Looking for tips on how to keep an even mood at the poker table. I've been playing quite a bit of PLO and the swings are brutal. Generally I'm very mellow, but I find myself getting frustrated at the poker table and it spewing out in a comment or my demeanor. I play in home games, at a private club, and at casinos, and generally really like the people I'm playing with. I play poker (and collect chips) for fun and my day to day life is in no way effected by my bankroll. Help!
Zen at the poker table (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter bolodog
- Start date
Keep reminding yourself of that and eliminate your sense of entitlement. Accept that a large part of poker is luck and over the long haul the luck evens out.
MrCatPants
Full House
What's triggering you? Getting sucked out on, making bad decisions, or coolers? etc.
All of the above. Last night it was just a typical PLO scenario, I lost a pot with over 2k where I was a 60% favorite, running it twice. I've had a bad month and have been able to roll with it in good humor, but last night I couldn't manage it.
Thanks, and you're right. I have to remember that even 70%/30% hands are going to lose 3 out of 10 and that's just the way it is. I also need to do some soul searching and figure out if it's the money that's really bothering me. Maybe I need to play smaller, buy in for less, risk less.
Poker Zombie
Royal Flush
Drink more.
Edit: Unless you are a mean drunk. In that case, move to Denver.
Edit: Unless you are a mean drunk. In that case, move to Denver.
Maybe take a break from PLO for a while and play some holdem to slow down the swings and/or build your ‘roll back up? Play smaller stakes to mitigate the percentage of your ‘roll that’s taking a hit? Or ask yourself whether you’re playing for the money, the challenge or the fun. If it’s the latter two you shouldn’t be as affected by the results, if it’s the money then reassess your game/stakes.
What size game are you playing, how many buy-ins is your ‘roll able to accommodate, and do you do any studying/have you assessed and tried to plug any leaks?
What size game are you playing, how many buy-ins is your ‘roll able to accommodate, and do you do any studying/have you assessed and tried to plug any leaks?
That actually seems to help.
AlwaysDefend
Two Pair
Tilt issue: getting sucked out on
Solutions: acceptance, bankroll management, meditation, stop playing plo as much lol, learn to rid yourself of any entitlement.
Tilt issue: coolers
Solutions: as above
Tilt issue: making bad decisions
Solution: bankroll management and change of perception: Each mistake is a learning opportunity. The goal is to always ensure you learn from your mistakes. If you take a leap of faith into a continuous learning programme, holding the belief that 'if you retain the mentality and progress with the programme you will achieve the desired result in the long run'...what should happen is that you should percieve each mistake as a learning opportunity and a stepping stone towards that goal. How can you be annoyed with being presented a learning opportunity and a step towards your goal? If that's what you believe that the bad decision is, you can't get annoyed. Perception is huge.
The last note I'll add is that frustration is pointless. Spend the time that you would normally spend frustrated actually trying to work out a solution to your problem. You may not solve your problem but you will be a hell of a lot closer than you were if you spent the last 15 minutes annoyed with yourself etc.
I hope this helps
Solutions: acceptance, bankroll management, meditation, stop playing plo as much lol, learn to rid yourself of any entitlement.
Tilt issue: coolers
Solutions: as above
Tilt issue: making bad decisions
Solution: bankroll management and change of perception: Each mistake is a learning opportunity. The goal is to always ensure you learn from your mistakes. If you take a leap of faith into a continuous learning programme, holding the belief that 'if you retain the mentality and progress with the programme you will achieve the desired result in the long run'...what should happen is that you should percieve each mistake as a learning opportunity and a stepping stone towards that goal. How can you be annoyed with being presented a learning opportunity and a step towards your goal? If that's what you believe that the bad decision is, you can't get annoyed. Perception is huge.
The last note I'll add is that frustration is pointless. Spend the time that you would normally spend frustrated actually trying to work out a solution to your problem. You may not solve your problem but you will be a hell of a lot closer than you were if you spent the last 15 minutes annoyed with yourself etc.
I hope this helps
aaronroch
3 of a Kind
“Meditation”. But be careful, I have a friend who started meditating while playing semi-pro online ‘back in the day.
Meditation took over his life. He quit playing poker, and is now a Zen Buddhist monk.
As I’m writing this, I’m realizing it sounds like a joke, but I’m not even exaggerating!
Meditation took over his life. He quit playing poker, and is now a Zen Buddhist monk.
As I’m writing this, I’m realizing it sounds like a joke, but I’m not even exaggerating!
Poker Zombie
Royal Flush
Buddhist philosophy minus the buddhist religion is the way to go. But if you're going to become religious, Buddhism is the least offensive.
What book do you recommend starting with?
I went through a period like that. After it got really bad, I started playing Bart Hanson's podcasts with just one ear bud so I could hear everything at the table. Hanson has a calming effect on me. If you've ever listened to him, you'll know what I'm referring to.
Good suggestions above. Find what works for you. Good luck!
Good suggestions above. Find what works for you. Good luck!
Elements of Poker is really good. I haven’t read pain free poker yet.
Maybe you just aren’t wired to play poker, or at least PLO. You need to figure out if you can change your demeanor or live with the fact that it’s just not something you can play. You are who you are and most people can’t change over the long haul. It’s nothing to be ashamed of, it’s just how things are.
Take a break from the game to clear your head. Poker can become a grind.
If your not having fun at the table, IMO it’s time to walk.
If your not having fun at the table, IMO it’s time to walk.
I know a guy that did that with running. Started with a fun run at the poker gathering. Now he rarely plays poker but does 100+ mile runs, ultra-marathons, high desert runs, mountains, etc.
Anthony Martino
Royal Flush
Taking a break helps.
What helped me the most is trying to remember the times I got it in bad but won.
One particular tournament where I cashed in 15th stands out. I got it all-in pre three times in the same event behind:
AQ suited vs QQ to make a flush on the river
88 vs TT (hit my set, against the same guy who I beat with the AQ)
77 vs JJ (SB vs aggressive button raiser on the money bubble)
So I was 30% once and 20% twice and won all three to stay alive and cash, and I try my best to think back to that time if I'm having a bad session where others are getting lucky against me.
Another instance I had KK against AA all-in pre near the bubble and managed to flop two of my suit, then the guy turned his set but it gave me a four-flush and I binked the river to double that time also.
What helped me the most is trying to remember the times I got it in bad but won.
One particular tournament where I cashed in 15th stands out. I got it all-in pre three times in the same event behind:
AQ suited vs QQ to make a flush on the river
88 vs TT (hit my set, against the same guy who I beat with the AQ)
77 vs JJ (SB vs aggressive button raiser on the money bubble)
So I was 30% once and 20% twice and won all three to stay alive and cash, and I try my best to think back to that time if I'm having a bad session where others are getting lucky against me.
Another instance I had KK against AA all-in pre near the bubble and managed to flop two of my suit, then the guy turned his set but it gave me a four-flush and I binked the river to double that time also.
I love PLO and my home game is very competitive, but social, so I do not want to quit playing. I’m not dependent on the money from poke, but maybe I need to be more realistic about how the swings in my bankroll affect me, at least psychologically.
I
I’m going to try remembering the times I’ve made bad plays and gotten lucky. Thanks.
Anthony Martino
Royal Flush
Yeah, but at least Antonius has male jiggalo to fall back on, what are the rest of us supposed to do???
This is what I was going to suggest. Check out Painless Poker.
They’ve got some short jiggalos out there Anthony. I took a break from that to collect chips and play poker for awhile.
Anthony Martino
Royal Flush
They’ve got some short jiggalos out there Anthony. I took a break from that to collect chips and play poker for awhile.
Once a woman has had midget lovin'.......
They never know what hit em brother!
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