I don't know if this affects everyone, but today I was feeling low and also the weather went crappy and cool. At the tables I've just been crap all day. This happens a lot where I tend to play badly if I'm having an off day mood wise.

It's amplified at the moment with the current situation with gloomy news but because I'm trying to limit how much of that I take in I've been hitting the tables more than I would. Previously if I wasn't feeling great I would probably just avoid poker.

Anyone else affected by mood/mental state?

I usually enjoy a game when I have had a hard day, but if it appears it is going to worsen my mood, I quit playing.

Yes, many things can have a huge effect.

Generally feeling down, of course. Tired or stressed, noticeably so.

One problem for me is due to location I need to play in the middle of the night. It is virtually impossible for me to balance proper rest and play. Some days I cope well but other days it is a disaster - a lack of attention, irritability and simple tiredness but I have little choice in the matter due to tourney schedules.

As I am mostly playing free rolls it is not of major consequence...but trust me it is obvious when I am playing sub-optimally.

If you can avoid playing when in a bad mood I would avoid. I want to be as neutral as possible when I play better thinking. I keep my mind fresh by working out early then playing after. If I’m moody or having a bad day I get reckless just my thought process.

Poker is hard, needs your full abilities. When I'm feeling low, not all there, I usually don't play.

However, if poker is a useful diversion, and gets you out of the dumps, go ahead and play.

Originally Posted by mkdrummey

I don't know if this affects everyone, but today I was feeling low and also the weather went crappy and cool. At the tables I've just been crap all day. This happens a lot where I tend to play badly if I'm having an off day mood wise.

It's amplified at the moment with the current situation with gloomy news but because I'm trying to limit how much of that I take in I've been hitting the tables more than I would. Previously if I wasn't feeling great I would probably just avoid poker.

Anyone else affected by mood/mental state?

If you low don´t play long tournaments.. if you had luck, it will up your mud, if not you way stop... and wait for a better time

Originally Posted by mkdrummey

I don't know if this affects everyone, but today I was feeling low and also the weather went crappy and cool. At the tables I've just been crap all day. This happens a lot where I tend to play badly if I'm having an off day mood wise.

It's amplified at the moment with the current situation with gloomy news but because I'm trying to limit how much of that I take in I've been hitting the tables more than I would. Previously if I wasn't feeling great I would probably just avoid poker.

Anyone else affected by mood/mental state?

I think I understand a little what you mean, when I'm in a good mood and full of energy I play much more focused and better, it seems that I get a lot more high pairs and form a lot more strong games on the flop, it's intriguing .
However when I play discouraged, tired or without much focus, no good hands come and those who come I only get bad beat.
I believe in energy in vibration, and emotions are exactly that, whether I am playing with a high emotional or not the universe will correspond to my feelings, in your case of playing without much encouragement it causes. you receive bad letters, and it also prevents you from seeing the good chances, in short, the universe is only returning the feeling you sent to him in the form of these letters or lack of them

a lot depends on the mood
you have to play when good minded
Good luck everyone

If you are feeling like this is one of those sessions where you could swing from feeling bad and enjoying poker to lift your mood or continue down a bad road. You could always play a cash game which would allow you to bail at any moment, rather than playing a tournament game that locks you into several hours.

Originally Posted by mkdrummey

I don't know if this affects everyone, but today I was feeling low and also the weather went crappy and cool. At the tables I've just been crap all day. This happens a lot where I tend to play badly if I'm having an off day mood wise.

It's amplified at the moment with the current situation with gloomy news but because I'm trying to limit how much of that I take in I've been hitting the tables more than I would. Previously if I wasn't feeling great I would probably just avoid poker.

Anyone else affected by mood/mental state?

When in the Marines, I always felt like the dumbest in my group(from orphanage to boy's homes and growing up as unfitting was my train of thoughts), still, I was top of my class when it came to testing. Maybe feeling ill of myself compelled me to study harder, listen to instruction and to take notes. I heard somewhere that mint candy made you attentive and alert and took that info when testing; it helped. You can allow "feeling low" affect you; that is a Choice or you can have an Effect on what you're doing by choosing to shut things down, relaxing and choosing to realize that there are others that truly have amplified problems, sorrows and concerns that they had no way of avoiding; yet they keep going forward knowing that there are others that do not know what they have faced, are facing and will face. GOD's word says that HE will never forsake us. When playing on gloomy days, try to play for fun, relaxed and fold your 5 of a kind and laugh about it. GOD bless you. Now, go get'em!

Originally Posted by Bricxjo

I usually enjoy a game when I have had a hard day, but if it appears it is going to worsen my mood, I quit playing.

That is something that a Pro would do. GOD bless you. Now, go get'em!

Originally Posted by DS3

Yes, many things can have a huge effect.

Generally feeling down, of course. Tired or stressed, noticeably so.

One problem for me is due to location I need to play in the middle of the night. It is virtually impossible for me to balance proper rest and play. Some days I cope well but other days it is a disaster - a lack of attention, irritability and simple tiredness but I have little choice in the matter due to tourney schedules.

As I am mostly playing free rolls it is not of major consequence...but trust me it is obvious when I am playing sub-optimally.

Hang in there good buddy. Focus on the "Pay" and fold your three of a kind when the possibility of flush or strait are staring at you. It is hard to do, but if it affects your chip-count (and Blinds are climbing) then don't let Pride bring you down. GOD's word says, Pride comes before the fall. GOD bless you. Now, go get'em!

I agree with all you say, and usually I would just not bother playing. I also only play freerolls and micro stakes cash tables. Obviously when it comes to freerolls they are at set times of the day so I will usually play them whatever mood I'm in. Yesterday for example one game I play every night I got a triple up with AA on my second hand, then didn't play another hand in that game and got a low cash. In normal mood I would have been playing more hands but every time I looked at my cards I found a reason to fold (JJ pre flop was the best I saw and I folded that to a 3 bet with others still to act)

I played some micro cash but lost a hand and pretty much went on tilt. Fortunately I didn't lose much (pokerstars cash out helped there)

I don't like missing cardschat games but forgot to register for the nightly game.

It just seems more difficult at the moment with not being able to visit family for a change of scenery or go out much.

Originally Posted by mkdrummey

I don't know if this affects everyone, but today I was feeling low and also the weather went crappy and cool. At the tables I've just been crap all day. This happens a lot where I tend to play badly if I'm having an off day mood wise.

It's amplified at the moment with the current situation with gloomy news but because I'm trying to limit how much of that I take in I've been hitting the tables more than I would. Previously if I wasn't feeling great I would probably just avoid poker.

Anyone else affected by mood/mental state?

Well, poker is that game where you should be carried away in order to make the right decision and make a good bluff. If you don’t have this feeling, you will calmly wait for your card and hope for good luck. This is not the game that poker offers.

I don't see the point in starting the game in a bad mood, because the game of poker should give you pleasure, if it is not, then why play

Me 2
Never start to play im bad mood... anrdy, too tired or drink(

Or just for Play chips, not to real money)

Originally Posted by mkdrummey

I don't know if this affects everyone, but today I was feeling low and also the weather went crappy and cool. At the tables I've just been crap all day. This happens a lot where I tend to play badly if I'm having an off day mood wise.

It's amplified at the moment with the current situation with gloomy news but because I'm trying to limit how much of that I take in I've been hitting the tables more than I would. Previously if I wasn't feeling great I would probably just avoid poker.

Anyone else affected by mood/mental state?

Yes , I totally avoid to play in these days cause Poker is not a game to play when you are felling off and it’s affect your rationality and make you choose badly.

I noticed that I play badly when I'm having problems that can change my mood. Sometimes it affects my confidence, sometimes my patience. I try to avoid playing in these days.

Stop do that,you will just loose money.

if I’m in a bad mood, I don’t play, because it affects my game very badly. I start playing too aggressively.

If I 'm not in good mood for the game, I'm not going play at all...

It is better to avoid playing when you are not feeling it, you get tilted easier, you get into problems you wouldn't get if you were thinking more clearly and playing your normal game.

Feel you with that. It's a crappy feeling but when we're feeling off on the game, try to refocus and if we can't then walk away and come back later.

It is not recommended to play if you are not in the mood, it is my opinion. But not for everyone, some play to improve their mood and get their best version of the game in those days.

Thing is my mood can fluctuate before and during a game. I agree it's best to avoid playing for money with a low mood, however freerolling comes with no outlay and can obviously have a positive effect if you make it into the money. It has lifted my mood before. But it works the other way, if I bust out after a long session it can make me feel low.

I definitely wouldn't play a live tournament if I wasn't feeling good.

I agree
But why am I tilting
I am preoccupied with the fact that my PokerStars REAL $ account does not work.
Example:
Yesterday evening I got into a Horse game and after many hours of hard work and reentering finished in the money.
I go check my balance and when I did finished 14 out of 173 I did not get my money and this is happening for months now.
I tried to get help but they tell me I am emailing the wrong place.
It’s only $3.33 because I am a micro player but a few dollars here and a few dollars there every day puts me in a bad mood and it affects my play.

Maybe your re-entries canceled out your winnings.

I try not to play when I'm not feeling it. I tend to take a break from poker when I'm feeling off.

I think it's important to be extremely careful on bad days. Everyone has a depressed mental state. It is necessary to stay away from gambling. And do something useful, such as reading a book.

Wont play live unless I'm in a positive mood and have had good night sleep. On-line if it is not there, one and done.

Done this, lost quite fast...I try to be in a certain minimum-mood to play poker :-) Listening to some music helps!

For sure
When I am down a play a little
Once I see it goes bad, I stop and go away somewhere else to cool my head
Before I used to tilt and play more bad games
But I learned from it

Being in good physical and mental shape while playing is very important. I try to play only when i am at my best level because otherwise i just give free money.

Yep, absolutely. If I can tell I can't shake the bad mood, I usually stop playing. I don't think there was ever a time when I realized I was playing while in a bad mood, and thought, "that was a good idea".

sometimes it not your day,you can sometimes get excellent cards and others you get a pair of two's and threes everytime.But you must always decide when it is over and not got over the limits but everyone can relate to you because who hasnt have a bad day

I noticed another thing. When i set on won - I always lose. When I playing for fun - everything ok. So don't know how to play for fun every time

If the state of health is not okay, I postpone the game because I cannot be in the prizes, this stress passed such a feeling.