Poker pros are used to sizing up the situation and making the smart play, which is why we've asked some of the best players around for some key words of advice to make our lives better.
Drew Gonzalez - better known to his fans as 'BetOnDrew' - originally hails from Pennsylvania, but has made his home in San Antonio, Texas. It's there he runs regular streamed live games from the city's Rounders Card Club, as well as streaming his online play at ACRPoker, where he has been a sponsored pro since 2020.
Gonzalez turned pro back in 2010, and was selected as one of the hosts of Bill Perkins' Thirst Lounge in 2019. He's made deep runs in WSOP and WPT events, with his career-high live score coming in last year's WPT World Championship where he finished 72nd for close to $70k. Check out his Twitch and YouTube channels to watch him in action.
#1: Stretch
"This is the #1 thing that comes to my mind when I think of life hacks or tips. I know the majority of the time I tell this to people they don't listen, but I don't care and will keep saying it!
"Stretching helps to increase blood flow, it'll give you a natural high, and I never feel more focused than when I just finish up a good stretch. I could go on forever about the benefits, but it's 2024 and a quick search online will tell you all you need to know!"
#2: Keep a weekly planner
"I hate forgetting things, especially if it involves someone else taking time out of their day for me, so I keep a weekly planner of events I have going on so I ensure the highest % chance I don't miss anything I need to do. This also allows my brain to relax when I know for certain I don't have anything going on."
#3: Try intermittent fasting
"I love to eat, but will definitely go overboard sometimes. I've realized over the years my body just needs to rest from eating sometimes, and providing some structure to my eating habits is really helpful for me.
"It's also quite healthy for our bodies as well, so you should look up the benefits of intermittent fasting. My preferred fasting schedule with poker is 10pm to 2pm."
#4: Take breaks
"This is still really tough for me at times, but planning ahead helps. Why work so hard if you can't reap the benefits? Also, it's really healthy to 'turn off' and just allow your brain, your body, your spirit to relax. My small breaks are spent playing video games and my bigger breaks are spent visiting friends and family.
"In poker, when I start to take bad beats too seriously, I know it's time for a break. It usually takes me 3-5 days completely isolated from poker before I begin to get excited and anxious to start playing again - that's how I know I'm ready to go back."
#5: Follow your passion
"I've always loved the saying, 'Follow your passion and you'll find purpose'. I think at various times in life we all wonder 'What is my purpose?' or 'Why am I here?', and I think the answers to that lie in trusting your spirit, or your gut. We only live once, so don't be afraid to take that leap of faith, don't be afraid to ask that special someone out for coffee, don't be afraid to go for that triple check-raise bluff! You never know what can happen if you don't put yourself out there."
You can catch up with BetOnDrew on X, Instagram, Twitch and YouTube, and find out more about him at his website.
Feature image courtesy of the WPT
