How do you...?

Serious question.

How do you keep your emotions in check when playing poker?

Simple enough question, but, I need tricks, ideas, exercises, or something that works. When I am in a game for a couple hours, especially tourneys, I get a combination of excited and fretful. My heart begins to pound, and, it builds on itself. I want to win, and worry about imploding.

Does control just come with practice and repition in that situation? Or do you always get elevated mixed emotions towards the end?

never let them see you sweat

Emotions are part of being human. We all have them. My heart still pounds hard when I get a hand. In on-line poker I don't think you have to control them like you do then you play face-to-face.

personally i have a or a .
u dont mind losin as much...

i listen to Eddie Izzard whle playing. No one can frown or be serious around him. He's the perfect antidote to donkeys.

LOL Wizz, I know the feeling. Back when I first started getting consistant in being "in the money" the dread of just "KNOWING" that there's 90 players left out of 1500 and I'm in 13th place ... I'm going to donk off all my chips. I just "KNOW" it!

My advice is get used to it! I will still often get that dreadful feeling but try to ignore it. Like my signature line says at the bottom of the post, "Luck is fickle but fate is defiant". I remind myself often at these times .. if it's meant to be it will happen if it's not meant to be it won't.

I will ofcourse allways try my best to be as educated as I can about the game and take advantage of every edge I can manage to exploit. Still in poker you have to have that no fear attitude which reminds me of the old indian saying, "it's a good day to die". Go to battle with the best you got, what else can you do.

The pros talk of the positive winning attitude, and I've felt it myself... when you win ... you just know you are going to win. I try to get that positive, I know I'm going to win attitude.

That and SnG's ... LOL Single table SnG's have helped my final table performances immensely. It has helped me to slow down my thinking process's and gain confidence. Now when I get to a final table I remind myself it's just like a 5.00 SnG of which I've won dozens ... I can win this one too.

I've been there and done that, it gets easier every time. Just keep getting there ... you'll get used to it.

OK. I guess its good I play online. They cannot see me sweat. I suppose that playing to the end more times will help. Its good to hear that it is at least somewhat normal. Perhaps I can have some sort of diversion (not sure who Eddie Izzard is, but, I'm going to look) so I'm not totally focussing on blowing the next play and try to play a bit more loosely.

I appreciate your advice!

Infinite patience and nerves of steel, like those needed to be a Special Ops sniper, help!

I guess I will just have to let my chest explode and have Beez put the pieces back in and sew it up, because I don't think I could do sniper ops either! haha

Who me? Would I do that? I am too busy playing myself and cussing the puter.

Wish they made some "Donk Out" or something like that. They are just the worse

I think I see what you're talking about... we were at the same table at the Bodog freeroll tonight. Sounds simple, but you have to be more patient. No shoving with AQ on KJx board when you're bet into. Nice double up with flopped top set on earlier hand!

Discipline is the key.