Youtube: The Poker Mindset Lab: Boost Your Poker Performance with Expert Mindset Coaching

This video is about how visualisation can help to build mental resilience and ultimately boost your win rate.

When we prepare through visualisation our mind cannot tell the difference between it and reality, therefore we can prepare in advance for potentially challenging scenarios.

If you want to learn more then check out the video

Interested in mindset related discussion for poker? We have a new discord community where you can do just that: https://discord.gg/FqsRDwkJZn

Not sure if it is me but all I keep getting is this on your video

Same here, GL with your channel though.

Turns out I didn't read the sticky. Should work now.

Here is the first video on vision:

And here is the second video on visualisation:

Here in our recent video you can learn how to master your emotions and think clearly at the poker table. Does the experience of being emotionally charged resonate with you?

We asked our community what they found most challenging in poker and they said "Dealing with variance".

We have created a multi part series on how to deal with variance and the first episode is live.

This is a re-recording of a recent masterclass for your viewing pleasure. I encourage you to pause to reflect on any questions that can help you understand the topic and yourself a little beter.

Any questions related to this video I will be happy to answer.

Daniel

The Locus of Control

We’ve all heard the advice: "Focus on what you can control." But in poker, that can feel impossible. How can we focus when bad beats, cold decks, or tough table draws leave us tilting? The answer lies in a concept called the 'locus of control.'

Psychologists define the locus of control as the degree to which people believe they control their own lives. Those with an internal locus believe they are responsible for their outcomes, while those with an external locus see life as driven by luck, fate, or other outside forces.

In poker, these beliefs play out in real-time. When faced with a bad beat, someone with an external locus might feel like a victim of bad luck. ("I run so bad!") In contrast, someone with an internal locus focuses on what they can control—like how they respond.

Here’s why this shift matters: players with an internal locus of control conserve emotional energy, stay calm, and perform at their best. They’re less likely to tilt or fear “running bad” in high-pressure situations. Those with an external locus, however, may make fear-based decisions and overreact to variance, leading to worse results.

So, how can we develop an internal locus of control? Start by changing your attitude and taking responsibility for how you respond to tough moments. Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor, put it best: 'The last of one’s freedoms is to choose one’s attitude in any given circumstance.'

Here are three ways to build this mindset at the poker table:

Reframe Losses: Treat bad beats as learning opportunities. Ask, "What did I do well, and what can I improve?"
Practice Mindfulness: Take a few deep breaths when frustration sets in. This clears your head and helps you refocus.
Focus on Decisions, Not Outcomes: Celebrate good decisions, even when the cards don’t cooperate.
Negative variance is part of the game—and of life. But by choosing where to focus your energy, you can take control where it matters most.

So, the next time the cards don’t fall your way, ask yourself: Where’s my focus going?