How do you.....

[thetank]

No that's ok Andrew, my intent is not to tease.

There were 4 or so posts asking what it was, if I weren't to say it would just annoy people I think.

Just make sure you keep schtum about Santa.

[Heid]

Ta for the story Tank

For all intents and purposes, I am bubbly and gregarious, and am not at all scared of anything - but sitting at a poker table makes me squirm with fear, and panic, and it's not as if I haven't done it a few times - I have played live quite a bit.

It's a fear of looking like a prat, which is a self fulfilling prophecy, as I get so panicked that I do end up looking like a prat!

I love playing live, I love the idea of it, the notion, the expectation, the social aspect - seeing friends, the thrill of sitting down and seeing who you are sat with, watching the game unfold.

Then disaster strikes, and I get a hand. Then all hell breaks loose, my brain goes into overdrive, and I feel like a bunny that is sat on the fast lane of the M4.

My limbs stop working, my ability to lob chips casually around leaves me, and I become Mrs Bean.

Then I get stressed by what has happened, and then it all gets worse. Then I don't play hands that I should because I am scared about what will happen, then I panic about the fact I haven't played hands, and a marginal hand becomes in my mind the best thing since Starbucks, and I play like a guppy.

What a mess eh?

[lazaroonie]

i think everyone shakes at the table at some time or other - its a natural reaction to the increased heart rate and blood flow. Generally you will shake after the event which has caused the excitement - whether winning a big pot or making a big bluff.

The more you think about it, the more you will shake. If you just accept it, it will pass soon enough.

Just enjoy the table. Be happy to be there, and not stuck in front of a computer screen. The whole sensory experience is far far better than the virtual one. The sights/sounds/smells etc. cannot be beaten. I would play every night of the week live if I could.

Apart from last night grrr... where Mr Nail and Mr Pirelli got together to ensure that I wasnt going to get anywhere near cincinnati's.

[Newmanseye]

Ta for the story Tank

For all intents and purposes, I am bubbly and gregarious, and am not at all scared of anything - but sitting at a poker table makes me squirm with fear, and panic, and it's not as if I haven't done it a few times - I have played live quite a bit.

It's a fear of looking like a prat, which is a self fulfilling prophecy, as I get so panicked that I do end up looking like a prat!

I love playing live, I love the idea of it, the notion, the expectation, the social aspect - seeing friends, the thrill of sitting down and seeing who you are sat with, watching the game unfold.

Then disaster strikes, and I get a hand. Then all hell breaks loose, my brain goes into overdrive, and I feel like a bunny that is sat on the fast lane of the M4.

My limbs stop working, my ability to lob chips casually around leaves me, and I become Mrs Bean.

Then I get stressed by what has happened, and then it all gets worse. Then I don't play hands that I should because I am scared about what will happen, then I panic about the fact I haven't played hands, and a marginal hand becomes in my mind the best thing since Starbucks, and I play like a guppy.

What a mess eh?

Might I suggest a different approach,  Treat the whole table like dead money. Remain in the mindset of " I'm the best player here, and you are gonna pay for sitting at a table with me"

Just go on the offensive and stay there. This will cure your jitters and after winning a few good pots you will be super confident.

Btw never fear looking like a prat, You will probably make a bad play or two, it happens, thats why god invented suckouts.

And if you lose at the end of the night remember that its the long term that counts.

Just one more thing, If you are busy thinking about yourself you are gonna miss important tells your opponents are giving off. Think about the table, the cards and how people have played their hands. you should be the last thing to think about.

Hope this helps.

[Heid]

Ta for the story Tank

For all intents and purposes, I am bubbly and gregarious, and am not at all scared of anything - but sitting at a poker table makes me squirm with fear, and panic, and it's not as if I haven't done it a few times - I have played live quite a bit.

It's a fear of looking like a prat, which is a self fulfilling prophecy, as I get so panicked that I do end up looking like a prat!

I love playing live, I love the idea of it, the notion, the expectation, the social aspect - seeing friends, the thrill of sitting down and seeing who you are sat with, watching the game unfold.

Then disaster strikes, and I get a hand. Then all hell breaks loose, my brain goes into overdrive, and I feel like a bunny that is sat on the fast lane of the M4.

My limbs stop working, my ability to lob chips casually around leaves me, and I become Mrs Bean.

Then I get stressed by what has happened, and then it all gets worse. Then I don't play hands that I should because I am scared about what will happen, then I panic about the fact I haven't played hands, and a marginal hand becomes in my mind the best thing since Starbucks, and I play like a guppy.

What a mess eh?

Might I suggest a different approach,  Treat the whole table like dead money. Remain in the mindset of " I'm the best player here, and you are gonna pay for sitting at a table with me"

Just go on the offensive and stay there. This will cure your jitters and after winning a few good pots you will be super confident.

Btw never fear looking like a prat, You will probably make a bad play or two, it happens, thats why god invented suckouts.

And if you lose at the end of the night remember that its the long term that counts.

Just one more thing, If you are busy thinking about yourself you are gonna miss important tells your opponents are giving off. Think about the table, the cards and how people have played their hands. you should be the last thing to think about.

Hope this helps.

See that's the thing I do pay attention to what's going on around me, I do use that to calm myself before I get a hand.

Thanks for the advice, I shall call everyone at my table a fish to their face at Broadway then <gggg>

Please understand in advance my motives<gg>.

Heid
xx

[matt674]

You could always try "old-faithful".........

When you sit down at the table just imagine everyone else is sat there naked (or in some cases in underwear). Might not improve the card playing but you'll have everybody wondering why you're in stitches at the table 

[thetank]

Btw never fear looking like a prat, You will probably make a bad play or two, it happens, thats why god invented suckouts.

It's also why god invented talcum powder.

[londonpokergirl]

My first few live tourneys years ago, my knees knocked together like you would have never known,  not sure if it was from the adrenaline or just plain scared stupid   but after playing about 10 tourneys I finally said to myself, stop panicing, you can do this, relax, breathe and take control.

I find if you keep saying this to yourself in your head then it does work, also my ipod works wonders

I once read an article by a top poker player that he said every event he looks into a mirror and says "i'm the best poker player in the world and i'm going to win"    If you go into every event positive and fighting to win, you can't go wrong other than badbeats!   

Hope it helps hun
Mel x

[Newmanseye]

Btw never fear looking like a prat, You will probably make a bad play or two, it happens, thats why god invented suckouts.

It's also why god invented talcum powder.

You dont need talcum, you ran all over me last night, ( makes a change!!!)

[Alfa]

Failing all that fantastic advice...you could dye ya hair a really stupid colour, so that nobody notices your game play lol

You will be kewl heidi and no where near as nervous as me.

[Wardonkey]

Btw never fear looking like a prat, You will probably make a bad play or two, it happens, thats why god invented suckouts.

It's also why god invented talcum powder.

You dont need talcum, you ran all over me last night, ( makes a change!!!)

I don't know what's going on here, and I'm not sure that I want to......

[Heid]

My first few live tourneys years ago, my knees knocked together like you would have never known,  not sure if it was from the adrenaline or just plain scared stupid   but after playing about 10 tourneys I finally said to myself, stop panicing, you can do this, relax, breathe and take control.

I find if you keep saying this to yourself in your head then it does work, also my ipod works wonders

I once read an article by a top poker player that he said every event he looks into a mirror and says "i'm the best poker player in the world and i'm going to win"    If you go into every event positive and fighting to win, you can't go wrong other than badbeats!   

Hope it helps hun
Mel x

The thing is .. this isn't my first or even 10th tourney. I have played loads. When I was in Vegas I was fine - 11 days of at least 2 tourneys a day...perhaps I was more relaxed cause I was on hols there, or perhaps I was a lot worse then and just didn't realise.

Perhaps I should just play live in Vegas?

Even when I was in Vegas, I had an issue that caused me problems, but I didn't care. I didn't even need to have a drink when I was in vegas ... hmm we might be onto something here...need to keep thinking.

[Dingdell]

it's all in the mind - i accidentally clicked on the wrong tourney on Stars last night - and ended up playing heads up stud poker -which is something I have never seen/know anything about. I lasted about 15 mins - because I decided i would have to bluff my way through - it was only $10 but I didn't want to waste it!

I guessed that the better the cards I had showing the more he would think i had and just bluffed because i didn't have a clue.....I made out I was good and he belived me - the poor man kept on folding obviously outclassed - LOL.

Interesting experience because I HAD to bluff - I'm not very confident in bluffing normally so from now on I'm going to apply that mindset that I have to bluff sometimes to win -  and see what happpens!

Its all in the mind - now - look into my eyes........!

[Rod Paradise]

I don't have that much of a problem when playing - my problem's switching off afterwards & going to sleep, even then when I get to sleep it doesn't help - I'm raising, calling etc all frigging night in my dreams - which is why I'm like a half shut knife at work in the mornings. (Last night I was checking then calling to Dave C... of going all in with my flush-draw and missing when trying to knock him out. )

Seriously thinking of contacting a hypnotherapist I know to discuss a relaxation CD... might think about getting him to do a 'getting the game face on' & a 'it was a bad loss - but don't tilt' track as well - then I'd consider an ipod to take to the table 

[lazaroonie]

7 card stud...now that was I game I used to love.

Used to have a really good game years ago in my local pub (high wycombe), long before the poker boom. we even used real money (no chips).


I have forgotten everything now though....