Zen and the Art of Poker Maintenance

I was reading a blog prepared by Soupie on PocketFives.com, which discussed the qualities needed to become a pro player.  I found myself agreeing generally with his thoughts.  Technical skills aside, most good MTT players tend to have a even-keeled and patient approach to the game.  In my opinion, these are the most important qualities that a MTT player can have.  Few MTT players cash 50+% of the time.  As a result, "losing" is the "usual" result.  If someone is unable to handle the volatility of MTT play, success becomes an even greater challenge.  In addition, there may be long stretches between tourneys or hands before success is found.  When someone presses for action, that player works against the odds, needs additional luck, and has smaller margins for error. 

Not that I am looking to turn pro (at this time), I find that my online play is less patient than my live play.  This probably accounts for one reason why my live ROI is so much better than my online ROI.  At least I am fairly good at keeping my emotions in check and not going on tilt.  Since adhering to strict bankroll management guidelines, I have also been able to handle the volatility of MTT play much better.

Final thought, although there are many excellent books out there that talk about MTT strategy, Soupie prepared an interesting list which may be found at http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/forum/how-to-win-at-mtt-poker-t3027.html