The best and most experienced poker players understand the game and can simultaneously manage their money. This is very important because you never want to play with money that you can't afford to lose. The best way to look at the money that you bring to a casino is to consider it already lost. While it's possible to win lots of money at poker, it doesn't always work out that way and that is the contingency you should base your thinking on. We've all seen movies where the guy thinks that he has a 'sure thing' and bets everything he has – and loses everything. That's because there's no such thing as a 'sure thing'. Even a professional will play for the enjoyment of the game and it's their skill that wins them money over an extended period of time. They never count on one playing session and they don't bet money they can't afford to lose.

This is why you should go in with a set limit, in mind. For example, if you bring $500, then you can set a limit of $300 as to the amount that you are willing to lose. By focusing on walking away with at least $200, you can avoid situations such as going 'all in' with a perceived good hand – only to lose that hand. You should remember that there can be ups and downs which can last a significant amount of time. Even in blackjack, there can be downswings in which you need time to recover. If you lose everything on one hand of poker, then there's no opportunity to work your way back into a winning streak. It's also important to associate the chips that you are using with real money. This will prevent you from getting carried away and forgetting that you are playing with actual money and not just pieces of plastic.