Are you up for the 75 Hard Poker Poker Challenge? Don’t take this challenge lightly, it’s going to be the toughest one you’ll ever do, and I believe 95% of you will fail (at least the first time).

I think there’s a good chance I’ll fail, too.

But I’m doing it! So, why not join me?

Take the 75 Hard Poker Challenge:

Watch me discuss the 75 Hard Poker Challenge in this YouTube video:

Or, listen to episode #533 of the podcast as you follow along below:

Introducing the 75 Hard Poker Challenge

1. 90 Minutes of Poker – At least 10 minutes of study & 30 minutes of play AND NO DISTRACTIONS while playing/studying.
2. Study ONE Thing (course, book, software) until complete.
3. Read 5 poker pages or watch/listen to 10 minutes of poker.
4. Take study notes in your poker journal.
5. Exercise 30 minutes.

*Fail any item, any day >>> Failed Challenge. Start over from the beginning.

*No substitutions. Do all 5, each day for 75 days, or fail.

Why Take This Challenge On

This challenge was inspired by Andy Frisella’s original 75 Hard Challenge (check it out here). I completed the challenge from January 1st through March 16th 2025, and it was the best challenge I’ve ever taken on. So I adapted it for poker player’s.

There are 3 great reasons for taking on this challenge:

1. Toughen your mind.
   • The original challenge page says, “Think of this as an ironman for your brain”. I didn’t realize how true this is!
   • I’m so much more disciplined and hard working from taking on the challenge. I believe that the way I’ve adapted this for poker will work the same for all of us. Let’s build our mental strength through daily work on the things we know will move the needle on our journey.
2. Build GREAT habits.
   • It takes on average 66 days for somebody to build a habit. That’s the point at which automaticity takes over and the task is now an ingrained habit. *Not all habits though. The harder the task, the longer it takes.*
   • Through the 75 Hard Challenge, I built habits of twice-daily workouts, abstaining from alcohol, reading 10 pages every day of a non-fiction book, staying away from all unhealthy foods and treats and generally loving to challenge myself.
   • I believe the same habits, but related to poker, will be developed through this challenge.
3. Do more than 99% of your competition.
   • I bet that 99% of the players you play with won’t do 75 days straight of working on their game.
   • You’ll progress more than most over the 75 days, and this will propel your results.

Top Tips for Success

Timeblock poker & exercise in your daily schedule! When you block off “appointments” for yourself, you’re more likely to get it done.

Alex Hormozi said: “It’s not your 9-5 that kills your progress, it’s your 5-9.” You can still complete this challenge even with a full time job and family. YOU just need to find the time each day that works within YOUR schedule.

The 5 Tasks

Task 1: Decide that poker time is POKER TIME. Ditch all distractions: Phone is on DND, webpages closed, TV off, hide desktop icons. Minimums to follow: 10 minutes study, 30 minutes play. We’re human: If you catch yourself distracted, but can refocus and get back to it, you haven’t failed that day!

Task 2: Choose ONE Thing to study that you know will propel you on your journey, and complete it. Maybe it’s book that’s been on your shelf for years, or that poker course you bought but never finished. Or, maybe it’s the next course in the Poker Forge.

Task 3: Study and re-study as necessary. If you read 5 pages of a book, but want to repeat it instead of moving on to the next 5 pages, repeat it. The important thing is that you’re purposefully working on skills you know you need. Just finishing a book or a video course isn’t the goal.

Task 4: Use your poker journal, date each entry.

Task 5: Exercise for a minimum of 30 minutes. Strong body = Strong mind. The easiest: 30-minute walk. But do what you want as long as it’s exercise.

Take Action

Take on the 75 Hard Poker Challenge! Download the tracker, plan your 75 days on day ZERO, then get to work!

75 Hard Poker Challenge for Myself

Day 0, March 18th, 2025: I’ve prepared for the challenge:

• Time blocked the first 90 minutes of every day, 7 days a week, for my poker study and play.
• I’ll continue doing 2x 45-minute workouts everyday, so that covers the exercise aspect of the challenge.
• Chosen my ONE Thing to study: Alex Fitzgerald’s course, “How to Bust Big Blind Flatters”.
• Chosen a play focus for all 75 days: Get as much Bread & Butter as possible. I’ll use a B&B tick sheet for the entire 75 days.
• None of the above is set in stone, other than doing all 5 items every day for 75 days. Let’s do this!

Join the 75 Hard Poker Challenge to see how I progress through it. All the lessons learned, additional tips and what I finally got from it by the end.

2 Weeks In – Is this Challenge Worth It?

I’m 2 weeks into the 75 Hard Poker Challenge and from my perspective… it’s absolutely worth it!

I’m loving this challenge and by the end of it, it’ll be one of the 2 best things I’ve ever done for my poker game! (The other is my 66 Days of Poker Hand Reading).

Watch this 2-week analysis and lessons learned video on YouTube:

Or, listen to the podcast episode #535:

Lessons Learned 2 Weeks In

Just 2 weeks in, and 1.5 hours per day of poker already feels like a habit!

Great results so far!

I like where my stats are at. Tight-aggressive (TAG), but super profitable:

Yep, I’m a TAG player and proud of it.

Leading up to the 75 Hard Poker Challenge, I only played 6/18 days in March:

This is the “Calendar” report in the PokerTracker 4 Results Tab.

Daily scheduling pays off!

• Treat it like an important appointment or a hot date.

Poker at your LEAST distracted time of day.

• I do it before anyone else wakes up.
• Remove all distractions.
• Get it done early so you don’t have to cram it in later.
• Becoming distracted? Pause what you’re doing, take a breath, reset, resume.

Burnt out, but you have to play.

• Cut to 1 table, just play 30 minutes.
• Do more studies: find leaks, hand reading, watch a video, read a chapter.

Play = Practice

• If you want to improve skills (not just put in volume), study before playing then practice what you learned during study time.

Take Action!

1. Take on the 75 Hard Poker Challenge (form below) -OR-

2. Take your poker time more seriously!

• Schedule your poker time.
• No distractions – Keep Reacher out of your peripheral!
• Study & Play with Purpose to build your skills.