You may have heard about mental game which has being talked about frequently in poker circles recently. Your mental strength reflects in your actual game, and if you start playing the game badly, it simply means you are not playing right mentally. Instead of focusing on the game 100%, you may have distractions like checking updates on Facebook, or your inbox, or you could be chatting with someone on Skype, or you could even be attempting playing too many tables at the same time.
It’s not just you; it is common with most people who go through such phases, without focusing on the game at hand. You need to strengthen your mind to improve your game in the long run. Pre-game preparations are one of the most important aspects of a mental game. Warming up is essential; just as any athlete would before a major race or event. Poker too needs a bit of warming up to get your cognitive skills up and working.
Program preparations
Preparing oneself before commencing a game is important. Focus and rehearse for a couple of minutes on what you propose to do in any particular session. Without worrying too much about the outcome,paying attention the type of hands is another important factor, as you will have to predict other people’s (opponents) bet ranges, before making plays. Referring to notes jotted down while reading a blog or a journal on poker helps develop a plan so it is good stick to it.
Ridiculous as it may sound, deep breathing exercises help, as they have a scientific impact. Deep breathing helps flush out the stale air trapped at the bottom of the lungs and helps oxygenate the blood better feeding more oxygen to the brains. This helps you remain sharp and alert throughout the game. Even otherwise, regular workouts and sticking to a moderate diet helps one remain lively, especially when poker games go on for hours at a stretch.
Removing the clutter from your desk too helps focus better. Keep the keyboard and mouse within easy reach and make sure that there are no other distractions such as your phone in the vicinity . It takes a split-second diversion to affect the chain of thoughts which could lead to disastrous effects. A comfortable posture and complete focus will help you play the game better.
Midgame mental strategies
After the game commences, more often than not, one’s concentration tends to reduce and the chances of getting side tracked increases. It is important to keep your mind in the game and not get distracted by anything else. A seasoned poker player will always remains focused, following every move keenly. This is more so when you are playing online against an opponent whose physical presence is absent. This kind of robotic playing tends to make one let down his or her guard very often.
Under such circumstances, it pays to sit back and take your eyes off the computer screen in between games. Try to regain your mental composure by reading some strategies in a new tab or eating some food before you start again. The mind can often play tricks on you, and long duration of play could lead to you seeing blurred lines running across the screen rapidly. Just as hitting the reset button on your computer will set things right, similarly, the brain needs a quick refresh. Take time before making a decision, as split second decisions can often lead to costly errors. You may run the sequence of events through your mind and change your decision several times before settling for the final decision.
Post-game strategies
Immediately after a grueling session, you need to take time off and try to get into the pregame routine you were in at the beginning, one more time. Assess the situation, and jot down some quick points during the session that just concluded. You can kid others, but you can never kid yourself, hence be truthful and ask yourself whether you played a commendable game or a terrible one. Talk to yourself out loud, and put it down in writing. Jot down the reasons for the bad performance, seeking the true reason for the failure.
Did you spend enough time over every move while playing? Or were you simply going through the motions robotically, to just get it done.
Writing down such observations helps prepare for the next game better. This helps avoiding repetition of errors, while new errors are still alright. Learning from mistakes helps as one normally never makes the same mistake twice. Trying to cool down after a hot session is another way of rejuvenating yourself. Take a break,go for a brisk walk, listen to some soothing music before coming back into the grind. A bad day at poker can ruin the rest of your day and may affect your relationships with other people.
Ultimately, remaining calm with a rational mind while playing an intense round of poker makes all the difference. However, as cliched as it may sound; there is a lot of truth to it. Don’t allow past experiences to cloud your judgment and lead to fresh errors. Try to maintain strong and aggressive posture in the game, as poker is all about composure and skill. Knowing your weaknesses and strengths will help you better your game where you will not be in a situation where you will regret later.