1. Figure out the correct way for you to learn. Everyone is different. For me, I learned by trial and error on top of a lot reading and forum posting. I lost thousands of dollars in my early years playing, but that might not be the best option for you.
2. Learn to admit that you aren't the best player and that there are other better players than you out there. Open yourself to being criticized about your play. Remember, even the best players make mistakes when they play, so it's ok if you do to. Learn from them.
3. Understand that there are different play styles out there and not everyone plays the same or how you would. Don't be quick to judge someone's play as being bad or them as being a donk without looking at the full picture. Just because someone does something that you wouldn't do doesn't immediately make it incorrect. Poker is a complex game that has a lot of variables to take into consideration when analyzing a hand/play. Try to be open minded and not biased.
4. Learn how to adapt and to use what you learn. Reading books on poker is fine, but if you can't/don't apply what you've learned, then it's pointless. Also, understand why you do what you do. Every decision you make, you should have a reason for doing so.
Sometimes it's easy as "I folded because 29o is a bad hand." to maybe "I jammed 88 on CO w/ 20 BBs because UTG raised 2.5 BBs and folds a lot to 3 bets, there were 2 cold calls before me. With the blinds and antes, there is already ~10BBs in the pot. I have a lot of fold equity still and if I can pick it up uncontested, I can increase my stack by 50%. I don't think any of the callers have strong hands here and think I'll pick it up most of the time. With blinds increasing very soon, this is a very reasonable play."
5. Have fun. Poker is a game. If you're playing freerolls or small stakes, enjoy yourself. It's possible to still improve, profit, and still have fun doing so.
2. Learn to admit that you aren't the best player and that there are other better players than you out there. Open yourself to being criticized about your play. Remember, even the best players make mistakes when they play, so it's ok if you do to. Learn from them.
3. Understand that there are different play styles out there and not everyone plays the same or how you would. Don't be quick to judge someone's play as being bad or them as being a donk without looking at the full picture. Just because someone does something that you wouldn't do doesn't immediately make it incorrect. Poker is a complex game that has a lot of variables to take into consideration when analyzing a hand/play. Try to be open minded and not biased.
4. Learn how to adapt and to use what you learn. Reading books on poker is fine, but if you can't/don't apply what you've learned, then it's pointless. Also, understand why you do what you do. Every decision you make, you should have a reason for doing so.
Sometimes it's easy as "I folded because 29o is a bad hand." to maybe "I jammed 88 on CO w/ 20 BBs because UTG raised 2.5 BBs and folds a lot to 3 bets, there were 2 cold calls before me. With the blinds and antes, there is already ~10BBs in the pot. I have a lot of fold equity still and if I can pick it up uncontested, I can increase my stack by 50%. I don't think any of the callers have strong hands here and think I'll pick it up most of the time. With blinds increasing very soon, this is a very reasonable play."
5. Have fun. Poker is a game. If you're playing freerolls or small stakes, enjoy yourself. It's possible to still improve, profit, and still have fun doing so.
