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Top 25 New Year Resolutions For Poker Players In 2025

The season for New Year resolutions is here. 2024 is about to wrap up, and poker players might be gearing up for some insane year-end parties and also getting ready to welcome the New Year. While everyone has been in a festive mood in the last few months, it is also imperative for them to have some caution and retrospect about the year gone by. 

That’s the entire reason for making New Year resolutions, and people are encouraged to make more positive ones as the year progresses. Like everyone else, poker players need to reflect on their past, paying special attention to their game. Resolutions should generally concentrate on short-term and long-term goals and enhancing the individual’s skill or quality of experience. 

25 New Year Resolutions for poker players 

• Skill Improvement

Poker is a game of skill, and the International Mindsport Association has now accepted it as a mind sport. A lot of skill goes into not only winning but also playing a poker hand. A successful play consists of several strategies and concepts that a poker player should master before deciding to play in the bigger leagues.

Only when poker players sharpen their skills do their dreams become possible, and the time required can be any. For example, Aditya Agarwal took 17 years after his first cash to win the prestigious WSOP bracelet.

The only way to master anything is by taking out the time and dedicating oneself to the study of that subject, which can be part of the poker player’s resolution list. Here are some resolutions that will ensure skill improvement in a poker player: 

1. Study poker strategy for at least 1 hour daily or weekly.
2. Analyze hand histories after every session to identify mistakes.
3. Learn one new poker concept every month (e.g., GTO, ICM, bluffing ranges).
4. Practice reading opponents’ betting patterns and tells.
5. Play different poker variants (e.g., Omaha, 7-card Stud) to broaden your skills.

• Bankroll Management

If there’s no bankroll, there’s no poker play – it’s as simple as that. Bankroll management is the most basic of game aspects that a poker player should handle, and there are some steps that a player can take to ensure their bankroll is always in the green – and these steps could be part of a poker player’s resolutions as well, and here’s a short list: 

6. Stick to proper bankroll management rules for all games.
7. Set a budget for tournaments and cash games each month.
8. Keep detailed records of wins, losses, and expenses.
9. Avoid chasing losses by sticking to disciplined bankroll rules.
10. Experiment with lower or higher stakes only with proper preparation.

• Physical and Mental Health

Whether you like something or not, if your physical and mental health is not at its peak, it will drain you and cause burnout. One of the best examples is online gamers. While they might love to game, their multi-hour online stints, which usually happen after work, will take a toll on their health, which might make them stop indulging in their favourite activity.

Therefore, poker players must maintain their physical and mental health, both of which can suffer if they aren’t careful enough. This makes it necessary for them to set resolutions that ensure their well-being, and here is a suggested list.

11. Develop a pre-game routine to focus your mind.
12. Take breaks during long poker sessions to prevent burnout. A typical poker event can last days; it is extremely important that the poker player has the wherewithal to remain alert and in peak physical and mental health. 
13. Exercise regularly to improve stamina and mental sharpness.
14. Maintain a healthy diet to sustain focus during games.
15. Learn stress management techniques, such as meditation or breathing exercises.

• Ethics and Sportsmanship

Ethics and sportsmanship are the cornerstones of not just a competitive sport but life itself. Unless you hold yourself to the highest of ethics and have exemplary sportsmanship, even the biggest wins will not give you the satisfaction that they should. Ethics aren’t just about fair play – it also includes decency, courtesy and basic human behaviour. 
16. Be respectful and courteous at the tables, whether live or online. The world of poker is not without its controverisies, what with the huge amount of  money involved. So, it is always better to have the best possible ethical conduct. Here are some resolutions that a poker player can make to evolve into a better version of themselves

17. Avoid slow-rolling or angle shooting to uphold fair play.
18. Share knowledge with others in the poker community to grow together.
19. Celebrate both wins and losses as learning experiences.
20. Play with integrity, always honouring the spirit of the game.

• Goal Setting

Goals are an integral requirement for a satisfying experience in sports. Goals aren’t always about winning; they can even be personal yardsticks or achievements from a personal point of view. Setting goals will ensure a consistently positive playing experience and systemic evolution as well. This can also be added to the resolution list for poker players.

21. Set a clear goal for cash, winnings, or improvements for the year. For example, a poker player might decide to earn a bankroll from the felts,  big enough to participate in a dream-come-true poker event.
22. Qualify for a major live tournament. Asia is fast becoming a major host for some of the biggest poker tournaments. While it is easy for one to sign up for one, a lot of work will go into preparing for the same.
23. Challenge yourself to improve your win rate by a measurable percentage.
24. Create a realistic schedule for online and live poker sessions, thereby ensuring that your mental health and physical well-being are not affected.
25. Commit to enjoying the process, not just the results, of playing poker.

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ALSO READ: Is Poker 100% Luck?

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If carried through, these New Year resolutions will definitely enhance a poker player’s game and, therefore, the playing experience. Of course, there are some steps one should take to ensure that they adhere to them, beginning with having an inherent discipline that comes from within.

Gutshot Magazine offers you news and updates about all that’s happening in the poker and real money gaming industry. We also offer information about the poker tournament itineraries, winners of those tournaments and even interviews with some of the biggest names in the industry.

We also offer information about any federal and corporate decisions that might impact online gaming and the poker industry. For more updates from the poker world, keep reading GutshotMagazine.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Telegram

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