Poker Book Review: 'Peak Performance Poker' by Travis Steffen

Poker News / Short-Stacked Shamus / 24 September 2010 / Leave a Comment

Poker players are notoriously unhealthy creatures, often abusing their bodies in numerous ways, including lack of exercise, poor diet, erratic sleeping patterns, or the abuse of alcohol or other substances, just to mention a few.

One might be tempted to argue that such negative habits are simply "part of the game." That is to say, whether one plays online or live, a life spent primarily in front of the computer or in a casino is necessarily going to be physically challenging, and the demands of the game -- particularly the long sessions one generally has to put in as a professional player -- make it impossible to avoid falling into the harmful ways of the "poker lifestyle."

Author Travis Steffen doesn't think so. In his new book Peak Performance Poker, the nutritionist and strength and conditioning specialist offers a compelling argument for why poker players need not neglect physical fitness, demonstrating how committing oneself to healthier habits can lead to an improvement in one's game. Steffen also addresses the mental side of the game, showing how one can also prepare oneself to make better decisions while playing by "exercising" one's mind constructively both at the tables and elsewhere.

The book begins with a premise which is difficult to contradict, namely, that to achieve "peak performance" in poker -- or, really, in any competitive endeavor -- it is essential to optimize the performance of both the body and the mind in order to compete to the best of one's abilities. One has to be able to think clearly to play well, and having good physical health makes it much more likely one is going to be clear-headed enough to make the best possible decisions at the table.

To that end, early on Steffen aligns himself with sports psychologists, even arguing that poker is, in fact, a "sport" -- or, at least, should be thought of like a sport when it comes to the kind of preparation he is recommending. He makes a good case for why he thinks poker is a sport (though one in which the mental component obviously outweighs the physical one), although the reader doesn't have to buy this argument in order to benefit from the subsequent advice about how to improve one's physical and mental well-being.

The fact is, although Steffen is himself a poker player and incorporates numerous supporting quotes along the way from recognizable names like Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth, David "The Maven" Chicotsky, and others, Peak Performance Poker really reads more like a sports psychology text than a "poker book," with early chapters focusing on physical training (nutrition, exercise, rest, etc.) and later ones dealing with the mental side of competition (mind control, goal setting, time management, etc.).

That said, I was struck with how frequently the book reminded me of the many poker strategy texts I've read, particularly during the chapters offering advice about nutrition and exercise. Steffen draws attention to some of these analogies, but others are only implied.

For example, in the lengthy chapter on nutrition, Steffen explains in detail how what we eat and drink affects our physical health and thus our chances of achieving that desired "peak performance" (or "flow," as he sometimes calls it). It might sound a little dry, but Steffen does a great job explaining in an easy-to-follow way what the body does with the carbohydrates, protein, and fat we put into it, as well as the effects of vitamins, water, caffeine, water, alcohol, and more.

But as one finds in many poker strategy texts, when Steffen talks about diet he offers instruction and explains various principles that support his advice, but he doesn't go so far as to prescribe an exact course of action. Of his nutrition advice he says to "use it as a guideline for what would be optimal." In other words, use the information he provides -- including a helpful appendix listing the nutritional value of numerous foods and drinks -- but find what works best for you.

Steffen adopts a similar line with his advice about exercise. Again, there is a lot of practical information and advice here about resistance training, cardiovascular training, warming up and cooling down, and so forth, but Steffen acknowledges that just as in poker one has to find a style of play that works, so, too, must one find an exercise routine that is the most productive.

"Everybody is different," says Steffen, "so it would be fairly useless to list a specific routine for you to follow in this book. As in poker, when I'm asked by a client what the best possible training program and strategy is, the answer is always, it depends."

There are other similarities with poker I noticed here, such as the advice not to perform the same workout over and over (like avoiding being predictable with one's play), to be willing to bury one's ego and ask for help (like seeking advice or being willing to study), to hold oneself accountable by keeping training logs (like record-keeping), and to find exercises one genuinely enjoys (like finding games that best suit one's skill set).

The latter half of the book focuses more on the mind, again providing a lot of practical advice about how to get over negative or non-productive thinking and focus oneself in a way to increase one's chances for success. Sections on "Getting Past Excuses," "Affirmations," "Visualizations," "Setting Goals," and "Time Management and Poker" give an idea of some of the topics addressed here.

Of course, there is one big difference between the kind of advice Steffen is providing in Peak Performance Poker and advice about poker strategy. Indeed, he makes this distinction clear from the very start. Whereas "poker is a complex game in which things that happen are often beyond your control," Steffen correctly points out that "there is no 'running bad' in fitness, cognitive control, or a healthy lifestyle." One can be "results oriented" here and count on the positive outcomes of eating well, exercising regularly, and training oneself to think positively and clearly.

I'll admit I was a little skeptical when first picking up Peak Performance Poker, not really expecting to be all that enthused by a so-called "poker book" emphasizing physical and mental training techniques. But I found the book especially well written and organized, and the advice it contained both engaging and persuasive. Indeed, before even finishing the book I found myself starting to follow some of its suggestions about diet and goal-setting -- suggestions which can be useful not just for poker players, but for anyone hoping to improve his or her quality of life.

So if you're a poker player looking for this kind of help away from the tables -- and can't afford to hire one of those "life coaches" we sometimes hear the top pros talking about -- I'd suggest you consider picking up Peak Performance Poker.

You can find out more about Peak Performance Poker, including information about ordering, at pokerbooks.internettexasholdem.com.