7 Steps to Study Poker Like a Champion: Lessons from Elite Athletes
Written by: Scott Lum
We often hear that if you want to get better at poker, you need to study. But what does studying actually look like? It could mean reading books, watching videos, listening to podcasts, running simulations, analyzing charts, or simply playing a lot and learning from what works and what doesn’t.
Personally, I also like to study what great athletes do to become the best in their sport. Recently, I watched The Novice (streaming on Netflix), a film about a woman named Alex Dall who becomes obsessed with being the best at whatever she does. It’s a cautionary tale about taking things too far in the pursuit of excellence, but I found it insightful because the movie exaggerates her training and thought process, offering a glimpse into what it takes to reach peak performance.
Here are a few key lessons from the film that apply to improving at poker (spoiler alert):
1. Take Good Notes
In the movie, Alex Dall constantly writes in her notebook, capturing every insight and refining her notes over and over again. High performance isn’t a straight line—it’s a continuous learning process where we absorb ideas from multiple sources and integrate them into our thought process. Keeping a poker journal can help track mistakes, strategies, and observations to accelerate improvement.
2. Benchmark Others, but Challenge Yourself Based on Your Unique Skillset
Dall’s coach tells her what an average performance looks like, but she goes beyond that—finding out what the top athletes are doing and setting her sights even higher. She also realizes she may not have the same natural physical abilities as others, so she adjusts her approach to play to her strengths. In poker, it’s important to know what good win rates and performance benchmarks look like, but rather than just copying others, focus on your unique strengths and track your progress toward the top.
3. Reach a State of Flow
The film visually simulates the feeling of entering a flow state—time slowing down, distractions fading, and complete focus taking over. When I’ve played my best poker, I’ve experienced something similar: I see the entire table clearly, I instinctively know how to play every street, and I can predict how my opponents will react. The more you train, the easier it becomes to access this state during sessions.
4. Model High Performers
At one point in the movie, Dall struggles to perfect a stroke until she watches a more skilled athlete, and suddenly, everything clicks—she mimics the movement and improves instantly. Similarly, in poker, instead of just seeing strong opponents as threats, ask yourself: What can I learn from them? Pay attention to how top players approach different situations and find ways to incorporate their techniques into your game.
5. Embrace Deliberate Practice
Dall doesn’t just train; she pushes herself to exhaustion and practices when no one else is willing to—early mornings, freezing conditions, whatever it takes. Her coach mentions the 10,000-hour rule, but she accelerates her growth by practicing smarter. If we want to excel at poker, we need to put in the kind of study and practice that most players aren’t willing to do.
6. Balance versus a Single-Minded Focus
Many poker coaches emphasize that to get really good at the game, you have to sacrifice certain things—excessive TV time, partying, or other hobbies that don’t contribute to your growth. The Novice actually shows the downside of lacking balance, but it also demonstrates what extreme focus looks like. While we don’t have to go to the same lengths as Dall, we can take inspiration from her commitment.
7. Hard Work Can Outperform Natural Talent
The movie highlights the contrast between naturally gifted athletes and those who have to grind relentlessly to compete at the same level. I’m not a naturally gifted poker player or a GTO math expert, but I know that with dedication and study, I can improve in my weaker areas and become even stronger in the areas where I already excel.If you’re interested in mindset and training, I recommend checking out The Novice. Are there any other movies that have taught you valuable lessons about improving at poker?
If you’re interested in mindset and training, I recommend checking out The Novice. Are there any other movies that have taught you valuable lessons about improving at poker?
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