Viewer Mail:

Q: In reading your posts and blog one thing really stands out to me. You seem to have one of the most positive attitudes I've seen as it relates to poker. And that leads me to the million dollar question: how do you keep your mental game solid when grinding? For myself when I go through one of the run-bads over an extended period I start assuming the site is rigged and other such goodness. That in turn starts a downward spiral of doubt and frustration which is obviously just horrible for my game.

A:  It's just putting things in perspective. By far my most important goal in life is being happy and making my family happy.  To me, it's against this goal to take a "bad day at work" and drag myself and more importantly the family down.  When I used to trade, I would have days where I made over a million dollars and days when I lost over a million dollars.  When I got home, Mrs. Fly would NEVER have any idea what kind of day I had, unless she asked me what my P&L was.  We all go thru bad streaks and get frustrated with the game from time to time.  Learning to control your emotions is all part of being a professional poker player.  You can be like Doyle after taking a bad beat or you can be like Hellmuth.  One is a legend.  The other is an ass.

So to help you put things in perspective, on the real life tragedy scale, having a loved one be terminally ill would be a 10.  Then any bad poker day(s) can never be more than a 1 (if that).  So before you break that mouse, try and take a step back. It doesn't mean I don't tilt once in a while, but it doesn't last long because I realize run-bads are all a part of poker.

It may also help to lower your expectations a little.  If you get off on thinking you're one of the best players at your limit, you're probably going to have a harder time dealing with bad swings.  Just tell yourself you suck and you're learning, which is true.  Even durrr and Ivey are still learning.  Then when you run bad, it doesn't feel as bad.  To be honest, I think it impedes your improvement to think you are a good player.  As with any competitive endeavor, it always helps to have a hunger.