"Winning the Long Game: Why Consistency is Key in Poker and Life"
Winning the Long Game: Why Consistency is Key in Poker and Life
In poker, success is often seen through the lens of big wins or incredible hands that turn the tide of a game. But real, long-term success comes from something far more valuable than luck or a single moment of brilliance—it's all about consistency.
Introduction:
Balancing a full-time job, a dog, study, fitness, and a healthy relationship while still making time for poker isn'’t easy—but for me, poker is a serious commitment. It'’s a passion that fits into my busy life because I'’ve built a routine that prioritizes consistency and improvement over everything else.
Every morning from 5:30 to 8:00 AM (except Thursdays due to work), you'll find me grinding the 200 Blitz tables on ACR. As a former PLO player transitioning into No Limit Hold'em, I've embraced a structured approach to improving my game. I do at least 2,500 drills on GTO Wizard every week and review every single pot from my session that’s bigger than 6bb. Consistency is my goal—whether it’s in how I study, review hands, or post daily threads to track my progress.
For me, poker isn’t about chasing a quick win—it’s about developing a steady, disciplined game that leads to long-term success. In this post, I want to share what I’ve learned about how consistency can transform your results at the table and why it’s crucial for anyone serious about poker improvement. Whether you’re an experienced player or just getting started, I hope my journey can inspire you to focus on building a consistent, sustainable approach to the game.
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Day 1:
The first day in the Pool, I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. Waking up at 5:00 AM, logging onto ACR, and grinding the 200 Blitz tables before most people had even started their day—it is a challenge, but it is necessary. That morning, I focused on sticking to my game plan. I wasn’t chasing short-term results, but rather building habits that would pay off in the long run.
Fast forward to today’s session, and it’s a reminder of just how much this journey requires mental resilience. The first half of my morning session went smoothly, but as the second half rolled in, variance hit hard. I faced a string of tough spots where my opponents consistently bluffed me with gutshot draws into my sets—and, unfortunately, got there multiple times in a row. It was one of those stretches where everything feels like it’s slipping away, and it’s tough to stay focused when luck isn’t on your side.
In moments like these, it would be easy to get frustrated or tilt, but that’s where consistency comes into play. Even though I ended up with a break-even session, I’m proud of how I maintained my composure. Accepting the ups and downs is part of the process, and today, I stayed focused on my long-term goal of improvement rather than letting short-term variance affect me. I feel good about my overall game and, more importantly, about my mental state. I stayed balanced, patient, and focused—qualities that are essential to achieving long-term success in poker.
Results:
Following!
Trying to improve my routine on a daily basis as well. Got rid off a ton off bad habits and replaced them with good ones (for or thanks to poker, not sure)
Mental game is often overlooked but imo priority number one!
GLGL!!
Following!
Trying to improve my routine on a daily basis as well. Got rid off a ton off bad habits and replaced them with good ones (for or thanks to poker, not sure)
Mental game is often overlooked but imo priority number one!
GLGL!!
"Thanks for following! It's great to hear you're working on your routine and replacing bad habits with good ones. I completely agree—mental game is crucial for success in poker. If you haven't already, check out The Mental Game of Poker; it's been a game changer for me. ( free PDF available i think )
Wishing you the best of luck in your journey! Let’s keep pushing for improvement together!"
Care to share with us why you transitioned from PLO to NLHE?
I would recommend mixing in some regular tables with recreationals which help boost your winrate. Grinding 200blitz pool might be an easy and smooth grind, esp. if you're addicted to the action and constant clicking but it won't be the most profitable but to each their own.
Good luck, and I like your approach of treating it as a slow but consistent grind. 😃
Care to share with us why you transitioned from PLO to NLHE?
I would recommend mixing in some regular tables with recreationals which help boost your winrate. Grinding 200blitz pool might be an easy and smooth grind, esp. if you're addicted to the action and constant clicking but it won't be the most profitable but to each their own.
Good luck, and I like your approach of treating it as a slow but consistent grind. 😃
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"Good question! I transitioned from PLO to NLHE mainly due to limited options. Since I can only play on ACR or PokerStars, and there’s no rakeback on Stars in my country, PLO traffic on ACR just isn’t high enough to make it worthwhile. That pushed me toward NLHE, where there’s more consistent action, and I can focus on building my win rate.
I also really enjoy the dynamics of Blitz. It fits perfectly with my schedule since I have a limited window to play each day. The ability to start and quit a session quickly is a huge benefit for me, especially with everything else I balance outside of poker.
That said, my goal is to keep improving and move up in stakes eventually, which will require me to play regular tables anyway. I’m focused on learning and progressing as fast as possible while maintaining consistency.
I appreciate the suggestion about mixing in regular tables. It’s definitely something I’ll incorporate as I move forward. Thanks again for the input, and good luck with your grind as well!"
♥
Day 2: Consistency Doesn't Take a Day Off
Thursday is the only day of the week where I’m not grinding at the tables in the morning, and that’s because I sleep at work. My job requires me to be up at 7 a.m. to wake up some kids, so while I’m not home, that doesn’t mean I skip my routine. Consistency is key, and I’m still up at 5 a.m.—even on Thursdays!
During my 5 to 7 a.m. window, instead of playing, I dedicate this time to studying GTO drills. I don’t play at work because the environment doesn’t allow me to focus as well, but I make the most of this time to review my sessions, search for leaks, and create new drills to work on later. It’s all part of staying consistent and improving even when I’m away from the felt.
Whether it’s a full session or studying my game, the goal remains the same—progress. And that means sticking to the routine, no matter where I am.
Today i focus on RFI vs SB 3B from any position, since i found myself in some spots where i wasn't a 100% certain what to do preflop yesterday:
And i prepare my latest session for the review:
Day 3: Testing the Waters at 100NL on Stars
Today, I switched things up by playing 100NL Zoom on PokerStars instead of my usual 200NL Blitz on ACR. The difference in skill level was surprising. The 100NL Zoom pool on Stars feels much softer compared to the 200NL pool on ACR Blitz. The competition seemed less intense, and the dynamics were easier to navigate, which allowed me to focus more on exploiting weaker spots.
It’s a good reminder that while consistency is key, being open to new environments can reveal opportunities to maximize value. Every session is a learning experience, and sometimes a change in perspective brings new insights.
100NL on Stars:
