Want to Win? Exercise!

I don't know about other tournament poker players, but when I am serious about competing in a major poker tournament, I exercise.

Like millions of American movie fans, I picked 'Rocky,' starring Sylvester Stallone, as one of my favorite films of all time.

The movie was shot in Philadelphia and I am a native of Pittsburgh, Philly's chief rival. I loved the way Rocky trained to get ready for the fight of the century -- his battle with Apollo Creed.

Day after day, the boxer trained hefting frozen carcasses of cows in cold storage lockers. He ran along country roads with his faithful manager following behind. He worked out in gyms. He even ran up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art while the movie theme played in the background.

Before I play in a poker tournament, I work out with eight-pound weights. I have a certain number of situps that I go through night after night.

I sometimes do jumping jacks. They don't come as easy as they did when I was younger, but they get the job done. They force oxygen into my train, help me think clearer, and get rid of the cobwebs in my head.

When you are called upon to make serious decisions in a poker room, your head needs to be clear and exercise is one of the best ways to get there.

On the morning of the tournament, I will engage in a rigorous exercise in my hotel room. I will do the same in the men's restroom, doing pushups, jumping jacks or sit-ups. This occasionally startles the attendants, but that doesn't bother me. I am in training and they will have to accept my actions.

A poker player who is in poor shape physically when he sits down at the table has little chance of winning. He'll be lucky if the casino management doesn't have to send for an ambulance and an EMT team.

No, Rocky had the right idea. To become a champion, you have to train to be a champion. Let your opponent eat the Twinkies, the jelly rolls, and the cheesecake. You train on meat, the rawer the better.

I haven't done it yet, but I am thinking of buying something from Radio Shack that will enable me to listen to the theme from 'Rocky' before I start playing in a tournament.

Why not? If it was good enough for Sylvester Stallone, it's plenty good enough for me.

Author: Geno Lawrenzi Jr.

(Geno Lawrenzi Jr. is an international journalist, magazine author and ghostwriter and poker player who lives in Phoenx, AZ. He has published 2,000 articles in 50 magazines and 125 newspapers. If you want to share a gambling story or book idea with him, send an email to glawrenzi@gmail.com ).