This article written by Stanislav, Vantaa, FinlandEvery struggling poker player sure wants to know the difference between himself and the guys he reads about in the poker forums, magazines, etc. The $1mil+/year winners. The answer actually shouldn't be that complicated. Okay, there's the natural talents like Antonius, who deposited $200 and turned it into $20k in two weeks and never looked back, but for the rest of the superstars, I think, the story is quite a bit different. Nevertheless, the one big difference is their unwavering concentration. Apart from the deep understanding, the underlying logic and math of the game, high-stakes poker requires ultra-dynamic adjustments in hand-reading, hand-ranges, etc. and to be able to be on top of the situation you can't let your guard down even between hands.
I think that is my biggest leak and tilt in the game at this point - auto-piloting and thus giving the one substantial edge you cannot afford to give. That is probably the most common issue with the modern ADHD culture with the so fast action that one single table rarely accommodates their needs, even when they are no more than break-even players.
You may notice on TV why Patrik Antonius for example has won those hundreds of millions (apart from his intuitive grasp of the underlying mathematics) - he is in the zen spot, even within a group of chattering brats, TV-cameras and spot-lights. Unwavering concentration wins in the long run!
Ship it, concentration!
