'Flow' in MTT's

dj11

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Is there such a thing? I tend to think so, and when I think I am in that flow, I tend to do better. Is it something to seek ?
 
Martinez

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Describe flow better.
If on the other hand you are describimg running good then that's another story.
You can also play better if you are feeling good about yourself in general I think simply because you are more realxed and the mind works better.
 
dj11

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Not necessarily running good, but that would be part of it, as would be any other feeling good aspects. Certainly when I am running bad I never have that feeling of being 'in the flow'. Description is weak, I know, sort of like describing luck.

There would be aspects of rhythm (pacing) and reading players. Even perhaps some cosmic feeling that we are in the right place at the right time.

Thing is I can barely remember (if ever), chasing that 'flow' and catching it, but I can remember being in it and riding it deep. Under most circumstances I find I am just enduring until something special happens. That often works good enough, but is much less enjoyable. Oh yeah, enjoyment would be part of those 'feeling good' aspects of the flow.......if it exists.
 
BearPlay

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Yeah, I totally get where you're coming from and I agree with you.

Westerners might understand it better as "momentum" or "streaks", but I regard this feeling as "qi", the synergistic energy force between things.

Often, on and off the tables, it just means getting out of the way and letting the energy do its work (Tao "The Way"), while we act as channels.

Hopefully that is not too far "out there" in respect to your post.

Cheers ;)
 
Arjonius

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I tend to call it being in the zone, but whatever the term, I've certainly had times when I was able to do various things better or more easily than usual for fairly short periods of time and with no readily apparent reason so that the enhanced performance wasn't repeatable on demand.
 
rifflemao

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Is there such a thing? I tend to think so, and when I think I am in that flow, I tend to do better. Is it something to seek ?

I tend to think of flow in terms of action at the table, and the zone as a mindset where your actions\decisions are mostly +EV. I think part of being in the zone is not caring too much about the results, and finding a sweet spot of thoughtful recklessness in your game, if that makes sense.

Jared Tendler has a good explanation of flow\zone in poker that is worth a search.
 
Jacki Burkhart

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I think this "flow" or "zone" phenomenon definitely exists, and I think there are 2 different ways to "access" it.

One is highly labor intensive it basically consists of hyper focusing on the table and clearing your mind of all other thoughts (almost like meditation, but more concrete than that) so that you only see, smell, hear, and feel poker poker poker...almost like in the movie "the matrix" when Neo slows his perception way down so he can "dodge bullets" :) ha ha I'm being overly dramatic but you get it.

This first method is very intentional and basically consists of picking up micro patterns and micro tells and tapping into a "rhythm". But when you're in that zone you frequently find yourself making amazing calls when you are barely ahead and making amazing folds when you are barely behind and to YOU it doesn't seem hard at all; it just seems obvious...but to the other players at the table you appear to have poker super powers. ;)

The second way to access this "flow" or "being in the zone" is almost the opposite of the first way. It is basically accessed by completely letting go of the logical and analytical side of your brain and letting your intuition take over. I believe this is what we are seeing when we see a brand new player go on a tear or a "beginner's luck" binge...also I think this is what we are seeing when an inebriated player all of a sudden is playing the best poker of their life.

I suspect that in both cases we are simply allowing our brain to process micro tells and micro patterns by clearing our brain activity of all extraneous "static" and "chatter".

I have been in both places but they are both difficult for me to achieve; so in most tournaments I play the best I can "outside" of the zone or the flow. I can achieve the focused analytical zone much more frequently and predictably than I can achieve the intuition zone...but the best results I've ever had are when I'm playing in the intuition zone. Also, the most fun I've ever had playing poker were when I was in the intuition zone (and no...I don't get there by being drunk! ha ha)

so....in short I do know what you are speaking about and I hope I don't sound too much like a crazy wiccan crystal toting nut job. :)
 
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