Playing poker or winning poker?

Just realise that a lot of the time I decide to play poker. I sometimes don't do so well. O dear, I'm an idiot. It's dawned on me that when I set out to Win at poker (not just play it) I do a lot better.

Anyone got any tips or tricks to help maintain a positive mental attitude?

If you're playing scared or giving too much importance to the money you're playing with, I say move down in limits for a while until you feel good about it. That way you can focus on the game alone and not the money at stake.

Thanks,

But I'm really after ways to keep positive.. Rather than just log on or go to the casino to play poker cause its what you do... Really be pumped up about the whole thing. Like every game you play is the most important ever. Being really enthused about it. Having a good attitude. Rather than just doing it.

What do you focus on, your goals? Winning money? Enjoying yourself?

The first question you should be asking yourself is, "what do I want from today's session?"

By asking that question, you allow your brain to search for specifics, which may help find something you didn't expect to find. "What do I want" will create a solid foundation, and help you become very specific in creating daily goals. It seems like such a basic question, but is actually rarely asked. We instinctively focus on what we DON'T want, or like you said, "just showing up and playing."

My current focus, for example, is the turn play. Before each session, I ask myself what I want from today's turn action.

Your primary focus should always be about your decision making at the table... never the outcome. Improving decisions, and reasons for making said decisions will automatically improve results.

Any goals about a poker future? Are you an aspiring pro or semi-pro? If so, you can use that as motivation to make the right decisions and play your A game 100% of the time

You should always play poker to win, then the fun and winnings come with that in mind

BigSmak, I find it has helped me to play only when I really feel like playing and before I begin I ask myself a couple of questions "What do I feel like playing?" and "Where do I feel like playing?" For example, this morning I felt like playing an O8 SNG and I decided to play at FT. Later in the evening I felt like playing NL Holdem SNG's at Bo. After I finished there I was in the mood for some cash games and I chose to go back to FT. It seems pretty elementary but people get burnt out playing the same thing over and over.

I guess what I'm saying is don't play because you're bored or because you feel like you should be playing. If you aren't mentally up for it, don't play.

If you're looking for something to spark your interest, maybe a good poker movie or read some out of your favorite poker books, magazines, or online articles to get you excited about playing.

Other than this, if it's bad beats that kills your positive attitude, that's something you have to overcome yourself. One gets over this when realizing it's part of the game. I have become emotionless to most bad beats I take. When one is bad enough to bother me, I stop playing and return when I get over it.... albeit 2 hours or 2 days.

Hope this helps.

I'd recommend reading a copy of The Poker Mindset. Excellent book. Really helped change my mental outlook on the game.

G

Sounds like an excuse to add a book to my growing library of poker references. Thanks!

I started this thread because as you know its easy when you are winning. Very easy. You feel good, nothing can put you down. Maybe its because you are feeling good about everything that helps you keep winning?

But when you wipe out on 2 or 3 tables in about a 5 min spell, even though you made the right decisions and were outdrawn on two, and the third they go runner runner... Its hard to say to yourself;
"Well you did the right thing and over time you will win, I would love to play that hand against that donk 100 times.. We'll see who comes out on top then.... "
You just want to cry sometimes... lol...

So maybe I take a small break, maybe a couple of days... And when I go back, I want to be in the winning mentality. I want to fell like I am in the winning streak. I want to feel as good about playing poker as you do after a massive win.

Also - If I can bottle it, I'll be rich!

When you get more experience you will start to see how you win in the long run and you will know that things will go that way.

In the meantime you should try to meditate on what you want from each session before starting to play. The goal of this is to get your mind in the right state for playing. I usually also try to get the feeling that I am going to be very lucky before and during the game.

Lastly I use my own breathing technique if something starts to go bad during game play. The technique relies on imgaining good luck as white and bad luck as black, with each deep breath you see yourself inhaling white and getting rid of black. You can also anhor this into white being good play and black being bad play.

Many will disregard the meditation and breathing techniques, but I think they are very useful and I regret not always remembering to do them before I start to play.

Today i won 1000$ and desided not to loos it at new game a'm greed with my game just want to buy 10 liters of a good bear

I think I am starting to get a routine together for before I play. Just like I do when I play golf. (I am a 5 handicapper so I get by)..

I am just training my brain to be in the same mindset.. When I make a good play I try visualise myself sitting at the computer with cash pouring out of it. ( I like cash) ... And this makes me happy. So I try to keep the feeling before and during playing..

Sounds silly? Yup... But If I can visualise myself winning before I play.. You never know.. Maybe a better mindset!

Golf and Poker have a lot of similarities. One you will have heard in relation to golf is not to think about the end result (score). Focus on each shot and execute it the best you can. The score will be what it will be.

If you mess up a shot, you just focus on the next one.

In poker, play each hand the best you can, don't focus on winning, tournament results just each hand at a time. If you mess up, focus on the next one. The results will take care of themselves.