Poker News

Bonnie Demos

“The first thing you gotta learn about this game, Doc, is it ain’t about hitting a little white ball into some yonder hole. It’s about inner demons and self-doubt and human frailty and overcoming all that crap. So… what kinda doctor’d you say you were?”- Roy McEnvoy played by Kevin Costner in the 1996 flick Tin Cup.

The movie’s story line revolves around dealing with and ultimately overcoming one’s inner-demons. While watching the movie on cable late one night, my thoughts began to wander to a poker friend of mine. Like the movie’s main character, he had incredulously taken his game to a new level after experiencing a slump for several years.

I called him the next day, curious to find out if this recent turn of events in his life were due to luck, a book, or possibly a new strategy. He generously clued me into his secret, Breakthrough Coaching.

At that point I was curious, what was Breakthrough Coaching and what did it have to do with playing poker? I called his coach Mary at the number that he had given me, and quizzed her. This is what she told me: “Serious poker players rely on highly developed skills, mental clarity, accurate reading of opponents, the ability to manage their own signs of fear or distractions, and a bit of lady luck. Even the best poker players, however, can be distracted at the game table by personal events in their lives. This then is complicated by the fear of showing signs of those distractions, or of not being focused on the signs from others at the table.

“Breakthrough Coaching can result in being conscious, without distractions, no matter what you are doing. This is especially useful to athletes, actors, musicians, artists, and yes, poker players.”

She added, “Breakthrough Coaching is recognized as a two-hit wonder. After two two-hour sessions, players begin to actually manage the thoughts that cause the mental interruptions in their game. The tools that players gain can be effectively used in all areas of life, but the results are most dramatically realized in the specific areas of each clients concern, i.e. one’s poker game.

“Rather than suppressing, ignoring or feeling the effects of personal concerns, players learn how to deal with the issues so that they are mentally free to pursue the task at hand at optimal levels. At the poker table, players can free themselves from outside concerns, and therefore present their A game with conviction, in addition, their ability to accurately read the signs of other players increases dramatically. You acquire the skills to manage your mind, be clear in the moment, and excel at your game.”

I am always receptive to new ideas and constantly searching for new ways to be at the top of my game, so I decided to buy-in. For a nominal fee I hired Mary for two, two-hour sessions, which were conducted via telephone. Afterwards, I went about my business, working, playing poker, and I’m pleased to report that my fluctuating and often waning bankroll is now becoming fatter.

There is no magic bullet in poker or in life, but I feel that the knowledge that I obtained through my coaching sessions have definitely given me an edge. I knew all the numbers, but focusing on the mental aspect of the game and my reactions to it made a significant difference.

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