Poker nervousness

I have something that concerns me.

I play exclusively on-line, and have been playing a few months.

But, when I get a big hand, or even a decent hand and I'm going at it postflop with someone, I can feel my heart rate jump up. Sometimes my hand gets shaky and sweaty, and I can feel the adrenaline coursing through the blood.

Now, on-line it's not a big deal. I don't get so shaky that I can't operate the mouse. But at some point I'm gonna want to play B&M, plus I don't think the degree to which I am getting excited helps my thinking; I think it's a bit too much to the point it's counterproductive.

I'm a hobby musician, and am used to performing in front of other people, so I know something about performance nerves and how a bit helps, but too much affects things negatively. I've probably played so long and performed so many times that I have confidence in my abilities so it's easier to control my music nervousness.

Anyone else have experiences like this now, or in the past? Do I just need to wait until I've played more so I don't overreact?

I knew a guy who was exactly the same when he first started playing online. It should pass or get better in time. It did for him anyway.

It doesn't happen to you, dakota? Had you been playing a long time already?

NineLions said:

It doesn't happen to you, dakota? Had you been playing a long time already?

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Nope - doesn't affect me at all. Been playing online a couple of years.

I envy you.

I mean, it's okay to get excited. It's one of the more valuable experiences of being alive. But it does get in the way for me right now.

Maybe it's more likely to happen with guys too; a natural "fight or flight" response to defending one's tribe, or something like that.

Used to happen to me, too. It went away in a few months.

I guess it's because there are parts of poker that are uncontrollable. Even AA can get beat. Good luck. It should pass.

Thanks Sticker. Like your blog, btw.

How long have you been playing now?

NineLions said:

Thanks Sticker. Like your blog, btw.

How long have you been playing now?

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(Thanks.) About a year and a half.

I'm in the same situation. I've been playing online for a few months and find the same things happening. Although, they are slightly beginning to go away. The other day I had AK suited and had 2 all-ins in front of me, and I merely shugged and thought, okay.

so i guess it's an experience thing. although i've been playing for years, granted with my friends but still...

It happens to me when I move up a level to test the field a bit.. I get really nervous with my big hands and often over bet them... Once I get into the grove of the higher limit, and my bankroll is big enough to withstand a few bad beats I start to calm down and play my game again.

Combination of the newness of it all & the competition. Tends to go away as you play more. After a while if you are getting nervous over individual hands could be a sign you aren't really focusing on what you are trying to do. If you are watching the other players, taking notes, trying to figure out what they likely have based on how,how much & when they bet, & at the same time are trying to roughly compute odds & count outs you really don't have to worry about getting excited about individual hands.

I get nervous when i have a big hand preflop. Im more comfortable being the underdog, catching draws,....

Once i get a big hand preflop, i just start thinking about it getting cracked lol

Yup, know exactly what you're saying. I've had a few calls where I've been shaking like a leaf, calls where I've felt I've been ahead but where it's become a huge pot and I've got a hand like TPTK...

I'm just glad it's happening online, I'm hoping I'll be more used to the situations by the time I start playing live games.

totally agree with you alan, everytime i see AA i say to myself 'i wonder how it will get cracked this time' haha

The first time i played a big live tourney, second hand in i flopped a full house from the small blind. Shaking hands ??? WOW, still got paid off though, its never happened since.

Kenzie 96 said:

Combination of the newness of it all & the competition. Tends to go away as you play more. After a while if you are getting nervous over individual hands could be a sign you aren't really focusing on what you are trying to do. If you are watching the other players, taking notes, trying to figure out what they likely have based on how,how much & when they bet, & at the same time are trying to roughly compute odds & count outs you really don't have to worry about getting excited about individual hands.

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I think you're right; I expect it to fade over time.

But it may be the opposite of the other part that you mention, about attention. The more attention I pay, the more I'm into my hand. Unfortunately, the more I'm into my hand, the more I chase and get excited. At least, that's what's happening for me right now. Another few thousand hands and it'll be more under control, I hope.

myxiplx said:

Yup, know exactly what you're saying. I've had a few calls where I've been shaking like a leaf, calls where I've felt I've been ahead but where it's become a huge pot and I've got a hand like TPTK...

I'm just glad it's happening online, I'm hoping I'll be more used to the situations by the time I start playing live games.

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We might have been playing about the same length of time, which might explain why we're finding ourselves in the same situation.

The first time I played Hold'em was in February 06, a live tourney as a fundraiser. I wasn't nervous about those hands, basically because I had no idea what I was doing.

tenbob said:

The first time i played a big live tourney, second hand in i flopped a full house from the small blind. Shaking hands ??? WOW, still got paid off though, its never happened since.

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Maybe they just thought you we cold.

That's the kind of thing I'm a bit worried about, as one of these days I'm going to venture into one of the local casinos.

My fist B&M tourney was quite exciting. I'm still quite a greenhorn at live tourneys though

First time at my local tourney place, I got payed off a lot on my big hands, because somehow people always thought I was bluffing. I was just nervous, because of the situation, not because of my poor hands.

Just make sure you don't do what a guy at the most recent live tourney I played did -- he jiggled in his seat whenever he had a big hand.

Every time I play in a live game at a casino, I get the shakes for about 10 minutes prior to walking into the cardroom...don't know what it is, but thats what happens. I've played a lot in casinos and it happens every time, but never happens when I had previously played online (don't anymore due to the prohibition). I've learned to do 2 things: Grab a pint of hops and barley and wait a round before playing any hands. The shakes go away and then I'm able to concentrate on my cards.

Hope this helps,
Vatyx

I'll see if I have the nerve to give it a try over Christmas.

Every year we go back to my parent's place. My dad plays blackjack and my mom plays the slots, so every year my dad gives everyone $10 in quarters and we all go to the casino. I wonder what the cheapest table is; I guess I'll find out soon enough.