Modern cinema is a great tool for teaching poker because it crosses cultural barriers in a way that few teaching elements can. All one needs to do is listen to the advice that can be found in the lines of a variety of films and then remember their relationship to playing poker. Now, this doesn’t mean you can repeatedly use a line from "Goodfellas" in conversation while playing, but it does mean you should keep in mind the concepts that go with the line.
Few can forget Chris Rock's role as Pookie in the film "New Jack City." Rock's dead-on portrayal of a crack addict was a perfect example of how bad things can get when you get caught up in an addiction. Poker players would be smart to learn from Pookie's example if they want to stay out of trouble. Pookie's most appropriate line for poker players came while he talks about how he's hooked on the crack and can't let go.
"I tried to kick... but that sh*t just be callin' me man, it be callin' me, man... I just got to go to it!"
Know when to say when.
Some days you just need to step away from the table. If you hit a run of cold cards or find yourself outmatched, regroup and save your bank roll for another day. Even if you play phenomenally, if you are in over your head or are simply not catching cards, you're a donor in the making, ready to give away your stack. Do yourself a favor, take a break before you implode.
Make sure to regulate your play.
Poker can be a captivating game that can take over your life if you let it. In other words, keep a sense of balance both at the tables and away from them. If you focus too much on playing and forget about the other important things in life, you'll regret it down the road. There will always be a game; important events usually only happen once. Don't be a slave to the grind. Take time for other activities because then when you do sit at the table, you'll be free to concentrate on the game at hand because you won't feel as though you have to be somewhere else.
Don't let things get out of hand.
Always play within your bankroll; don't put your whole roll in jeopardy in one session. This way, you stay out of trouble and you have the ability to rebuild if necessary. If you play above your means, you are bound to make decisions you wouldn't make if you were playing in your comfort zone. If you don't have the bank to play with, have enough self-control to walk away until you are staked properly.
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