How to get into the zone

Loonbat

Loonbat

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 12, 2012
Total posts
386
Chips
0
I've been playing for many moons now - thousands of sessions over the last 10 or so years - and I still cannot find how I achieve my zen poker zone, where I find decisions come easily and in hindsight it feels like I played perfect poker.

Some call this their A-game but for me it seems to go beyond (or at least feel like it does). Two nights ago I hit this zone and had one event (taking 2nd due to a bad run HU) where every decision I made was spot-on. I seemed to find every imaginable spot, exploiting every edge, and all my folds seemed spot-on. There were no really difficult decisions as every situation had a degree of perfect clarity. It was me and the game, and I knew it was my game to lose.

I want to be in this zone each time I play, but last night found myself ending my session with a couple games where I felt I could care less. I call this the opposite of the zone ... I call it the ****-all. I pray more than play. I wasn't folding as I should and was pushing imaginary edges, ending up spewing more often than not.

So, does anyone have tips for finding the zone? I do so accidentally and do find that in this point in my life and in my game that I should be able to create or immerse myself in a manner where I'm playing damn good poker every time I sit down. Unfortunately I cannot and know it.

HALP!!
 
C

cotta777

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 27, 2012
Total posts
868
Chips
0
I've been playing for many moons now - thousands of sessions over the last 10 or so years - and I still cannot find how I achieve my zen poker zone, where I find decisions come easily and in hindsight it feels like I played perfect poker.

Some call this their A-game but for me it seems to go beyond (or at least feel like it does). Two nights ago I hit this zone and had one event (taking 2nd due to a bad run HU) where every decision I made was spot-on. I seemed to find every imaginable spot, exploiting every edge, and all my folds seemed spot-on. There were no really difficult decisions as every situation had a degree of perfect clarity. It was me and the game, and I knew it was my game to lose.

I want to be in this zone each time I play, but last night found myself ending my session with a couple games where I felt I could care less. I call this the opposite of the zone ... I call it the ****-all. I pray more than play. I wasn't folding as I should and was pushing imaginary edges, ending up spewing more often than not.

So, does anyone have tips for finding the zone? I do so accidentally and do find that in this point in my life and in my game that I should be able to create or immerse myself in a manner where I'm playing damn good poker every time I sit down. Unfortunately I cannot and know it.

HALP!!


I know exactly what you mean...

I think sometimes even the atmosphere can effect our game. like if your not in your own company or there is a distruptive vibe or negative vibe then this will rattle our thought concept.

Maybe the answer is meditation, learning to redirect the energies and cycles we all have to go through mood and emotional transformations through the month I have read loads into this like astrological reasons and moon and gravitatational cycles/weather and the presence and background noise.

naturally we wont always be in sync with the universe 24/7 the only way to sustain a permanant consistancy is to train and advance the mind and positive emotion enlightment.
Im not expert but its on my to do list
 
T

The Nuder

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 26, 2013
Total posts
89
Chips
0
This is essentially a question of state management. What are the mechanisms for regulating, managing and ultimately triggering specific states at will. Most states (it could be argued all) are triggered by internal or external events or a combination of both.

Proactively managing state is about recognising which factors trigger specific responses. To start with you have internal dialogue and physiology. Two sides of the 'state coin' - in that each can affect the other. You can use either or both to leverage changes in state.

By the time we reach adulthood we tend to have multiple predictbale responses wired in. They're ready to fire off as soon as they're triggered, it's like walking around a 'state minefield' - you get lots of synasthesia patterns set up see-feel and hear-feel circuits ie. you see something and instantly feel something, you hear something and instantly feel something.

These 'state mines' affect people to varying extents. Some people will find it very difficult to sustain a focused state for very long at all - internal and external distractions are too abundant. Whereas others can already enter states of heightened concentration seemingly at will.

If you want to enhance your ability to enter a state at will the number of ways of attempting this are limited only by your imagination, but successful methods will probably include elements of:
  • Cleaning up known existing distractions - identifying the things either in game or out of game - that consistently degrade focus.
  • Getting a consistent playspace clear of external distractions.
  • Congruently commiting your poker time to just poker - so you're not mulling over work issues in the background. Agree with yourself up front that you are going to play for 3 hours etc. Deal with any internal objections.
  • Visualise yourself doing this and successfully entering your preferred state. Step into the visualisation and feel how it feels as your doing it.
  • Sensitising yourself to changes in state - so you become more aware of what is stealing your attention
  • Practicing managing your physiology and breathing as and when required - this regulates state
Basically state is about focus of attention. Our attention is always shifting - you're simply attempting to marshall it so it can only drift within the confines you set. Sounds trivial but it's a lifetimes work for some people.
 
vinylspiros

vinylspiros

PIRANHA-------->< (((º>
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 9, 2012
Total posts
4,393
Awards
1
Chips
1
I have been in that "zone" as well,but i think rungood is a huge part of it.
 
I

indahood193

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 3, 2013
Total posts
445
Chips
0
I have been in that "zone" as well,but i think rungood is a huge part of it.

yes run good is 95% of it haha.

there are other factors too though, such as being in a peaceful area where you can concentrate, playing fewer tables where you make better decisions, being in a very calm and positive state of mind (this could also be down to running good however.)

i was kind of like this on Sunday, had a ton of deep runs going on at the same time but everything fizzled out. must have had over 75% of itm for my tournies near the end though haha. it is weird because some days you can play a whole day and cash like once or twice out of 40. strange game.

once you get decent at the game i think it becomes really apparent how much poker is in the head, and not just about what cards you have. for example some days you feel negative and just lose, others as you mention like you had you feel great and make great decisions and can't go wrong. think this all links back to run good though. i assume the best players try to be closer to this positive zone all the time and not let small swings alter their mind set.
 
T

The Nuder

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 26, 2013
Total posts
89
Chips
0
once you get decent at the game i think it becomes really apparent how much poker is in the head, and not just about what cards you have. for example some days you feel negative and just lose, others as you mention like you had you feel great and make great decisions and can't go wrong. think this all links back to run good though. i assume the best players try to be closer to this positive zone all the time and not let small swings alter their mind set.
There's a saying in sales "success breads success." Which basically means it's easier to make the next sale when you're doing well. Again this comes down to state management and focus of attention.
 
I

indahood193

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 3, 2013
Total posts
445
Chips
0
There's a saying in sales "success breads success." Which basically means it's easier to make the next sale when you're doing well. Again this comes down to state management and focus of attention.

yeah can't disagree with that. same can apply to a downswing i suppose, when you are losing sometimes it is hard to get out of that rut.
 
Jacki Burkhart

Jacki Burkhart

long winded rambler...
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 12, 2013
Total posts
2,960
Awards
6
Chips
0
I think it is more than just running good though.

I've been in this poker zone when I'm not getting great cards or getting lucky, I'm just making excellent decisions.

I've also had games where I'm just running really good and I'm not actually playing in that "zone" I'm just in the right place at the right time so to speak.

So while there can definitely be some overlap, I think they are 2 different things.

For me, I have only been in this zone a handful of times, maybe twice a year...and I can remember the experience so vividly, exactly how it felt, exactly the kinds of reads I was making and tells I had picked up etc. and normally I cannot recall a session from months or years ago with such clarity.
 
dudemanstan

dudemanstan

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 11, 2013
Total posts
769
Chips
0
And the truth is very complicated, because when you think that you are in run're playing well, but when you are not playing well perdes streak and is very dificl area are in line, because the game varies but what if can keep your game
I dont know what your saying, but I love trying to figure it out :)
To the OP. I think its just focus I guess? I was sick in a freeroll one time, and got a min cash, and I was thinking at the time I could have gone farther maybe If I had felt better.
 
Refinado Tom

Refinado Tom

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 19, 2013
Total posts
1,209
Chips
0
Sometimes stress, our family environment, labor, our health, etc lead us to have good and bad stages in our lives. That affects us emotionally and therefore in a mental game as it is the poker. We cannot avoid, what if we can make that was promulgated at least possible in our game. We must try to be as quiet as possible to the time of play. Happy with the place where we are playing.
If we play on line, what if we can is automaticlly the hours in which to gamble. All we have a schedule in which we did better than others, and it is familiar to all. This will help us to make fewer errors in our game. And not to confuse: make fewer errors does not mean they do not make mistakes. All the mistakes happen and it is impossible not to do so.
 
jordanbillie

jordanbillie

Legend
Bronze Level
Joined
Dec 19, 2007
Total posts
3,742
Awards
3
Chips
161
I find that the only time I am out of the zone is when I am focusing too much on monetary goals or paying too much attention to my BR. Sometimes caring about the money (even subconsciously) can really hurt your decisions. I know I am not in the zone when I go against my better judgement and don't act on my reads.
 
Top