We always associate poker games with a bunch of poker players drinking some whisky and constantly smoking at a poker table. However, this is just another poker myth. The fact is that alcohol and cigarettes are the worst ally for any poker player.
This might sound as too radical, and the truth is that I'm a social smoker and occasional drinker myself. However, I joined a poker hand a month ago, and I lost a good sum of money. That night I had drunk 4 or 5 beers, so, I wasn't the annoying drunk that nobody wants at a poker table, but I was quite inebriated.
Everybody handles alcohol differently. But, when it comes to poker games the best thing to do if we want to win big money is to be sober. This doesn't mean that when playing poker one shouldn't drink at all.
Poker hands are much more than a game. Poker is a way of life and a very important social event. We can have a couple of drinks during a poker hand, but never mix different alcoholic substances, or have drinks that we are not used to drink, for we don't know the effect they will have on us and, therefore, on our poker skills.
Alcohol actually helps you relax, and having a drink before a poker hand can have a positive effect on our poker game. We still can reach our own judgment, feel more relaxed, and in control during the poker game.
After a drink, some people enjoy more their poker games. This doesn't work for all poker players. Alcohol is not a must, when playing poker, but for some people, it helps avoiding tension.
After a couple of drinks, no matter the alcoholic substance we drink, we are not so much in control and our poker skills are not at their best. When playing poker with not very good poker players, this cannot make too much of a difference, and we can even make some money. However, when playing poker with professional poker players, having had some extra drinks can make us loose lots of money.
Having many drinks is already out of question. Intuition, concentration, observation, and poker skills get completely lost. You won't make any money, and you won't enjoy the poker hand. Having you drunk at the poker table won't be pleasant to the other poker players, and you will ruin the poker hand.
Having a drink during a poker hand is nice and might have a positive effect on our poker skills and relaxation abilities. However, every poker player should know where his limits are, if he doesn't want to ruin his poker hands and loose big money.
