Elliot Roe introduces In-Game Execution as a crucial aspect of an A-Game Player’s success. Many poker players make the mistake of overestimating their edge, assuming they’ll always play at their best and blaming luck when they fall short of profit expectations. To maximize the Efficiency Lever, a player must have a strategy for applying their strategy—ensuring they execute well even in challenging moments.
Roe identifies three key mindsets that elite players use to maintain their focus and discipline at the table:
1. “You Are the Casino” – Thinking Like the House
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Many players react emotionally to variance, changing their strategy based on short-term results.
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A-Game Players think like a casino—they have an edge over time and never alter a profitable strategy due to temporary losses.
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Example:
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Imagine a casino changing blackjack rules to favor players just because it had a bad night.
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Sounds ridiculous, right? But this is exactly what poker players do when they tilt or adjust their game negatively after a losing streak.
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A-Game Players understand that variance is their friend—it keeps bad players coming back and allows them to profit long-term.
Application:
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Play with discipline regardless of short-term wins or losses.
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View results in terms of months, years, and decades—not single hands or sessions.
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Resist the temptation to chase losses or play sub-optimally when running hot.
2. “Every Hand is a New Puzzle” – Focusing on the Present
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The best players treat every hand as a fresh problem to solve—not an emotional reaction to previous results.
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Common Pitfalls:
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Losing a big pot → Tilting and punting the rest of the stack.
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Playing lower stakes than usual → Losing focus because the money feels insignificant.
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Playing higher stakes than usual → Becoming scared and adjusting strategy based on fear of losing.
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Example:
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Suppose a player was chip leader in a tournament but lost a huge pot and is now short-stacked.
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A C-Game Player might feel emotionally crushed and shove recklessly.
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An A-Game Player recalibrates and approaches their short stack as a new puzzle to solve optimally.
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Application:
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Forget previous hands—focus only on making the best decision for the current hand.
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If playing lower stakes, maximize efficiency rather than playing lazily.
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If taking a shot at higher stakes, stay strategy-focused—if money pressure affects decisions, you’re playing too high.
3. “Poker is a Long-Term Game” – Consistency Wins
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Poker is a game of making the best decisions over time, not about short-term results.
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Tiny edges add up, and players who consistently apply good strategy will outperform those who let emotions dictate their play.
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The goal is not just to beat the game—but to extract the most profit possible.
Application:
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Treat every session as a learning experience.
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Play at stakes where you can make decisions without fear or hesitation.
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Prioritize execution over emotions—discipline is what separates long-term winners from the rest.
Conclusion – The Power of Mindset in Execution
Many players fail to reach their potential not because they lack skill, but because they fail to execute consistently. The difference between long-term winners and everyone else isn’t just knowledge—it’s the ability to apply that knowledge under pressure.
By adopting these three key mindsets, A-Game Players ensure they:
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Think long-term like a casino.
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Approach every hand as a new challenge.
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Stay disciplined and make decisions based on strategy, not emotions.
This mental framework allows them to play optimally, regardless of short-term variance, creating the conditions for sustained poker success.