The first step is to fully understand the poker game of your choice, know the rules inside and out. Be aware of styles of play and the mathematical odds of your hand all the way to the end. Have your goals written down on a piece of paper or saved to a file, make sure to have realistic measurements of achievement. It's not likely that your going to be the next World Series of Poker Champion; but you may see yourself competing for the title in the next few years to come. Make sure to leave your emotions at the door but don't forget to be patient! Whether you've determined that your ability to play poker is some kind of set out destiny or luck is not important, the clear fact is that probability will never change and sometimes you win and sometimes you don't. Knowing this to be true in all instances of poker, I think the most crucial part of this game is deciding if you should check, call, raise, or fold at the appropriate times. Making a wrong decision here can cost you thousands of dollars, especially when you have the nuts.