I have a problem, do you? (1 Viewer)

[shorticus]

Okay, I have a problem when I sit at a poker table. I'm not sure if this is normal, but it happens to me every time I play. Home game, casino, or any other way that you can play Hold Em. When there are stakes involved, be it .25/.50 or 4/8, as soon as I sit at the table, I get nervous. It's not a fear or a situation where I'm uncomfortable because I only play stakes where I am comfortable playing, but it's almost like an adrenaline rush that makes me start to tremble. I'm not sure what this means, but I'll typically just have 1 or 2 crown and cokes, and then it goes away.

Anyone experience anything similar?

 

[MegaTon44]

Yeah, this isn't uncommon. I'm 37 and used to play $40/$80 LHE when I was 21-22, putting $2500 on the table to start. However, I quit for 10 years, then when I started playing again (when I joined PCF), I got super nervous playing even $1/$2 NLHE. I felt like everyone was better than me and I didn't know the lingo anymore, so I felt out of place. You'll soon realize that the nervousness you feel will go away as you learn that 75% of the players are dogshit.

However, remember to only put on the table what you can afford to lose. For NLHE, if you can't afford the max buy-in, don't sit. For LHE, if you can't afford 25 big bets, don't sit. Budget management is the name of the game.

 

[aaronroch]

Not with poker, but I drive in amateur sports car time trials events at tracks like Watkins Glen, and I get nervous every time while sitting on the starting grid, even if it just for practice laps.

I’ve found I can “psyche myself up” by thinking “confident thoughts” and that helps.

Having crown & cokes is kinda’ frowned on in auto racing.

 

[troy1troy]

Don't count it as a problem!
It's not fear. It's adrenaline. You're excited to be there, excited to be playing. I have a league championship tonight, and I already have the butterflies going. Let's play!!

 

[nitzilla]

I'm pretty sure it's just a rush of adrenaline as you already stated.....I get it too and I've been playing in large buy-in tournaments since 2006 and it still hits me ~75% of the time.........but it goes away quickly. It also doesn't help that places like the WSOP run at about 45 degrees in the room, so it usually turns into a shiver......

Your body is an amazing system and I just write it off as "the rush"........

 

[RichMahogany]

Never when I sit.

I do get a nervous rush of adrenaline from time to time when I make large bets or raises. Doesn’t matter whether i’m bluffing or value betting. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to it

 

[nitzilla]

Now, THIS GUY has a problem................but not you...

 

[Geremie]

When I sit at the table for more than an hour I get sharp pains shooting up my back. It affects my play sometimes but I don’t know how to combat it. I usually need to stand for a few orbits but it’s frowned upon standing at the table

 

[realcdn]

Never when I sit.

I do get a nervous rush of adrenaline from time to time when I make large bets or raises. Doesn’t matter whether i’m bluffing or value betting. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to it

^^^ This> Pretty much exactly the same for me. Although, it seems to be a bit more under control since I started playing more frequently... When I was only playing a few times a year, it was much worse.

 

[Beakertwang]

I get some adrenaline, but no shakiness since the first few times I've played live, and that was when I was in a big hand.

With one exception: I was playing a $20 home tourney, and I flopped two pair, A's and 5's, IIRC. A guy bet to 800 (pretty big in the T5-base game). His big chips were hiding behind his stack, so I asked how much he had, and he wouldn't tell or show. I said "you really should have your big chips out front", which was met with a several guys, including the villain, saying things like "lighten up", "it's not a casino", etc. So I was starting to get on edge. As I was contemplating my raise, he grabbed five more 100's and threw them out. When I said he can't do that, he replied "you hadn't done anything yet, so it's still my turn." Plus, more protests from a couple other players. At this point, I'm fuming, and I raise all in (which was sort of my plan anyway). My hands were shaking as I put my chips in, and one of the jerks starts making fun of me for shaking. Villain calls with AJ or something, and I bust him.

Stupid thing is that it was my game, but the host asked last minute if we could have it at his place. I brought the chips, the ipad for blind levels, and a folding poker table. The villain was his brother. I usually like the guys, more so the host, but they're the type of guys who think rules don't always apply to them, and somehow they could override, because "house rules". I'm learning a lot about standing up to A-holes who think rules are optional.

 

[shorticus]

@Beakertwang Hosting is weird because when you are trying to ensure fairness for everyone, some people think you're trying to be an asshole, but in actuality, you're really just trying to help them out. It gets irritating fast.

 

[Beakertwang]

Here's a more detailed account of the night, in case your into sordid details. I was up all night stressing about it.

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/poker-nights-should-be-more-fun-a-rant.31096/

 

[bsdunbar1]

I get it most of the time as well.
I played baseball my whole life and then softball for 25 years. I was always one of the better players, so it wasn't fear, but would still get nervous before every single game.

 

[shorticus]

Better you than me, @Beakertwang You're a better guy than I'd ever be for hosting a game at someone's house. That's absolute foolishness. I'd probably just smile at some of that stuff to keep it calm up until the point where your buddy is refusing to pay 3rd place. Regardless of the amount of money, now we have a real problem.

 

[shorticus]

I get it most of the time as well.
I played baseball my whole life and then softball for 25 years. I was always one of the better players, so it wasn't fear, but would still get nervous before every single game.

Oh god, sports is just as bad for me. Softball, basketball, and baseball (when I was younger) tourneys were just as bad. I'd usually settle down during warmups though. I always thought that was just adrenaline though. Hell, I still get that kind of rush for golf tourneys when our golf association plays. Guess I wasn't expecting poker to have the same effect on me.

 

[RichMahogany]

I get some adrenaline, but no shakiness since the first few times I've played live, and that was when I was in a big hand.

With one exception: I was playing a $20 home tourney, and I flopped two pair, A's and 5's, IIRC. A guy bet to 800 (pretty big in the T5-base game). His big chips were hiding behind his stack, so I asked how much he had, and he wouldn't tell or show. I said "you really should have your big chips out front", which was met with a several guys, including the villain, saying things like "lighten up", "it's not a casino", etc. So I was starting to get on edge. As I was contemplating my raise, he grabbed five more 100's and threw them out. When I said he can't do that, he replied "you hadn't done anything yet, so it's still my turn." Plus, more protests from a couple other players. At this point, I'm fuming, and I raise all in (which was sort of my plan anyway). My hands were shaking as I put my chips in, and one of the jerks starts making fun of me for shaking. Villain calls with AJ or something, and I bust him.

Stupid thing is that it was my game, but the host asked last minute if we could have it at his place. I brought the chips, the ipad for blind levels, and a folding poker table. The villain was his brother. I usually like the guys, more so the host, but they're the type of guys who think rules don't always apply to them, and somehow they could override, because "house rules". I'm learning a lot about standing up to A-holes who think rules are optional.

To use this meme for your situation, I’d be the guy on the right side of the pic.

 

[Rhodeman77]

I get it most of the time when I go to a casino but almost never for home games.

 

[trigs]

I tend to feel a little bit of nerves before I start to play same as I used to before a sports game I was playing in when I was younger. A little nerves, a little adrenaline I think. As soon as I start to play though it goes away. I just hate losing so much (way more than I enjoy winning) that I think I'd feel some stress. Back in my sports playing days as soon as the game would start I'd be right in the zone. I remember not even hearing the crowd when I was playing.

 

[allforcharity]

I have no problem because when I sit down I am very sure that I'm going to lose and bust out eventually. That way if I win I can be earnestly surprised.

 

[fish72s]

I'm not sure what this means, but I'll typically just have 1 or 2 crown and cokes, and then it goes away.

Anyone experience anything similar?

Yes, if 5 or 6 crown and cokes counts as similar.

 

[Highli99]

I get it for sure but I can usually get rid of it by punting my first buy in as quickly as possible.

 

[Lemonzest]

I wouldn't say I have a gambling problem but I do have a high level of degeneracy when it comes to gambling. In my younger years I used to chase that feeling. I loved to go to the casino and sit down with 200-300 hundred in front of me. I would love the adrenaline rush of playing way above my normal stakes.

When I played online I would start with a strategy of playing 20 NL with like 20 buy ins and then by the end of the night I would have all my money on one table playing 2/4 or 3/6 NL and loving every minute of it.

I lost about 12k back in the poker boom playing online. It was all money I could afford to lose so I didn't really care at the time. In retrospect, I didn't really care if I won or lost. I just enjoyed the gamble and the competition. Of course I wanted to win but it wasn't the winning money part that was drawing me in. It was just the thrill and the rush that kept me coming back night after night.

It is a bad way to play poker though since you are always looking for a rush you end up calling to hit every draw regardless of whether the odds are right or not.

 

[2jzMk3]

Not with poker, but I drive in amateur sports car time trials events at tracks like Watkins Glen, and I get nervous every time while sitting on the starting grid, even if it just for practice laps.

I’ve found I can “psyche myself up” by thinking “confident thoughts” and that helps.

Having crown & cokes is kinda’ frowned on in auto racing.

I had a similar problem. I would get very nauseous from being so nervous before going on track. I think it was not wanting to lose it and park the car into a barrier.
One day on vacation, I met a European drift champ at a karting track. The next day, I got 6 hours in his competition car. I guess I got over my fear of looping cars into barriers.

600hp+ e36 with 65 degrees of steering lock was what the doctor ordered.

 

[grantc54]

I wouldn't say I have a gambling problem but I do have a high level of degeneracy when it comes to gambling. In my younger years I used to chase that feeling. I loved to go to the casino and sit down with 200-300 hundred in front of me. I would love the adrenaline rush of playing way above my normal stakes.

When I played online I would start with a strategy of playing 20 NL with like 20 buy ins and then by the end of the night I would have all my money on one table playing 2/4 or 3/6 NL and loving every minute of it.

I lost about 12k back in the poker boom playing online. It was all money I could afford to lose so I didn't really care at the time. In retrospect, I didn't really care if I won or lost. I just enjoyed the gamble and the competition. Of course I wanted to win but it wasn't the winning money part that was drawing me in. It was just the thrill and the rush that kept me coming back night after night.

It is a bad way to play poker though since you are always looking for a rush you end up calling to hit every draw regardless of whether the odds are right or not.

Wow, I can be exactly as you described and had the same experience during the online days (likely about $12k too).

Now I go through phases, I'll study and play optimally for several months and then I'll go through a period where I am wiped from kids (4&7) and work and play very suboptimal. Either way though I love to play and make sure I'm not losing anything that I cant afford to lose.

I play poker to have fun and very much feel that you have to give action to get action. The other night at Tony's the 0.25/0.50 game had $40-$50+ pots when I was playing, but when another action player and I stepped away they dropped to about $4. Lol

 

[grantc54]

Wow, I can be exactly as you described and had the same experience during the online days (likely about $12k too).

Now I go through phases, I'll study and play optimally for several months and then I'll go through a period where I am wiped from kids (4&7) and work and play very suboptimal. Either way though I love to play and make sure I'm not losing anything that I cant afford to lose.

I play poker to have fun and very much feel that you have to give action to get action. The other night at Tony's the 0.25/0.50 game had $40-$50+ pots when I was playing, but when another action player and I stepped away they dropped to about $4. Lol

And almost forgot, at my year end poker party I somehow got the table (0.20/0.50) to straddle all the way around so that there was ~$145 in the pot before anyone looked at their cards. Good fun!

 

[Lemonzest]

Wow, I can be exactly as you described and had the same experience during the online days (likely about $12k too).

Now I go through phases, I'll study and play optimally for several months and then I'll go through a period where I am wiped from kids (4&7) and work and play very suboptimal. Either way though I love to play and make sure I'm not losing anything that I cant afford to lose.

I play poker to have fun and very much feel that you have to give action to get action. The other night at Tony's the 0.25/0.50 game had $40-$50+ pots when I was playing, but when another action player and I stepped away they dropped to about $4. Lol

Honestly, I don't regret it. I lost money but I discovered a really great game in poker and a hobby, I kind of think of it as a very expensive poker school. I logged thousands of hands and I have developed a good feel for poker even though my technical math skills are still pretty weak (ie knowing how much is in the pot and my odds etc.)

I can see this even now in home games. I have a pretty good feel for the game and knowing where I stand in a hand and that is largely thanks to my online days and just putting in so many hours. Many decisions are easy for me whereas some of my friends that just don't play very much struggle with what are IMO very easy spots.

If I could change it I wouldn't. I wish I would have studied more back then instead of just gambling...but hell I was single and had a blast!

 

[moose]

Okay, I have a problem when I sit at a poker table. I'm not sure if this is normal, but it happens to me every time I play. Home game, casino, or any other way that you can play Hold Em. When there are stakes involved, be it .25/.50 or 4/8, as soon as I sit at the table, I get nervous. It's not a fear or a situation where I'm uncomfortable because I only play stakes where I am comfortable playing, but it's almost like an adrenaline rush that makes me start to tremble. I'm not sure what this means, but I'll typically just have 1 or 2 crown and cokes, and then it goes away.

Anyone experience anything similar?

Depends. Can you talk to girls before the crown and cokes?

 

[2jzMk3]

Depends. Can you talk to girls before the crown and cokes?

The real question is can the girls talk to him without White Claws

 

[shorticus]

@2jzMk3 what are white claws?
@moose no problem there lol

 

[2jzMk3]

@2jzMk3 what are white claws?
@moose no problem there lol

The official alcoholic drink of sub-21 year olds. A case of the Claws will get you into any sorority on this side of the Mississippi