Poker as Meditation

Published: April 13, 2020

I don’t go to the poker room to play poker anymore. I go there to meditate. The poker is incidental.

Most people who meditate like to meditate somewhere quiet and peaceful and private. I do too.

But musicians don’t play only scales. They also play “Flight of the Bumblebee.”

Athletes don’t do only air squats. They also squat with heavy weight.

I don’t only meditate at home. I also meditate at the poker room.

Meditation at home

Every day, I meditate at home.

It begins when I start my timer.

I sit on a stool. I straighten my back and neck. I roll my shoulders back and down.

I take a slow, deep breath and I pay attention to the air as it flows out of my chest and through my nostrils.

I focus on the present moment.

And when my mind wanders, I notice that my mind was wandering. I allow it to have happened. And I redirect my attention to the present moment.

• What part of my body has tension in it?
• What am I feeling?
• How am I sitting, breathing, thinking?
• How is the air moving through my lungs?
• How can I allow more mindfulness?

It ends when the timer goes off. And it begins again on the next day when I start the timer.

Meditation at the poker room

Every week, I meditate at the poker room.

I sit on a chair. I straighten my back and neck. I roll my shoulders back and down.

It begins when the dealer cuts the cards.

I take a slow, deep breath and I pay attention to the air as it flows out of my chest and through my nostrils.

I focus on the present hand.

And when my mind wanders, I notice that my mind was wandering. I allow it to have happened. And I redirect my attention to the present hand.

• What are the players to my left telegraphing?
• What is the total in the pot?
• What bets, calls, and raises constitute this hand?
• What are the hand ranges of the players?
• How will they play the rest of the hand?
• How can I best exploit their play?

It ends when the dealer pushes the pot and pulls in the cards. And it begins again on the next hand when the dealer cuts the cards.

What happens

Sometimes I win money while I am meditating at the poker room. Sometimes I win a lot.

Sometimes I lose money while I am meditating at the poker room. Sometimes I lose a lot.

This doesn’t concern me because I know, with 95% certainty, what my average win rate will be. And I know what size bankroll I need to have a 97% chance of not going bust.

That is easy when you sign up for a free account on Neverbust.

The hard part is staying focused on the present while in the middle of a poker game.

If you have any tips on that or anything else send them to me.