PD:Sometimes
you’re running bad, or maybe you’re just playing bad. Sometimes it’s a
combination of both. Running bad can put you on tilt subconsciously,
which leads to poor play. But when your poker results start to suffer,
particularly in online play where good players will take more than their
share of bad beats, sometimes you need to step back and re-assess your
play.
Poker"DEMOCRACY":I’ve found
that, most of the time, simply freeing myself of distractions and other
influences that might affect my mind-set is the most effective way to
renew my focus and see improved results. Here are a few tips that have
worked for me:
Eliminate
distractions ahead of time – This means turning off the TV, telephone
and keeping the music down to a low volume. If you have children or pets
to take care of, make sure their needs are met before you play.
Develop a
routine – This means everything from signing up the same time before a
tournament to sitting in the same seat position at the table. Every time
I play, I click the “sit here” option on the bottom seat exactly in the
middle. This helps me focus, as I never have to change my eye level and
look for my seat, as I always felt a little awkward if my seat was in a
corner position or at the top. Plus, just getting into a routine this
way helps me focus on the game at hand.
Be prepared to
play – This covers everything from being rested, showered and focused,
to making sure you have no time commitments that are going to get in the
way. If you are playing a multi-table tournament with 2,000
participants, you should anticipate that you will be playing for the
next 5 hours or so. Clear your schedule. Do not play if you have another
imminent time commitment. Also, make sure you have eaten and used the
bathroom before you start. Just as is in live games, failure to do this
will result in you missing potentially valuable hands at the table. The
breaks are short; make sure you have snacks or beverages readily
prepared so you can re-fuel in a timely fashion.
Eliminate
distractions at the table – In addition to sitting in the same spot each
time, I recommend turning off all avatar images and avoiding chat at
all costs. Many avatar images appear intended to distract you and, let’s
face it, some of them do. Whether it’s a picture of a bikini-clad,
buxom model that has your attention, or some other sort of violent or
semi-graphic image, it’s relatively easy to have your attention drawn to
these images. Eliminate that possibility by shutting them off. Also,
keep chatting to a minimum. If your opponent chats “nh” or “nice hand”
after losing a pot to you and you believe his sentiment is sincere, a
“ty” or “thank you” is acceptable, but do not draw out the conversation.
If he is clearly being sarcastic, ignore him. Resist the temptation to
engage in personal battles, even if someone types an offensive sentiment
such as “nice call, donkey.” Engaging in prolonged chats will only
distract you from the game and task at hand, and could possibly put you
on tilt. Leave tilting to your opponents.
Follow the
general rule of HALT – That is, do not play if you are hungry, angry,
lonely or tired. As previously stated, make sure you are fed if you
intend to play a long tournament. If you are angry, from taking bad
beats or for some other personal reasons, it’s never a good idea to play
because you will have a compromised mindset. Playing to kill time
before you go to bed is usually a bad idea, too, as you will have
less-than-optimal focus and be tempted to make plays you normally
wouldn’t make.
Play better
than your opponents – Isn’t this always the goal when you play? Of
course, but this is meant in the most basic sense. Online players
notoriously play too many hands, try too many ill-advised bluffs and
overvalue and overplay starting hands. They refuse to fold when they
clearly are beat, and shove all-in when they clearly are behind. The
masses are asses … don’t be one of them. Don’t lose sight of the fact
that patience is still a key virtue in poker. Many new players seem to
crave instant gratification, and all it leads to is an early bust-out.
So let everyone else ram-and-jam in every pot, and put all their chips
in the middle on a three-outer. You, meanwhile, sit back and pick your
spots. Be selective about your starting hands, and don’t be afraid to
fold when you are beat. Don’t make foolish calls or push with marginal
hands just because you’ve been running cold. You’d be surprised how huge
an advantage a little patience will give you over your opponents.
Poker"DEMOCRACY"
