Playing poker professionally – Part 2: Overcoming pressure, setting study routines and achieving goals

This is the second part of our conversation with BBZ Poker student Melle Bijstra, who recently left his full-time job behind to play poker professionally.

If you missed Part 1 – where we discuss how he knew he was ready to make the leap, and how he structures his work weeks – you can check that article out here.

Here we cover how poker has changed for Bijstra now that it is his sole source of income, his goals, and how he plans to achieve them.

BBZ BLOG: Hey Melle. With poker now your main source of income, how did those first few sessions as a pro go? Did you feel extra pressure? How did you overcome it?

Melle Bijstra: I didn’t really feel any extra pressure, to be honest. I guess there isn’t really any extra pressure, but I spent a lot of time working on my mental game.

Obviously, there is more pressure, especially if you don’t run well. You need to put food on the table. So yes, there is more pressure. At the same time, I take a lot of peace out of knowing I’ve done every single thing I could do. And if that’s not enough, then that’s it. You know, I think I have a very good long-term view.

If I put in the hours and the volume that I know I need to, and I don’t fuck about with my bankroll management, or fuck up my finances and start spending n dumb shit, I will hopefully be fine.

You sound like you’re extremely focused…

I think so, yes. I make sure I’m fit and mentally there. I’m trying to ensure that I’m spending every minute doing something productive, or spending it in a fun way – with friends and family. That means I’ve done everything I can to succeed.

It’s something that Francois (BBZ Poker’s mental game coach) discussed recently. He talked about being as prepared as you can be. As long as you have that feeling, it’s okay. If I lose, I lose. If I win, I win. If I do that 365 days a year, I think my chances of being successful are good.

That gives me peace of mind and alleviates some pressure.

What goals do you have for your first year as a pro and how do you plan to make them happen?

My main goal is to achieve the volume and hours I’ve set for myself.

For me, the goal is to hit $30K in buy-ins a month. To get there, I’ve calculated I need to play roughly 75 tournaments per session across 20 sessions. If I’m on a downswing I’ll play a lower average buy-in (ABI), if I’m up on an upswing I’ll play a higher ABI. But I need to get to that $30K number.

BIJSTRA’S STUDY ROUTINE

That means a minimum of five hours of studying every week:

• 2-hours minimum of GTO Wizard
• 1-hour minimum of game review
• 2 hours minimum of BBZ Poker Daily Seminars

Not sure what you should be studying?

We’ve got you covered. Check out the following articles.

Which areas of poker do you need to study the most?

How to study poker: What are the best ways to consume a BBZ Poker Bundle?

So you’ve marked a poker hand to study: What should you do next?

How to study poker as a recreational player

Plus a database review with someone else every three months to work smartly on the things I need to improve.

I’ll do my own stat reviews regularly, but having someone else review my database for me will hold me accountable. If I do that, I’m going to be in the best place to be successful.

These aren’t “outcome-based” goals, but it’s hard to predict outcomes in poker.

You can follow Bijstra’s pro journey on his Instagram.

We’ll be following Bijstra’s journey as a poker pro throughout the year. You can too by signing up for our Discord, where Bijstra and other members of our community regularly share their results.

Ready to begin your own journey towards playing poker professionally?

Sign up for BBZ Poker today and you’ll get 3 free videos.