performance
Aside from victories and losses, you should also look at your overall performance. How well did you play? Were there any areas where you could have improved? Was there anything that stood out to you, either good or bad? And lastly, were you satisfied with your last performance? Answering these questions will allow you to tweak your play style accordingly.
The Type of Hands You Played
When looking at your last poker session, it’s also essential to take note of the type of poker hands you played. Did you play too many marginal hands? Did you fold too often? Were you too aggressive or too passive? These are all things you should consider when trying to improve your game.
Your Betting Patterns
In addition to the type of hands you played, you should also look at your betting patterns. Did you make too many small bets? Did you make any large bets that you shouldn’t have? Were you too conservative or too reckless with your betting? The answer to these questions will help you calibrate your betting patterns in the next session.
The Money You Lost
Reviewing the money you lost will give you an idea of how much you can afford to lose in future sessions. It will also help you assess the impact of your mistakes. If you lost a lot of money due to one error, then that’s something you need to be careful about in future games. On the other hand, if your losses were small and manageable, that’s a good sign.
The Time You Spend Playing
It would help if you also looked at how much time you spend playing poker. If you find that you’re spending too much time on the game and it’s not something you’re not happy about, then that’s something you need to cut back on. Poker should be a fun hobby, not a job. So if it’s starting to feel like work, you need to take a step back and reassess your priorities.
On the other hand, if you feel like you should’ve played a few more games, then maybe you can do a longer poker session next time. It’s okay, provided that you’re not neglecting yourself, the people around you, and your career.
Your Emotional State
Your emotional state during your last poker session is also something you should look into. Poker is a game that requires a lot of mental discipline and control. Letting your emotions get the best will impact your decision-making and ultimately lead to bad decisions.
So, ask yourself the following questions: did you get emotionally affected negatively? How long did it last, and how did it affect your performance? Were you able to recover from it? And lastly, did you enjoy the last session or have different feelings about it?
Your Opponents
Finally, taking a step back and assessing your opponents can be helpful. Who were the better players at the poker table? Who did you have the most trouble with? Was there anyone who you consistently outperformed? Keep these players in mind for future sessions, as they can provide valuable insight into your game.
If you need to encounter more opponents, sign up at GGPoker, the world’s largest poker room. You won’t have trouble finding matches with thousands of online poker players across the globe.
The Bottom Line
When reviewing your last poker session, being honest with yourself is essential. Take a look at both the hands you won and the hands you lost. Identify the mistakes you made and try to learn from them. At the same time, please note what worked well for you and try to replicate it in future sessions. By doing all this, you can gradually improve your poker game and become a more successful poker player.
