Tips for maintaining concentration????

[Scotty]

A pro's take on "controlling your environment":


We've all had moments in good old fashioned brick and mortar casinos where our senses become overwhelmed by an environment that we have no control over. From uncomfortable chairs to overflowing A/C to the guy sitting next to you who obviously hasn't bathed since the last time the Cleveland Indians won the Series, playing live poker can be a less than pleasant experience at times. That's why one of the biggest advantages of playing online poker versus live poker is the ability to control your environment. By standardizing all the variables of game play and setting your poker playing environment to your liking, you can maximize your focus and take that next step toward becoming a winning player.

So how do you control your environment? Well, let's start at the beginning. If you're anything like me, you're going to be very anal about your poker playing environment. That means you turn off your phone and shut down whatever program you use for instant messaging. Even if you're just playing for fun, you should still be taking poker seriously (unless you're just looking to flip away your roll). Along those same lines, make sure to turn off the TV, stop surfing the web and answering emails. This is about minimizing distraction in an effort to maximize focus, and one of the pitfalls of online poker is all the readily available procrastination devices at your fingertips.

Now that you're distraction free, tune the other variables in the house to your liking. Is the temperature in the house comfortable? Check. Do you have water and soda within reach and a tasty meal ready to go in the fridge? Check. What about music? I always like to have some music going in the background, but nothing too loud or distracting (if you're singing along with the lyrics, it means you're not focusing on poker).

So you've got all the peripherals taken care of, now comes the game play itself. Go through the options in the game lobby and set everything to your liking.

Once again, you're doing all of this because it's to your advantage, not just because you're a control freak. By controlling your environment, you give yourself the best chance to maximize your focus on the game and be a winning player. This is far and away one of the biggest assets available to all online poker players.

Scott Fischman

[Todd Rivers]

My main lesson in Poker is trying to sort out the gambling from the poker playing.

I know that was a well-warranted "WELL DUH" explanation from me b4, but what i guess i was trying to say is that we are always looking for reasons as to why we made a decision, that we were pretty sure was a bad one before we made, yet we made it anyway.

You can liken this to life in general.

But as far as poker goes, your question could also be asked by truck drivers, or doctors, air traffic controllers ect. - you get my drift?

SO...MY REVISED ANSWER would be........mmmm.......CAFFEINE!!!

[AceLosesKing]

I enjoy reading Scott Fischman's blogs on CardPlayer. Tony "Bond18" Dunst goes alright too.

Now, I'm only gonna post my AM/SF run once, and seeing as the SF KO has A LOT to do with with maintaining concentration, I'm gonna post it here.

AM: Got an ok stack, grinded for ages. Moved to the feature table, with 6x BB (18l at 3/6k). Fold [6s] [8s] (should've shoved!), ended up flopping top pair and turning a flush draw, bettor shows a complete air bluff on the turn. So what do I do?

I shove it in with [Ks] [8d], from MP (from no 2, possibly 3). Call from the button with 8s, that's it, bye bye. Top 35.

SF: WOOOOO! GREAT time playing poker. Honestly, the best time I've had playing poker in forever. Chatting with Big Pete and Tommo early, then moving tables and making new mates, talking to fellow B/Gers... commentating on the hands... it was awesome. If anyone has ever played with me you'll notice that I'm VERY talkative at the table (I even had a woman ask me "Do you talk to yourself a lot?' "Yes " ). I enjoy playing poker, and I like to have fun as I'm doing it.

Now... my tourny run. I went to 500/1000 with 10k. Shoved with TT into BB's AJ, rivers a J - leaves me with around 6k. I'm short for a while, check my BB of 98o after SB limp, flop KTJ. He checks, I shove, he INSTA tanks, then says he's in front, and throws his chips into the pot (18k pot). I flip my open ender, he rolls K7d. I turn the straight, scoop it. I now have a playable stack.

QQ into 88, and I'm looking at 40k at 600/1200. At 800/1600 there is an all in for 3900, I look down at 9s and announce to the table I'm all in for 24k. SB doesn't hear me and calls the 3,900. I announce I declared all in and he replies with "oh, ok, I still call." For 9k... which doesn't please me.

SS rolls K8, SB rolls AQ. Ew, a race.

Flop: [8d] [Qh].... [9s]. BEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWTY.

I now have 60kish, and realising for the first time that I am doing well, I could actually make something of this.

First hand back from the break I have an above average stack. I peek down at [6d][6s] in the SB. UTG min raise to 6k. Dealer all in for 7.5k. I consider shoving him in for 30k+, but if I lose the race I will be left with 40k, and I don't want to lose such a large chunk of my stack. I figure I can see a flop and go from there.

Flop: [6h] [8c] [5s]. I check, UTG shoves, I insta call. He rolls AQ and I scoop. I am now in the top 3 chip stacks.

I fold down for about an hour, take the blinds and antes maybe twice (table doesn't wanna clash it seems), walk around, get some air. Time to clear my head - been a long day, 7 hours or so. I watch steve_g crack QQ with TT (great work man ) and also boost into the top chip stacks. Not much happens for a while until...

I have 90k. Blinds 4k/8k/1000. I'm in the BB with 44. EP limp, leaving himself with 13k. SB announce raise (possibly all in, can't remember). What I do remember is peeking down at 4s and shoving, like instantly. If SB did raise, he didn't have time to throw his chips out.

EP: 77
SB: KK
Me: 44.

Board bricks and KK scoops it. Now, here's the error. When SB shoved, I could only see his stack of yellow chips, which added up to around 15k. I could not see his stack of blue chips, which together, totalled 50,000. From my stack of 90k. Ew. Huge tournament error, which although not killing me, left me SS (4xBB). Relative to the blinds, I was stuffed.

I ended up shoving with 42k with AQ at 5k/10k. SB has 10k left, calls, BB has 4k left and calls.

SB: Q8o.
BB: ATs.

OMG! Could I ask for a better position or what? I have them both DOMINATED, looking to scoop a 37k pot, which puts me up around 80k. Unfortunately, BB flops a T, and ends up with a flush on the river, so I'm left with 27k.

I'm moved tables and on my 2nd hand, look down at QJd after an UTG shove for 90k +. I played with UTG before, he open shoved with 99 from UTG, and made me lay down AQ. I figure if he's shoving now its going to be heads up, which with my SS is what I want. I can't push many players off a pot if I shove for 27k at 5k/10k. So heads up is what I want. I'm suited, connected, and hopefully live. I'm really hoping I have two overs here, but I figure I could jag a hit against KJ/AK. I'm BB in 3 hands at any rate, so I don't have long.

I call, he rolls AQo, I miss. Tourny over.

I spent the next day and a half regretting my 4s decision. While I wasn't chip leader, I was doing ok and did not, at all, have to shove it in with 4s. And if I had known it was for more than 50% of my stack, I would've insta folded. I'm still not sure why I did it - who am I hoping to push off? EP limp, with 12k behind? Maybe SB raised, and I shoved - I can't even remember how the hand played out. I think it was the fact that I hadn't played a hand in ages and wanted to assert to the table, and to myself, that I can still win hands.

Made me realise there are times when you need to get back to the basics and figure out the goal of tournament poker: to outlast everyone. There is no need to win every hand. As David said, its like playing cricket. One bad shot and you're out on 97, the days work gone. I realise that now, and I'm a better player for it.

I'm always learning as a poker player, and this is a good experience for me. There will always be other tournaments Only mistake I made all day out of 7 hours of poker, so I'm glad with that. I can honestly say there was not ONE other bad move I made all day.

Side note: WELL DONE SCOTTY! Excellent showing mate. Disappointed I didn't get to play any hands with you (yet to do that) all day. Would've liked to watch you play. Great work too steve, big props brother - keep wearing the sunnies Forum represent! Cheers for everyone's thanks and congrats over the past two days, as well.

Oh, and the banner is completely awesome.

[BigPete33]

Question for you AK...

You mentioned you oculdn;t see the stack of blue chips... was it because they were hidden behind other chips of less value or was it just a bad angle or something?


If they were being tucked away you would have been within your rights to be ultra cranky as I got thoroughly sick of hearing Nathan doing an excellent job and TELLING EVERYONE MULTIPLE TIMES to put their largest chips out front for all to see.

[Garth Kay]

One of the few areas poker players really suffer in is the area of self awareness.

Many pros will take on coaches to watch them play and to help them stop up their leaks.

AK, you have a great poker career ahead of you, if you continue to evolve and learn from your mistakes, as well as advancing your knowledge of the game.

I only ask that you wear a hoody, noone should be made witness to that mop you call hair.

[Chelsea4thewin]

nice post AK, didnt really get a chance to see you play either, Scott came onto my table and from that point i seemed to get really cold cards, honestly nothing i could really play with pre-flop raises most hands

i also have to admit i got into a mode where i thought i could relax and wait till some players got knocked out where in fact i should of been doing the opposite trying to get the players with that same mindset to fold the better hand

but ill take 11th anyday, that hand against queens should of had me eliminated anyway

but i learnt alot from the last hour of play in the states, which will hopefully have me in good stead when i return to online poker

[AceLosesKing]

Question for you AK...

You mentioned you oculdn;t see the stack of blue chips... was it because they were hidden behind other chips of less value or was it just a bad angle or something?

I've been asked this a few times. No, I don't believe so - it was my own mistake. And if so, it wasn't on purpose - the dude was a nice guy (ended up doing the proper thing and went on to win ). Just a bad angle from my point of view I'd say.

One of the few areas poker players really suffer in is the area of self awareness.

Many pros will take on coaches to watch them play and to help them stop up their leaks.

You coming down to Gawler anytime soon?

AK, you have a great poker career ahead of you, if you continue to evolve and learn from your mistakes, as well as advancing your knowledge of the game.

Wow Garth. Thanks a lot, great comment there.

I only ask that you wear a hoody, noone should be made witness to that mop you call hair.

It goes off with the ladies, that's all that matters

but ill take 11th anyday, that hand against queens should of had me eliminated anyway

Eliminated? I thought you had him covered. Nice catch

but i learnt alot from the last hour of play in the states, which will hopefully have me in good stead when i return to online poker

Same. I haven't played online in a good week, and don't think I will until I've read a few books I've got on the computer.

Just quietly.... I can't wait for Berri

[Chelsea4thewin]

yep he had me covered by about 15k which was quite a bit at that point, i put him on High cards, not queens, he raised twice the blinds which doesnt really give him credit for a high pair, it folded to me so i jammed and he suprisingly was in the tank for a long time before calling

prob the only time i got real lucky though, got aces cracked twice on the day, one time early when i lost half my stack to some female player who re-raised pre-flop all in with q,8 to turn the straight, that got me back to even chips when blinds were 100/200

[Origami]

I enjoy reading Scott Fischman's blogs on CardPlayer. Tony "Bond18" Dunst goes alright too.

Now, I'm only gonna post my AM/SF run once, and seeing as the SF KO has A LOT to do with with maintaining concentration, I'm gonna post it here.

AM: Got an ok stack, grinded for ages. Moved to the feature table, with 6x BB (18l at 3/6k). Fold [6s] [8s] (should've shoved!), ended up flopping top pair and turning a flush draw, bettor shows a complete air bluff on the turn. So what do I do?

I shove it in with [Ks] [8d], from MP (from no 2, possibly 3). Call from the button with 8s, that's it, bye bye. Top 35.

SF: WOOOOO! GREAT time playing poker. Honestly, the best time I've had playing poker in forever. Chatting with Big Pete and Tommo early, then moving tables and making new mates, talking to fellow B/Gers... commentating on the hands... it was awesome. If anyone has ever played with me you'll notice that I'm VERY talkative at the table (I even had a woman ask me "Do you talk to yourself a lot?' "Yes " ). I enjoy playing poker, and I like to have fun as I'm doing it.

Now... my tourny run. I went to 500/1000 with 10k. Shoved with TT into BB's AJ, rivers a J - leaves me with around 6k. I'm short for a while, check my BB of 98o after SB limp, flop KTJ. He checks, I shove, he INSTA tanks, then says he's in front, and throws his chips into the pot (18k pot). I flip my open ender, he rolls K7d. I turn the straight, scoop it. I now have a playable stack.

QQ into 88, and I'm looking at 40k at 600/1200. At 800/1600 there is an all in for 3900, I look down at 9s and announce to the table I'm all in for 24k. SB doesn't hear me and calls the 3,900. I announce I declared all in and he replies with "oh, ok, I still call." For 9k... which doesn't please me.

SS rolls K8, SB rolls AQ. Ew, a race.

Flop: [8d] [Qh].... [9s]. BEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWTY.

I now have 60kish, and realising for the first time that I am doing well, I could actually make something of this.

First hand back from the break I have an above average stack. I peek down at [6d][6s] in the SB. UTG min raise to 6k. Dealer all in for 7.5k. I consider shoving him in for 30k+, but if I lose the race I will be left with 40k, and I don't want to lose such a large chunk of my stack. I figure I can see a flop and go from there.

Flop: [6h] [8c] [5s]. I check, UTG shoves, I insta call. He rolls AQ and I scoop. I am now in the top 3 chip stacks.

I fold down for about an hour, take the blinds and antes maybe twice (table doesn't wanna clash it seems), walk around, get some air. Time to clear my head - been a long day, 7 hours or so. I watch steve_g crack QQ with TT (great work man ) and also boost into the top chip stacks. Not much happens for a while until...

I have 90k. Blinds 4k/8k/1000. I'm in the BB with 44. EP limp, leaving himself with 13k. SB announce raise (possibly all in, can't remember). What I do remember is peeking down at 4s and shoving, like instantly. If SB did raise, he didn't have time to throw his chips out. OMG WTF ????


EP: 77

OMG WTF ????
SB: KK
Me: 44.

SEEMS too much Bennymacca for you M8


Board bricks and KK scoops it. Now, here's the error. When SB shoved, I could only see his stack of yellow chips, which added up to around 15k. I could not see his stack of blue chips, which together, totalled 50,000. From my stack of 90k. Ew. Huge tournament error, which although not killing me, left me SS (4xBB). Relative to the blinds, I was stuffed.

I ended up shoving with 42k with AQ at 5k/10k. SB has 10k left, calls, BB has 4k left and calls.

SB: Q8o.
BB: ATs.

OMG! Could I ask for a better position or what? I have them both DOMINATED, looking to scoop a 37k pot, which puts me up around 80k. Unfortunately, BB flops a T, and ends up with a flush on the river, so I'm left with 27k.

I'm moved tables and on my 2nd hand, look down at QJd after an UTG shove for 90k +. I played with UTG before, he open shoved with 99 from UTG, and made me lay down AQ. I figure if he's shoving now its going to be heads up, which with my SS is what I want. I can't push many players off a pot if I shove for 27k at 5k/10k. So heads up is what I want. I'm suited, connected, and hopefully live. I'm really hoping I have two overs here, but I figure I could jag a hit against KJ/AK. I'm BB in 3 hands at any rate, so I don't have long.

I call, he rolls AQo, I miss. Tourny over.

I spent the next day and a half regretting my 4s decision. While I wasn't chip leader, I was doing ok and did not, at all, have to shove it in with 4s. And if I had known it was for more than 50% of my stack, I would've insta folded. I'm still not sure why I did it - who am I hoping to push off? EP limp, with 12k behind? Maybe SB raised, and I shoved - I can't even remember how the hand played out. I think it was the fact that I hadn't played a hand in ages and wanted to assert to the table, and to myself, that I can still win hands.

Made me realise there are times when you need to get back to the basics and figure out the goal of tournament poker: to outlast everyone. There is no need to win every hand. As David said, its like playing cricket. One bad shot and you're out on 97, the days work gone. I realise that now, and I'm a better player for it.

I'm always learning as a poker player, and this is a good experience for me. There will always be other tournaments Only mistake I made all day out of 7 hours of poker, so I'm glad with that. I can honestly say there was not ONE other bad move I made all day.

Side note: WELL DONE SCOTTY! Excellent showing mate. Disappointed I didn't get to play any hands with you (yet to do that) all day. Would've liked to watch you play. Great work too steve, big props brother - keep wearing the sunnies Forum represent! Cheers for everyone's thanks and congrats over the past two days, as well.

Oh, and the banner is completely awesome.

like Garth said..

feel your disapointment

another day .

cheers

[AJG]

Meditation, excercise and supplements like Ginkgo, Brahmi and Fish Oils. Also there is a 'brainwave' technology called Holosync, which I was actually put onto from a Poker Book (Kill Everyone, by Lee Nelson et al). It consists of CDs you listen to daily and increases both concentration, creativity, intution (supposedly), longevity of mental faculties, and resitence to stress, and it really does work! Not cheap though at about $300, and Lee even talks about using the CDs during breaks and before the tourney starts: One of the Cds is specifically to enhance the Alpha state, being that of our normal waking, alert conciousness.