Hot to get into the right frame of mind when at the poker table

Pococurante

Pococurante

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My main problem playing poker is this:

On any given day, but especially when I'm tired or bored, I don't go to the table with the right attitude. I lack focus, I don't have the right expectations and I'm there only to win, not to play. This also happens a lot after playing well or very well.

This very frequently poisons my game and makes it less fun to play. I don't play for money (i.e. I don't put money into the sites I play) but I have squandered between 300 and 400 US$ in winnings from freerolls etc. like this through sheer thick-headed, stubborn, tilted attitude that I didn't or couldn't get out of.

Sometimes I "wake up", for example when I hit last place. I concentrate better, I focus more on my game instead of on my position or the prizes for grabs.. And on one occasion I've actually gotten to the final table (2nd or 1st, I forgot) from this almost hopeless position, just from changing my attitude.

If you have the same problem, do you have any kind of routine or method to get into the right attitude? I have read and heard about people in poker and other sports suffering from this but never come across any info that might help me tackle it.

I have to add I'm prone to get angry about other people's behaviour, I also play into people at MTT tables. It's part of who I am and sometimes helps me because I'm probably more acutely aware of the type of player I'm up against. The other side of this medal makes me vulnerable and I feel it's linked to what I wrote above somehow.
 
2Pacavelli

2Pacavelli

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this psychological part is perhaps the most difficult to handle on who plays. My tip is : have a plan . and choose which tournaments you will play during the day and face this game as long-term investment . Evaluate your results month by month and study the game, to continue to evolve and increasing your bankroll
 
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dsk1231

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My main problem playing poker is this:

On any given day, but especially when I'm tired or bored, I don't go to the table with the right attitude. I lack focus, I don't have the right expectations and I'm there only to win, not to play. This also happens a lot after playing well or very well.

Always keep in mind all you can do is play your best game. You won't win everyhand.

This very frequently poisons my game and makes it less fun to play. I don't play for money (i.e. I don't put money into the sites I play) but I have squandered between 300 and 400 US$ in winnings from freerolls etc. like this through sheer thick-headed, stubborn, tilted attitude that I didn't or couldn't get out of.

If I remember correctly I'm sure I saw a youtube video where someone covered how to handle tilt. I think it was Gripsed.

Sometimes I "wake up", for example when I hit last place. I concentrate better, I focus more on my game instead of on my position or the prizes for grabs.. And on one occasion I've actually gotten to the final table (2nd or 1st, I forgot) from this almost hopeless position, just from changing my attitude.

If you have the same problem, do you have any kind of routine or method to get into the right attitude? I have read and heard about people in poker and other sports suffering from this but never come across any info that might help me tackle it.

I have to add I'm prone to get angry about other people's behaviour, I also play into people at MTT tables. It's part of who I am and sometimes helps me because I'm probably more acutely aware of the type of player I'm up against. The other side of this medal makes me vulnerable and I feel it's linked to what I wrote above somehow.

As far as irritation about stupid moves by players. Always remember these players are why we play. In the long run they are our atms.
 
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RodrigoCL

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I know the feeling! And I think all players have been there too. As for myself I have seen that whenever I have a bad mental approach I just can't play good poker. I have found myself playing a game just folding hand after hand waiting for a pair of aces to see if I can get on top of the average chip count. I can even open up facebook or twitter or whatever to avoid boredom. In the end it all just add up to hours of being not productive, just a waste of time.

I find it so hard to get away from that mental state that nowadays I avoid playing at all when I feel a bit like that. It doesn't matter if I have a whole day free just to play. If my mind is not at its best I just don't play.
 
Pococurante

Pococurante

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Thanks all so far. Apparently we all cook with water.. :)

On a side note, yesterday I won a $4 ticket in a unibet freeroll (2nd place) and turned that into $66 later (5th place). No problems concentrating.
 
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pokervike

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Two things jump into my mind in a hurry on this. 1) you just described your own leaks and you know them. There is no magical weight loss pill and there is now easy way to approach poker leaks. If it were easy we could all get over them. 2) Marathon runners don't go from the 1/4 mile to the marathon. Condition your self to play more and when you should be playing. If your bored don't piss away your BR? Sure, we've all done it but it doesn't in any way make it right. You need to drop your head and figure out what you want poker to be for you! If it's recreation then have a blast! If it's money you've got some serious hurdles to get over. If it's to become the poker vigilant hero playing back at people in the pot. Then thanks for the money. I hate to sound callus but if you want honest, I think I was as honest as I could be.
 
Pococurante

Pococurante

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I hate to sound callus
Pokervike, if this is callous you must be one gentle individual.. ;)
Good to hear you identify something I've never defined as a "leak". I guess I never thought I was good enough as a poker player to have any, LOL.

It all makes sense and defining it makes it easier to get to grips with. Also thanks for stating I have some self-knowledge, which I think will come in handy.

I do feel I'm on some kind of ledge here. I've stagnated a long time, struggling to find out what it was that kept me from growing further.
 
wildyetty

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im kinda in the same boat as you, I like to play when nothing else going on but I may not be in right frame of mind.... When I catch myself getting mad or playing at that donkey that seems to hit every hand, I take a break... make some bacon n eggs, and then go back to the table.... Its weird how bacon fixes everything :)

PS i even go order bacon n eggs at the casino
 
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roreyn02

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Try caffeine. It might make you more alert and attentive. Maybe some herbal stuff. Some people even use beta blockers and stuff too..
Other than that, just buckle down and play the game. Dont get distracted.
 
BobGrayling

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Don't know if this will work for you, but it's something I did before a live $1,000 free roll I qualified for once.

I actually wrote out a set of "rules" to follow and actually reviewed them. It won't make you feel any better if you're tired, but it definitely focused me! In fact, I tried to review on every break. Or even when I made a bonehead play. :)

I have employed this strategy in two tournaments and cashed in both. Of course, with typical careful planning, I have no idea where my list is! And, I wonder why I haven't done this more often.

I may have to start thinking again and see if I can remember them. It was about a half dozen small things to keep in mind.

The only one that immediately comes to mind is "bet all in, don't CALL all in." (Obviously doesn't apply if you have a strong hand. Was more a reminder that I'd rather lose my tournament life through an aggressive move than by a passive one.)

I even have a "lucky picture" that I have on my phone. No, I don't believe in luck as such, but it makes me smile, puts me in a good mood and also can be a form of "centering" my thoughts.

Figure out what things DO give you focus and come up with a way to "apply" review those before sitting down.
 
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pokervike

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Pokervike, if this is callous you must be one gentle individual.. ;)
Good to hear you identify something I've never defined as a "leak". I guess I never thought I was good enough as a poker player to have any, LOL.

It all makes sense and defining it makes it easier to get to grips with. Also thanks for stating I have some self-knowledge, which I think will come in handy.

I do feel I'm on some kind of ledge here. I've stagnated a long time, struggling to find out what it was that kept me from growing further.

You're very welcome! I'm glad to hear that it read the way I tried to write it. That is and continues to be one of my leaks :D anyway, for me it has not been so much about, 'how to play J-10 from late position' and much more about 'why I'm playing' 'not becoming 'part of a table full of over betting gamblers'. Sense we are being honest... My BIG problem has been focusing on not letting my game disappear on a loose table playing online. Another one I find myself having trouble with is playing brick and mortar with $200 to buy-in at 1/2 nlhe then later the same night focusing on sitting down with $4 or $10 trying to establish a long lasting online BR. I've heard both sides complain or claim one is a tougher group than the other. I think, scratch that! I KNOW it's not much different. some players are very astute some are there for fun and some prefer to gamble! MY ACTIONS create long term results for MYSELF. A $40 river bet into a checked checked raised hand grabs my attention much more than a .50 4bet. They should in theory, hold the same respect in decision making. I have not nailed that one down yet and it remains something I work on. Hope you can see where I relate closely to what your thread is about.
 
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fatalwhale

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I like to have something on TV or Something else keeping me atleast a little occupied, It makes me not feel the urge to play a meteoker hand lol ..
 
Pococurante

Pococurante

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Another one I find myself having trouble with is playing brick and mortar with $200 to buy-in at 1/2 nlhe then later the same night focusing on sitting down with $4 or $10 trying to establish a long lasting online BR. I've heard both sides complain or claim one is a tougher group than the other. I think, scratch that! I KNOW it's not much different. some players are very astute some are there for fun and some prefer to gamble! MY ACTIONS create long term results for MYSELF. A $40 river bet into a checked checked raised hand grabs my attention much more than a .50 4bet. They should in theory, hold the same respect in decision making. I have not nailed that one down yet and it remains something I work on.
pokervike, I recognize a lot although our poker is probably miles apart. I'm good at mtt but I only do cash game if I must - on new sites and such.
The part about playing well whatever is at stake is so true - and so hard to get rid of. It might actually be THE problem I'm facing - or the heart of the thing that keeps me from playing proper poker. It's more than a problem I guess, it goes way deep down to soul level. If I may venture that far on a poker forum.. ;)
 
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collesut

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Cant play poker whitout focus

My main problem when I play poker tired or bored is that if I dont win A few hands when I had great cards and played it great but I got unlucky i go on A tilt rampage.


So when I am tired od not focused 100% on poker I dont play.
 
almanik

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Sleep well before playing poker.
Eat your favorite food before playing poker.
Wach fun movies before playing poker.
Do everything you like before sit on poker table. It can help you to have good mood and 100% join the game.
 
alfiyka

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I do not this problem. Tired or no desire to play - no play. There is one bad habit --when there is no desire to play--go all the Bank. And it is 70 % win.
 
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Lumpz72

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positive affirmations. I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and gosh darn it, people like me
 
PapaC

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I don't think there is anyway to tell how you will be one day to the next. But boy you are doing great if you win like that in freerolls. Keep up the good job. I have deposited and cashed out some, but at my real money level, I'm having problems winning much. What I mean is that I sit there 2 hours for 2 $. And that's at 10NL To really win a good prize, you got to go higher in MTT's, so put that freerolls money and play some $5 and higher.
 
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pokervike

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pokervike, I recognize a lot although our poker is probably miles apart. I'm good at mtt but I only do cash game if I must - on new sites and such.
The part about playing well whatever is at stake is so true - and so hard to get rid of. It might actually be THE problem I'm facing - or the heart of the thing that keeps me from playing proper poker. It's more than a problem I guess, it goes way deep down to soul level. If I may venture that far on a poker forum.. ;)

Yes it's VERY REAL and VERY fair to say such things on a poker forum. When I decided to take the game with more knowledge and the ability to adapt to different table dynamics it took my very humility to admit I needed the help. It also took the honest in reveling to myself on giving up with certain things because they were 'fun to do' or other things that hindered my game from becoming dynamic and long term profitable. I suggest you seek out some players that you have some admiration from and ask them for help or if they can point you to somebody who can. If you get a generic answer then keep your ear to the ground. You will find them. I found mine about 2 years ago. friend/coach. As time has passed my poker has improved ten fold, I have a new best friend in Chicago, we visit each others homes 2-3 times a year and he's also great with my kids. Poker can be fun off of the felt. I prefer to keep it barrels and shells when I'm on my game. The transformation has started to occur to being as strong online but with each persons game being a tweak here and a tweak there different my online cash game still has room to grow. I try to keep my head forward knowing my game has improved and will eventually grow into online play as well as my brick game. It's going to take some time. I've accepted that and at times my family requires me to be a Dad more than a poker player. I accept that also. I mention this because I want you to feel no pressure in when it happens as long as your honest with yourself about 'it's going to happen'.

Kevin Britting
YOTV 2015
 
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