Staying calm at the poker table

Hi i just like to know if any has tips of staying calm at the poker table. I have played for several years in the pub league and do pretty well most of the time. Lately though i seem to be having an attack of the nerves. I play against the same people group of people all the time and have no reason to get nervous. Even when i win hands lately i seem to shake, where as i have not in pass. Does anyone have any idea's how i can overcome this?

Hmmm, well you are already in a Pub. Why not a drink or two to calm you? I'm not saying to get drunk since this will effect your game, but one or two drinks can make you more relaxed and sometimes helps you to make better decisions.

Are you playing more? Larger stakes? anything else going on in life? Stressed? Is it during a specific time? (Monster hand, bluff, or just after a win) On a losing streak? just a couple of questions to ask yourself.

I had this happen during a couple of tournaments. When i would win a hand i started shaking as i was stacking my chips. Mostly it was at the first part of the tournament. I found it was because of my life stresses and not the poker table. I didn't realize what was going on but one of my friends pulled me aside after a tournament and said i think you have too much going on right now. I didn't believe him at first until i really started to think about the crazy schedule i was keeping.

I think poker can bring things out that you don't know that are going on in life. For me it was the perfect storm of everything hitting at once. I was having a hard time of shutting out the outside world and focusing on poker. I took about a month off and when things calmed down it went away.

I'd suggest to maybe look at your blood-pressure. Maybe it's time for a check-up???

Im finding the same thing lately, I worked out it was a mix of a couple of things. One I was getting cold so I started over dressing a bit I also noticed that new venues or people I didnt know where getting to me so I did what KingCurtis suggested and I had a couple of stiff drinks it did the trick.

Try and work out what has change and go from there, good luck.

Hi all thanks for the advice. I am playing at low stakes seachicken so money is not a issue but i have been stressed out over my daughters behaviour lately. A friend of mine has suggested that i excercise an hour before i play a game as it helps you control your nerves. Dont know if this works but i will give it a go.

I dont know about where you play, but I always find headphones work for me. Keeps your subconscious active which for me seems to keep me thinking about the BAD BEAT I just got or the fact I might be drawing dead. Plus it helps in those times that you are drawing dead to take your mind off of everything and to fold till you get the "premium" hands that you want

Good luck!!

it always good idea to close the chat some poeple like to play tony g style bieing an a$$ hole as much as they can so you be on tilt mode thats why poker is the game for the mentaley strong as i say to my self dont let any body get on my nerves

I tried exercising before i played and found i was to excited to play well. I was in go mode and found it hard to sit and be patient waiting for the right times to play. I found myself playing extremely fast and lose. But that was just me.

I would try to come to terms with the situation with your daughter. It was a similar situation with me. My son was having issues and i think that was the cause of my problem. I also had just switch jobs and wasn't sure if i had made the right choice. Every time i would win a pot i felt like i had control and with my son i had no control and desperately wanted to be able to fix the problem. My problem didn't go away until i developed a better understanding of what was going on with my son. Still have the same issues but now i have a better way of dealing with them.

Good luck

i have been dealing with same problem myself since day 1, and i have played medium stakes for 3 years, i actually sold my main event ticket to the melbourne champs because my nervousness ( shaky hands, rapid heartrate) was ruining my game, now the next problem i was faced with was i found drinking alcohol eased my stress, but next thing i knew i was drinking everytime i played poker, so soon i was drinking 3-4 nights a week and ended up with a slight drinking problem. i have been to see a pyshcologist for this issue as i consider poker as a part time job. apparently it is anxiety and usually related to stress in your life and not so much the money or intimidation of other players... so to answer your question about a pill that you can take, i now take a drop of something called rescue remedy, it is sold in many chemists and completey legal and non addictive, it will lower your heart rate slightly which will help will shaky hands, its fairly cheap, tastes bit awful though. many public speakers take this before a speech. i hope this helps, good luck with this issue and good luck on the felt!

Weed FTW!

Gday Aries

Im going out on a limb ....

I suffer from ashtma, and a few years back my doctor changed my medication, well, some of the side affects werent nice at all, but it worked.

Side affect ... Anxiety, jitters, sweaty palms, and the like.

Now I know whats going on, I can counteract the feelings.

Hi dutch courage, As seachicken and yourself have pointed out that my nerves are affected by anxiety away from the poker table. I think this to be true as things with my daughter's behaviour have improved, and i have gone on to win the poker league where i play as my nerves have been much better. I still shake a little when i win a big hand but i see this as natural, many players i know seem to shake after winning big. If i should have any problems with my nerves in the future then i will try this rescue remedy out.

I'm just a shaker, my hands always are shaking unless im specifically using them for something so I've just gotten used to it and have been paid off big time by people thinking it was a "tell" more than once lol. But if you really want help I would try posting in the QA with that mental game/poker psychologist thread. Seems like he knows his stuff.

Are you a relatively high strung individual? I've been training myself for years to deal with stressful situations in life and honestly theres no quick answer...just remind yourself everything is relative and most things in life do not matter as much as we think/want them to.

As for keeping that stuff off the table...I've found it beneficial to put yourself in a pleasant mindset before the tournament along with during every break. Run yourself through every reason you have to be happy.

I generally play several games at once,this gives u more chance of staying calm,because you have more choice of cards to play,you will be in more hands per hour,and won`t get bored as quick,lose patience or be forced to play poor hole cards.

If in a single live tournament people don`t tend to show aggression from badbeats nor take as many risks,everyone will see if you get donked by a ballsy or stupid call.
I tend to play aggresive live,to show people I won`t be pushed about I raise preflop when l`m in postion and have a follow through type starting hand at a consistent amount according to the blind structure ratio.

Exercising and meditation. Also research different types of breathing techniques online. Tried 4 corner breathing. Seems to help a lot.

I would recommend a small ball, that u can press and grab if u are agressive cause of a bad beat. i do it sometimes while playing online, but never tried it live....