I have trouble thinking during a hand!

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Heather21

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I play 6 max cash games and when i do hand history reviews and analyze hands i can think about opponent ranges and see where i have gone wrong. But during the actual hand I seem to rush/loose concentration and just click buttons without thinking. its like i have a 2 second time bank to make a decision

Are there any methods that people use to make themselves slow down and think? Maybe counting to 3 before they make a decision or even talking the hand out out loud?
 
dionlugt

dionlugt

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Click timebank, go trough the hand again and do your thinking, not much to explain It think. Or disconnect your wifi for at least a minute thinkingtime ^^
 
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swingro

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This is a form of tilt. You can do anything that makes you take a 2-3 seconds break before playing a hand because after a period the brain will adjust. The fact is you are not taking a break now because your brain does not have enough info to occupy himself before playing a street. For example the starting hands chart. If you think before every hand at that chart, like "is this hand good to start with or not, and I have to 3-bet, call or fold against this type of player ?" you will necessarily take a couple of seconds break. If you are not thinking of this go back to learning . Every time you get to this wall and your hand makes you act before properly thinking at the hand or at the street of a hand, it is time to get back to study to get the info that will help you pass that phase.
So the brain is acting on the first instinct because he has no info to do something else.
 
Bowman26

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If you are following along with the hand correctly you should already have the story up to that point figured out and have a course of action already in mind. Play the hand before it gets to you and think about what you might do as the action comes around to you. You can already have a lot of decisions made before you actually need to act. It is when you get deep into a hand and someone does something odd that you need to reflect about the whole hand and think for a few before acting.

If you are trying to figure out the whole story but can't recall who 3 bet etc you are going to make mistakes more often. Know the story as it unfolds and you won't need to think as long. Myself when I get a marginal hand I always think first would I call a raise with this hand if I limp now? If my answer is no, I fold. If the action is coming to me and a raise has been made I already know if I am willing to call that raise and by then I know if I want to re-raise it myself depending on my position and the # of ppl already in the pot etc.
 
hobonc

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If you are following along with the hand correctly you should already have the story up to that point figured out and have a course of action already in mind. Play the hand before it gets to you and think about what you might do as the action comes around to you. You can already have a lot of decisions made before you actually need to act. It is when you get deep into a hand and someone does something odd that you need to reflect about the whole hand and think for a few before acting.

If you are trying to figure out the whole story but can't recall who 3 bet etc you are going to make mistakes more often. Know the story as it unfolds and you won't need to think as long. Myself when I get a marginal hand I always think first would I call a raise with this hand if I limp now? If my answer is no, I fold. If the action is coming to me and a raise has been made I already know if I am willing to call that raise and by then I know if I want to re-raise it myself depending on my position and the # of ppl already in the pot etc.

This^^^^^
 
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spstevens

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I find talking to myself out loud helps me to focus on decisions that need to be made ,there is just something about actually hearing the question that makes me think it over.
I know the spoken word is slower than a thought so it may just be slowing me down a bit to think things over.

That being said you aren't always in a position to speak aloud but when alone it helps me .
 
dresturn2

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You are suffering from an overload of knowledge most likely. You have studied the game and have lots of ideals but are struggling to put them into play because there is so much that could be happening. My advice would be to simplify what you wanna do in every session until you get it down and then add in something else
 
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cotta777

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I play 6 max cash games and when i do hand history reviews and analyze hands i can think about opponent ranges and see where i have gone wrong. But during the actual hand I seem to rush/loose concentration and just click buttons without thinking. its like i have a 2 second time bank to make a decision

Are there any methods that people use to make themselves slow down and think? Maybe counting to 3 before they make a decision or even talking the hand out out loud?


I get this exact same problem,

I make most my money in the first couple of hours, then I start to get lazy and impatient I dont think everything through unless im playing great and running good without a big pot lost.

something that helps me is questioning to myself why would he be raising , whats my image on this table, what hands could he be holding, is he good enough to rep a hand or just clicking bet.

if you have a notepad label this on your laptop/screen.

ask yourself why your making the action your about to make s0 - WHY
think what is your image how have you played. so - WHAT

and thirdly ask yourself how can I win this pot - is he commited? can I take him to the turn and see what he does. how much equity do i have - so HOW
a little lable ;)

WHY
WHAT
HOW
 
Dalsue214

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I play 6 max cash games and when i do hand history reviews and analyze hands i can think about opponent ranges and see where i have gone wrong. But during the actual hand I seem to rush/loose concentration and just click buttons without thinking. its like i have a 2 second time bank to make a decision

Are there any methods that people use to make themselves slow down and think? Maybe counting to 3 before they make a decision or even talking the hand out out loud?

Take your hands off the mouse and fiddle with something to keep your mind off of the hand. Maybe get some clay chips and shuffle them or something while you play. That type of reaction is usually boredom.. or an ADD movement. (Not saying you have ADD, but it's similar.)
 
K

kevbot

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I used to talk to myself out loud about the hand and all the possibilities, also try to think about what might happen on the following streets before making a decision.

This should help to slow down your play and evaluate the entire hand.
 
Suited Frenzy

Suited Frenzy

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There are specific vitamins, drinks & super foods out there that all help w/ your focus & concentration.

The internetz will help you find them :top:
 
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heAdstroMan

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deep breaths. tell yourself why you do something before you do anything!
 
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Heather21

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thanks guys I'll try some of these methods. I quite like having sticky notes around edge of screen reminding me of the questions i should be asking myself before acting.

Thank you
 
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kmichaels

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I think that you think too much. Keep calm and if you are a good poker player like you think you are good decisions comes naturally. Take your time and experience will make you a quicker player.
 
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