Poker is a game of skill, strategy, a bit of luck, a lot of bluff and a touch of confidence. It really doesn’t even matter if you are playing with a group of friend, professionals or online. Understanding where your strengths are will help you learn how to manoeuvre the poker table and master your competitors. Success at the poker table means you are able to read others as skilfully as you can hide from them. The best way to do this is with a clear mind. So, as you pull up to a poker table, skip the poker beer and crack open a fresh bottle of water. Although the alcohol in the beer, wine and shots make give us a mask of confidence, it shadows our brains and puts us at an immediate disadvantage. The secret to poker success is found in a bottle of water.

Water makes up over sixty over of our body weight. Every system in our body is dependent upon water for optimal functioning. That means that without water, our brains do not work well enough to address all of the complexities of a poker game. For our brains to be able to apply the rules of poker, strategically play cards while bluffing, we need water. Not enough water means our brains are only functioning at low levels, not enough to win a game of poker.

Poker requires extended periods of concentration and focus. Water is the tool that promotes energy in both mind and body. If you are minutely dehydrated you feel tired and you think a bit more slowly. You lose some of the sharpness of thought that promotes success in poker. The more water you drink, the less chance you have of suffering from dehydration side effects such as fatigue, muscle pain, or even dizziness.

The brain is a very delicate organ. Perhaps the most important reason poker players should drink water is because it is water that keeps the brain from overheating. When the brain gets hot, there is an immediate decline in brain functioning and cognitive effectiveness. Some studies say that when someone is dehydrated, there is a 10% decrease in cognitive functioning. For a poker player, this is debilitating. A ten percent drop is a key to losing the game.

So, although we may be tempted to pop open a poker beer or sip a glass of red wine while dealing out hand after hand of poker, the alcohol may give you a temporary boost in confidence, but it will decrease how effectively you can manage the game. Poker is intricate in that it requires you to apply skill, act strategically, and bluff. Water is the secret to being able to do this well. It will make your brain quick and accurate. Knowing you have a strong advantage of a clear mind over your components will give you the confidence you need to bluff your way to poker success. So, if someone asks what your secret is, hand them a bottle of water.