Time is on your side.
Reasons to take it slow and temper poker FOMO this time of year.
The 2026 WSOP has kicked off and it seems my poker news feed is bursting at the seams. I could easily read and watch 4 hours of updates a day on ongoing tournaments, final tables, bracelet winners, and $1M bounties. It’s a lot to take in and can feel overwhelming at times. This is before you even take into account the gal from your local game that is out there and posting photos of her tournament results and run ins with poker celebrities.
It can seem that everyone is having the poker summer of their dreams and you are left behind to wallow at your local daily. Times like this can make a player feel overwhelmed by FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and a general lack of progress in his game. While this is a year round feeling for players that ebbs and flows with success, progress, and run good to the upside and stagnation, downswings, and lack of game selection on the downside, this phenomenon seems to affect players more this time of year than any other.
The truth is we all have a lot to be grateful for. Those of us in the game - at any level - are fortunate enough to have the means to participate in the hobby of our choice. That’s something that not everyone can claim. I think it’s healthy to have ambitions in the game. I also think it’s very healthy to recognize and appreciate where you are currently in the game. Being appreciative and positive helps you in the mental game and gaining the respect of other players - at least the ones whose respect you should care to seek.
First step - give yourself a break. This game is difficult and that’s an understatement. It’s often said about chess that it takes minutes to learn and a lifetime to master. I would go so far as to say that if that is the case, some poker games - like NLH - may take longer than a lifetime to master. The game tree is just exhaustively large. If you add to that the different bet sizes, its akin to an impossible task.
That said, we don’t have to master poker to be competitive, profitable, or intellectually stimulated. When you go to grizzly bear country, you will see $5 t-shirts on every street corner with sayings along the lines of “I don’t need to run faster than the bear…. Just faster than you.” Silly - I know. However it captures a poker truth as well. The upside of the game being so hard to master is that it is hard for your opponents too. Its as simple as outworking your competition.
I have little doubt that a person of average IQ can become very good at this game if he dedicates himself. More importantly, the journey can be incredibly satisfying if he takes the time to look around and soak it in.
If you find yourself dissatisfied with where you are - be it physical venue or the progress of your game - make sure that you direct that energy towards improvement rather than FOMO or frustration. Attempt to improve on one aspect of your game until you are satisfied, talk hands with peers, learn something new every day.
If you are honestly trying to get better every day, it may still feel like you aren’t making the progress you would like. If this is the case, realize that your timeline should be long. Do you remember where your game was a year ago? how about 3 years ago? Hopefully you can see that your game has improved since these reference points. Now imagine a year from now and the improvement will see in that span should you put in the work. When dealing with a game with so much variance, time can play tricks on us, zoom out to see a clearer picture of the reality.
There are so many players and former players that have talent that try to rush things into an inflexible timeline or bankroll. Realistic steps are usually the most stable when it comes to moving up in stakes and taking shots. If you have skill and are getting better, why rush into a marginal - bankroll or skill wise - game now when you WILL be a better player next year and be more prepared for that step? You have plenty of time to grow - don’t panic.
Don’t forget while you are reaching for the next rung on the ladder that it doesn’t hurt to give a hand up to someone who is a couple rungs lower than you on that same ladder. Not only does it help you build community, it helps you learn. I can’t list the number of times I have tried to help another player with a poker subject and ended up with a more solid foundation on that subject in my own game. Working to explain strategy in a learnable way helps reiterate and solidify that strategy within my own mind.
If you are going to Las Vegas this summer, good for you. Get out there, have fun, play smart, and win some jewelry if you can. If you aren’t going to make it but wish you were, don’t spend every waking moment in a state of FOMO. Just like any poker situation, control what’s in front of you. Do the best you can with your situation. This usually means keep grinding games in which you have a skill edge, keep studying, protect your budget or bankroll. If you still have a little bit of lingering FOMO, use it to motivate you to improve. This game will still be going next year, 3 years from now, and 10 years from now. You have the time. The dedication is whats needed.
If you enjoyed this essay and would like to encourage more, please consider hitting the like - heart - button. If you have any input or questions, please leave a comment or email me at mikieculpepper@gmail.com.
As always, thank you for reading.