If you wish to improve your game, ditch the arrogance and ego involvement, and don’t depend on the constant repetition of a few rules you learned to get you safely by. The basic step to improvement is to recognize the need for it. Introspection is at the core of every good player as much as technique, luck or insight into their opponents’ minds. Perfectionism is not the answer. The answer lies in the ability to be self-critical and correctly and precisely define your strengths and weaknesses.

Other than arrogant amateurs and those that play by rote, there are some players of talent who find that the skills they have will do them just fine. They will not improve because they do not see the need for it. These players lack inspiration and place their hopes on a few brilliant moves and lady luck to capture a few wins.

Neglecting weaknesses and relying on a few strong points is perilous behavior for a poker player. Opponents aren’t all nitwits and can zero in on the fact that you constantly make the same moves, although successfully, and can figure out a way to get around them. They will eventually surprise you with one large move against you. Such players have paid attention to more facets of the game and have improved their skills. They have confidence in the variety of moves they make.

Just as there are no one-handed boxers, you have to sharpen all your skills, even the weak ones. And you can’t make progress on improving your weak points if you do not recognize them. This is a difficult task, but you will not improve without tackling it.

To learn this takes two basic things: to realize that a game isn’t worth it unless you intend to win and to acquire a disciplined habit of doing things you dislike. The first may be a subtle point. Some people mechanically try to acquire a habit without know why they are doing it and they eventually give up or don’t get far. You must see that to blindly follow a routine or to rely on a single great skill in the blind hope that you will not have to deal with the rest of the game is not engaging the game for real.

Get a vision in your mind of what it would like to be a totally competent player, the rush you get when inspired, the thrill of winning, then you can decide for yourself whether this is a feeling worth pursuing or not. If the imagination to perceive this is lacking or if you do perceive it but find it not worth the battle, you need to be honest with yourself and admit that you haven’t a clue how to be successful at poker. Maybe you don’t even want to be. On the other hand if this vision inspires passion, begin the hard work it requires to see successful results. Just possibly, the energy required to force yourself to work on things you don’t want to work on will give you the confidence you have been seeking. This is rewarding all by itself.

The author is a successful limit cash game player. He plays poker online and receives Gutshot Rakeback as well as Betfair Rakeback.