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Is there any good and bad in preparing for a poker session? Do you even need to prepare for a poker session? Or can you get right up out of bed flip open the laptop and get right into it?
In playing live sometimes I've listened to music before but sometimes I feel that gets me too focused. Doesnt, make much sense I know. But what I mean is it gets me so focused I'm studying other players and end up outplaying myself (out-leveling myself). Same situation has occurred with online before fwiw.
Should you play a real small tournament to start a session in order to see if you are “in the zone.” And if you feel like you are playing well you can start firing up games, or if you feel like you are playing poorly you can shut the computer down for now and continue later in the day or the next day.
Just looking for some insight. Thanks.
Creating a pre-session warm up can be helpful for some people.
Possibly some exercise, review a few tough hands you played recently, make a list of the parts of your game you will focus on during that session, or maybe map out a schedule of games you will play (tourney times, stakes, how many tables you'll play…). Go over your plan during breaks.
This can help get your mind focused prior to playing or help regain your focus if your session isn't going well.
I don't know if this will help you shove. When I know that I am playing a live tournament or a live poker cash session, I will not go to the session hung over. I would get a good night's sleep the night before. I drive an hour and half so I will listen to some podcasts on the drive, typically some TPE stuff there with strategy talk. I also will eat a more of a protein type of breakfast and limit on carbs before the session and during the session.
Online….Good one there. It is so easy just to open the laptop and hit it. I will resemble the “Sunday Grind” verses the weekday but it really should be something where you probably should treat every session you hit as a “Sunday Grind” session. I like to take a walk before the session or in my case, I like to run. It will bring your mind in focus and your blood flowing a bit for some good concentration.
Water is always the best for hydration during your session, not caffeine or beers or jack and cokes. Also, snack on some nuts. I like nuts because it is good protein. I also like pistachios too as a snack as I am grinding. It is weird but it allows you to take your focus off your session a bit and trains your brain a bit to not be so “bot” that can be done easily online. It brings focus actually.
It sounds a bit wierd but I try and get any edge that I can when playing and try not to be distracted. i also had to stop chatting while in a session, though I love my TPE chat, it has distracted me a bit. I am still inexperienced poker player and need to concentrate. So I am starting to turn my Skype off and my TPE Chat off and really focus.
Hope that helps
Both very good points. I think its ok to have TPE chat up and other stuff, but I feel thats what the breaks can be used for. You can catch up on your chatting, see how other members are doing, etc. Thanks for the advice guys, very helpful.
Good stuff Steve. Little snacks are definitely good. Water is good too (I have a coffee problem).
Minimizing visual diversions definitely helps me. Chat and Skype can be a distraction, but on the other hand, I find that I play better if I'm talking through hands and spots or if someone is sweating my tables. Having someone to “share” your session with can be a lot of fun and is beneficial for sure.
Having some kind of focus/theme for the session (opening utg, squeezing light, checkraising cbets, isolating limpers, etc) is also a way to stay sharp, although it's important to stay flexible, adapt to each particular spot, and not be aggressive for aggression's sake.
IDK though, I've never had much of a problem being motivated/focused for a session. Just kind of a personality trait I guess.
when i start my session and i have only a couple tables open i like to watch some training videos on the side, that gets me in the right mindset i think.
– H20.. i drink way too much beer live though!
– light snacks
– reviewing a couple of hands in our TPE forum
– sometimes ill give myself a couple of jobs like 'take the rubbish out and feed the dog' or 'walk to the shop to get some milk and vacuum the house' before i allow myself to sit down – similar to swhitelex just doing some activity
1 of the grinding friends has a diary book that has his 'list' of goals/objectives that he reads and keeps open next to his laptop
but its more motivational and mental-game things like 'the best you can do is get your chips all in ahead, you cant control what happens after that' etc
i try to watch the pro videos/ theory vids later at night relaxing before bed
I like all the ideas thanks guys. Seems I will probably adopt doing some kind of small activity (whatever that may be) probably fill up a glass water and get to grinding. In session I think I like only having TPE chat up, facebook is not needed, skype is not needed, twitter is not needed. On breaks I think I like to walk away from the computer free my mind a bit, possibly grab a snack, refeul the brain. Also, that releives stress..self talk can return your focus back to the game if you may have been tilted, not focused, or playing poorly.
take 30mg of addy when going into a long session. it does wonders.
every now and then i listen to tommy angelo's eightfold path. he focuses on stuff like “how to think right” and breathing tricks and stuff like that, its all about having the right mindset to playing your a-game more often.
I think the best preperation takes place not right before the session, but more as a life style change. Eating right, sleeping well and staying physically fit are all important to help maintain the A game for longer. Since most of us poker players are degen gamblers that is one serious +$EV and +lifeEV edge.
I wouldn't underestimate the importance of maintaining healthy relationships as well. Got to be able to take a break every once in a while and just have some fun.
As much as it limits my volume, I won't start a session until I feel that I have all of those areas of life in order.
I think its important to plan a session way ahead of time. At least a few hours.
I find if I play on a whim, without much prep, i'm off kilter.
If I plan ahead, get things set-up, and get myself in the zone, I play great.
i dont think a pre game routine is necessary persay but i think you should def do something to warm up your mind before playing, this can be diff for everyone, i know me and my room mate like to play video games before we play poker, jus for like 20 minutes, or like somebody mentioned read a hand in the mtt strategy, anything to get your brain active and running
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