It can be challenging to make a comeback if you’ve taken a long break from poker. Time away from the game can leave you feeling out of touch and rusty, but you can still successfully return to the game. Here are some tips on how you can do that:
Consider The Reason Why You Took A Break:
When you take a break from poker, you must consider why you stepped away in the first place. You could’ve felt burned out after playing for too long and needed a break to recharge. If that’s the case, set boundaries on how often and how long you play so that you don’t find yourself in the same situation again.
If it was due to something else (like losing a lot of money or being overwhelmed by the competition), address those issues before returning to poker. That could mean studying strategy, taking a break from high-stakes games, or whatever else is necessary to ensure you’re in a better place mentally and emotionally.
Start Small:
Before jumping back into the game at your old stakes, take some time to get reacquainted with the game at smaller stakes, especially online poker. Doing so will allow you to brush up on your skills and become comfortable playing again in a low-pressure environment.
Try not to jump into a full-on tournament immediately after returning. Instead, ease your way in by playing some low-stakes cash games first. It’s an excellent way to get back in the groove without stressing about finishing in the money or making it through several rounds.
Once you get your groove back, a good next step would be to try freeroll tournaments. These will allow you to get familiar again with poker tournament strategy without risking any of your own money. On the other hand, if you’ve never tried a poker tournament before, consider it as something that will give you a fresh new perspective on the game.
Pace Yourself:
Itโs easy to get carried away when you return to the game, which can be a dangerous habit. Don’t go all-in on every hand or try to take on too many tables simultaneously. Keep the stakes low and pace yourself as you reacclimate to poker. Also, limit your playtime so it doesn’t interfere with other aspects of your life. It’s great that you’re enjoying poker once again, but don’t get too carried away.
Take Advantage Of Learning Resources:
The poker world has drastically changed since you took your break, so take advantage of various learning resources available. There are tons of blogs, books, and websites out there that can help you learn about new strategies and tactics.
It would help if you also took advantage of online training videos and forums where experienced players share their tips and advice. They are great ways to get back up to speed quickly and increase your chances of success. And speaking of forums, these places are a great venue to ask for advice on what you can do as a returning player. Coming back to poker after a long break is a common thing to do, so you should be able to find a lot of responses.
Be Patient:
Making a successful comeback takes time, so don’t expect to jump back to the level you were at before your break. Be patient; after all, Rome wasn’t built in a day. So, don’t get too frustrated if it takes a while. Remember, it’s only natural for your skills to become dull after a long absence. You can get back up to speed quickly with enough dedication and practice.
Also, like what’s been previously said, poker is constantly evolving. So even if your poker game was awesome before taking a break doesn’t mean you’ll still be just as good now, as other players may have caught on to the strategies you used to play. So keep your expectations realistic, and don’t expect to be a winning player immediately.
At the same time, you’ve retained your familiarity with the game and the necessary traits and abilities you’ve acquired; they just need to be re-sharpened. With a steady pace, you should be able to return to your old self in a much shorter time than it took you to get there in the first place.
Analyze Your Previous Plays:
Before you start playing again, take some time to analyze the games youโve played in the past. Look at how and why you were successful or unsuccessful in different situations. It will help you determine what strategies work best for your style of play and allow you to adjust as necessary when playing again.
And while it’s essential to focus on improving your mistakes, the same can be said about taking note of your past successes so you can replicate them. After all, you’ve succeeded with a particular style or strategy; there’s no harm in trying them again.
Lastly, it would do wonders if you could compare your pre-break and post-break performance. If you can objectively determine that you are playing better than before, you are on the right track and should continue. However, if your skills have diminished since taking a break from poker, don’t be discouraged! Just continue to practice and work on your game until you reach the level you were playing at before.
Make Your Poker Return A Fruitful One!
Hopefully, these tips can help you play poker hands again after your long break. Just remember to take things slow, be patient with yourself, and take advantage of all available resources. Good luck relearning the ropes and getting back on that proverbial poker horse.
