Patrick Gerritsen, a renowned poker coach and creator of the NachosPoker CFP program, shares deep insights into the struggles many poker players face on their journeys. Over the years, Gerritsen has coached over 100 players, some of whom now compete with the best in the world on major online poker platforms. However, he also observes that not all players experience the same level of success. One key factor separating successful players from those who stagnate is the ability to control what is controllable and, even harder, to surrender to things that are beyond one’s control.
Stop Resisting: The Struggle of a Downswing
Gerritsen recounts a recent conversation with one of his students, a player who had ascended from 50nl to 500nl but was now struggling with a brutal downswing. Every bluff failed, and every attempt to bluff-catch seemed to backfire. The student was frustrated, exhausted, and unsure if they were cut out for poker.
“I’m not sure if I’m cut out for this,” the student confessed, feeling as though they couldn’t win even a single flip anymore.
In response, Gerritsen offered a simple but profound piece of advice: “Stop resisting.” He encouraged the player to accept the inevitability of variance in poker—a vital lesson that many players overlook.
Variance and the Lesson of Surrender
Gerritsen draws from his own experience as a micro-stakes player to explain how crucial it is to accept the uncontrollable aspects of the game. When he first started, he tried to protect himself from losing by rarely bluffing or making calls, which ultimately kept him from progressing. He realized that by resisting the inherent variance of poker, he was standing in his own way.
A life-changing moment came when Gerritsen faced a panic attack during his final year of teacher’s college. After being rushed to the emergency room, he learned from a doctor that it was a panic attack, not a heart attack. Over time, these attacks became more frequent, hitting him at inopportune moments like during classes, on the train, or at the grocery store. His struggle to control the attacks only made the situation worse. He tried numerous tactics—breathing exercises, counting, walking—to regain control, but nothing seemed to help.
The Power of Surrender
One day, as another panic attack began, Gerritsen decided to face it differently. Instead of trying to fight it, he accepted it: “It’s okay, it’s just another panic attack. It’s fine. Just breathe through it and it will pass.” This shift in mindset worked. The panic attack subsided, and it became the last one he ever had.
This experience, painful as it was, marked a profound transformation in Gerritsen’s life. It taught him the power of surrender—to let go of trying to control things beyond his control and to accept life as it comes. This moment also shaped his approach to poker and became a key part of the advice he shares with his students.
Embrace the Journey: Growth in Adversity
Gerritsen reflects on how that challenging period in his life set the foundation for his personal and professional growth. He shares this wisdom with his poker students, particularly those experiencing a downswing: “Embrace it. This might be the opportunity to grow that you’ve been yearning for.”
Drawing from his own struggles, including a Poker Detox period where he had to move down from 2000nl to 200nl and was down 45 buy-ins, Gerritsen emphasizes how adversity can be a powerful teacher. He notes that the periods of greatest struggle often lead to the most growth. In hindsight, his hardest moments became key turning points in his poker career and personal development.
