Push Hard —> Reset —> Repeat: The Inevitable Cycle of Being a Poker Pro

“I went a bit too hard lately”: Dirk’s Revelations

On October 9th, 2025, VeniVidi1993 shared a short vlog on Instagram about his “expensive trip” to Triton Jeju, where he invested $320K into 5 events and only reached ITM twice.

Upon returning home, Dirk decided to jump right into the CoinPoker PLO Cash Game World Championship, with the idea of streaming his sessions and sharing results daily on X.

He was consistent until October 20th, 2025 when his last report was posted: 28,769 hands, +$56,837 with +$72,500 EV and this beautiful graph:

But something went wrong: after staying at the top of the PLO CGWC, Dirk finished in 14th, winning only $27,797, while the winner godfromstock had $150,461.

It wasn’t until November 23, 2025 that the poker community finally received an explanation: Dirk went too hard and was set back by his decisions:

Dirk’s sincerity touched several professional poker players, who joined him in a discussion about how they found themselves trapped in a cycle of the same issues.

Even as a Pro, There’s No “End”

The title of this section is a direct quote from the post of Ben “bencb789” Rolle in response to Dirk’s tweet.

It was Ben who first described this cycle as “you push hard, then you reset. That’s the game” and supported VeniVidi1993:

“These moments are valuable for every aspiring grinder.

You have to find your pace. Sometimes you go all-in on effort and hit your limits – sometimes even beyond. Other times, you need to listen to your body and mind and step back.

The poker lifestyle isn’t naturally healthy.

That’s why extreme ownership isn’t optional — it’s mandatory.”

Alec Torelli confirmed the importance of maintaining a constant balance and shared a few thoughts on the matter:

“Can totally relate and respect the grind, discipline and openly sharing the journey.

What I’ve found, as hard as it is to implement, is that I can still have the upside, satisfaction, victory, etc. but without the downside risk that causes stress, burnout and the like.

It’s a constant balance, but there’s a sweet spot where investments and decisions are structured for upside asymmetry with downside protection.

Anyway keep up the great work. You’ll bounce back!”

Scott Seiver also admitted that all described issues are relatable to him but urged Dirk to be careful with his mindset because it is:

Dirk assured him that he is “just trying to bring a bit more balance” to his life and career.

Can Poker Players Have a Balanced Career?

The answer to this question depends on who you ask, actually. For example, Dirk partially views poker as an area where asymmetry is inevitable:

“You’ll always sacrifice some of that asymmetric upside when looking to limit downside risk.”

Phil Galfond also believes that balance is an unattainable goal, but that doesn’t mean the situation is hopeless for poker pros:

“Work-life balance sounds nice, but it’s an arbitrary target.

Sometimes working more is the answer. Sometimes working less is.

Don’t aim for balance. Aim for harmony and congruence.”

Ben Rolle goes even further and believes that balance is not needed at all:

“But we need work life balance” 

You’ll have enough time later on.And when you want to succeed in something really bad, you don’t mind. You simply do it. And if you spend your time wisely, you still have time for high-quality time with the people you love and need.”

He sees success as something worth sacrificing for, but that it is not meant for everyone.

However, clichés and truisms — like “brush your teeth everyday” or “don’t play too many games” — exist for a reason: they work, even if you personally perceive them as platitudes.

So, the most obvious work-life balance tips are actually the most effective:

1. Put business before pleasure — but don’t completely give up on pleasure, that is, positive reinforcement, on a regular basis.
2. Avoid having a lot on your plate — find an assistant or talk to your spouse to delegate some of your tasks to them.
3. Exploit time chunking — when you have plans for the day, divide them into sections for different times of the day and follow your plan.
4. Draw a clear line between life and poker — do not cross this line and mix the two, and remember to unplug them regularly.
5. Change the scenery if you feel stuck in the rat race — burnout occurs faster when routine becomes a burden, but variety can help combat it.

However, remember that these tips are not universally true, so just be kind and considerate to yourself first: your entire body is the best indicator of your needs and condition, so don’t neglect it.