Any advice on how to relax when you have the nuts?

[iSaW]

Hey guys & girls,

Well, first post, so... I'm ready, fire canons! 

I'm new here and also pretty new to poker.  Well, by that I mean actually playing poker live and for money.  So, yes, I'm the  at the moment.

A couple weeks ago I had a lads holiday in Vegas and rather than spend the evenings with the others getting mullered, I instead went and played poker.  As I had never done it before (live game I mean) it was quite nerve wracking to put my name down on a $4/$8 list in the Bellagio and then sit down and play.  It was quite exhilerating and I thinking I learned more in those 5 minutes than I did playing with my mates on Saturday evenings.  But I had a serious issue, which I will illustrate shortly.

Anyhow, found a poker room/club in a nearby town and have joined as it's a members only.  And I've begun to start playing the cash games there.  I absolutely love it.  But I have a problem.

As soon as I get into a hand where I know I'm either strong odds to have the better/best hand, or have the nuts, I get this massive dose of adrenalin and guess what?  Yep, the shakes.  I can cover it up enough. Well, at least I think I can.  Otherwise, when recently i had pocket Aces and the flop gave me my 3rd Ace and the turn the 4ft Ace, the other 2 people would have folded if they saw my hands shaking.
 
The point is, as a new player in a live game, how to do get this reaction to a winning hand under control?  I'm not a shy person and certainly don't have any problem with speaking in public, etc.  But playing poker in a live game, with 7+ other people watching what you're doing, knowing you have money and your reputation on the board, it just gives me that shot of adrenalin. 

Does anyone have any good techniques, suggestions, ways of thinking to help reduce it?  Obviously I can't sit back and take a few big deep breaths, etc   Or is it just experience and time that lets you get used to that situation and it eventually 'stops' being so much of a rush?  I hope not, cos I love it!  Just wish I could hide my excitement.

Kind of like a puppy who can't stop weeing on the floor.  Thankfully the poker club owner hasn't noticed the wetspot under my chair yet

[Gryff]

Generally I try to keep them up front and not sit on them.

[Horneris]

Just think how shit your life is.

Then you just look all depressed instead.

[amcgrath1uk]

Just think how shit your life is.

Then you just look all depressed instead.

See.. experience works... does it work for you Horneris??

[Horneris]

Just think how shit your life is.

Then you just look all depressed instead.

See.. experience works... does it work for you Horneris??

jar. Iz what im sayin.

[amcgrath1uk]

Just think how shit your life is.

Then you just look all depressed instead.

See.. experience works... does it work for you Horneris??

jar. Iz what im sayin.

Must remember that for next time!!

[Longy]

Welcome to blonde.

It really is an experience thing and it will lessen the more you play. Basically just try to think of something else, thinking how crap Horneris's life is seems to be the way to go.

[SuffolkPunch]

Become an alcoholic. Then your hands will shake all the time, thus disguising your tell.

Problem solved.

 

[kinboshi]

Welcome to blonde.

It really is an experience thing and it will lessen the more you play. Basically just try to think of something else, thinking how crap Horneris's life is seems to be the way to go.

I do exactly that.  I pretend I'm Horneris, and think fk my life. 

[Jaydeaa]

Good First Post, I got it when I started to play live and i actually hated it, at one point put me off playing live al together, i used to sit forward, hands shaking, and sometimes even my eyes, and lips would go a tad mad.

Ive slowly learnt to sit back, in the chair, look at your cards and then dont touch them again, just sit back and relax, only way i could stop the shakes!

[boldie]

it comes with experience..but I am ussually never more relaxed than when I have the stone cold nuts...

[Graham C]

Practice.  I still get nervous for the first couple of pots I play in a live game, after that it's not too bad, especially once I start concentrating on how crap Horneris's life is

[LeKnave]

Welcome to blonde.

It really is an experience thing and it will lessen the more you play. Basically just try to think of something else, thinking how crap Horneris's life is seems to be the way to go.

I do exactly that.  I pretend I'm Horneris, and think fk my life. 

I just sit there emotionless really, Kin will tell you the amount of times hes told me to cheer up or pulled a massive grin @ me from the other side of the cardroom.

Its really just an experience thing, keep going and it will be less and less.

[kinboshi]

Welcome to blonde.

It really is an experience thing and it will lessen the more you play. Basically just try to think of something else, thinking how crap Horneris's life is seems to be the way to go.

I do exactly that.  I pretend I'm Horneris, and think fk my life. 

I just sit there emotionless really, Kin will tell you the amount of times hes told me to cheer up or pulled a massive grin @ me from the other side of the cardroom.

Its really just an experience thing, keep going and it will be less and less.

You are a miserable arse at the table.  You must have been thinking about Horneris's life far too much.

[sledge13]