Live Tournys

Dertaderp23 · Feb 15, 2009

I was wondering if there are any other people that have experienced a great deal of excitement when playing live poker. Its not that I am nervous but for some reason the first 5 or so live tournaments i played just sitting at the table my heart would start racing sometimes my hands would shake. Im sure it was obvious. It still happens but not as extreme. Does anyone have any advice on how to stop this. A friend of mine suggested xanax lol but i want to be able to concentrate on the game

Bigsmak · Feb 15, 2009

play more.. You'll get over it..

One day, you'll be sitting across from a new guy and he'll be shaking and you'll think, i am more experienced than him and you'll just stop.

But I have been in casinos now for nearly 5 years and sometimes... after I win a huge pot, i shake on the next hand... I have to sit on them!

lol

supercilious · Feb 15, 2009

My advice is to drink a slight amount, or play a TON of hands. I got over the nerves by just playing online a lot until nothing phases me... I can still feel it in my heart when I hit a monster, but it does not tweak me out like when I started and how it sounds like it does to you.

OzExorcist · Feb 15, 2009

There's really nothing for it but experience - I was nervous as hell the first time I played live, and it took a bunch of games to get over it. Then it started all over again the first time I played in a casino - again, you play there a few more times and it eventually goes away.

Velutha · Feb 15, 2009

The first time I played in a casino I was insane with excitement/nervousness...I'm sure I was shaking like a leaf. This definitely passes...It's just like anything else; once you get your reps in it becomes old hat. I still get the occasional huge hand excitement but I think it's less transparent these days. I can't necessarily agree with the drink a little bit advice....this is fine for some people but I'm a huge proponent of not hindering your decision making when your money is on the line...Then again I'm a lightweight with the booze

TheNoob · Feb 16, 2009

Bigsmak said:
play more.. You'll get over it..

This.

I was very apprehensive the first few times I played.

The more hands I played, the better I felt.

Like anything else, practice.

naruto_miu · Feb 17, 2009

I would say experience helps, but really some ppl are just nervous overall (Atleast I always come across as shaky, lol). I personally have acouple of beers in my system (Not enough to get down right drunk

) Just enough to ease the edge I would say. Once again though, that's my way I use to solve this issue, now though I rarely drink (Maybe 1/2 times a year

flint · Feb 17, 2009

Its all about getting comfortable at the table. Experience helps and also being confident in your skills helps also. I still get a bit nervous in live tournaments if I invest a fair amount of money in it (like $100+), but aftera few hands I'll start to play like my old self again.

Jaynore · Feb 17, 2009

The best part about being me, is I have a natural small tick/shake with my hands. People get SO many misreads on my hands based on my body. Nothing I can do about it but take their chips.

When you stop getting nervous/excited about poker and raking in a big pot, it's probably time to find a new game.

Dertaderp23 · Feb 20, 2009

Just a update I went played a live game on Thrusday night and as soon as I sat down I felt alot more relaxed than all of the other games before. I knocked two people out in the first five hands, tripled up. Im not sure if that had anything else to do with it but I was able to keep my emotions under control up until i was knocked out in 2nd! No shakes, no nervousness,nothing. I actually just felt sooo confident during the whole game and I found my play was so much better. I was also able to beat that demon in your brain saying "call that 95 diamonds it might hit" and only played good hands. Blah Blah Blah sorry for the rambling Im just ready to go back

Gl everyone and thanks for all of the responses

marvinas · Feb 22, 2009

Live games still make me a bit nervous, especially when it comes to bubble. Seems I can't detach from situation and keep my game, it's like I get AQs and start thinking "omg, I should raise, but what happens if it doesn't hit, or someone has pocket kings" etc. Also, table chat influences a lot, as also seen on those poker TV shows. But overall live poker is much more exciting, less "mechanical"and requires more skill.
BTW, when writing this decided to go and have a live tourney an hour later

GL everyone

Tom1559 · Feb 22, 2009

I found the first time quite difficult but then I played live in a casino at a private event where it was all friends. This helped a lot and now after a few events I have no problem. I pretty much just keep quiet and keep myself to myself and concentrate on the game and other players. After a few I won one and I found that other players start to get to know you and respect you.

mpbmoney · Feb 22, 2009

A quick way to stop shaking is to take slow, deep breaths (in through the mouth out through the nose) for about a minute. This slows your heart rate down and should help with the shakes. Don't do it too much though, because other players often think heavy breathing is a tell.

flint · Feb 23, 2009

marvinas said:
Live games still make me a bit nervous, especially when it comes to bubble. Seems I can't detach from situation and keep my game, it's like I get AQs and start thinking "omg, I should raise, but what happens if it doesn't hit, or someone has pocket kings" etc.

The bubble can be a bitch sometimes. I remember bubbling 3 times in a row, after that I was playing damn scared and short stacked just happy to make the money.

I am not sure that I can tell you exactly how I have detached myself out of the situation, but I think it has a lot to do with your confidence and especially taking a analytical approach to the game - each time I get knocked out I will go over any interesting hands in my mind and see if it was my fault or if it was just a cooler. Also once you play a lot you will start to figure the right ways to play hands and then you won't be scared as you will know that if he's got kings, then he is lucky and its your time to get lucky

donfl6975 · Feb 23, 2009

hi

when is this Full Tilt Freeroll to celebrate 50,000

Leo 50 · Feb 23, 2009

My first live tourney made me extremely nervous but after a few hands and my first winning pot it all went away.

Now I play at least once a month in live games, a monthly private game, a semi weekly home game and visit to the local casinos here in So. Cal.

I played a tourney at the Bicycle club last week and it was insane the way some of these 'grinders' played.
It didn't make me nervous but it sure made me glad I don't go to the casino as often.

BTW I didn't cash!

popo12 · Feb 23, 2009

I remember playing omaha..

There was about 220$ in the pot..I flopped two clubs matching my two clubs...JQ..flop..KT...then the next card..a 9Clubs giving me a straight flush..the other guy had a full house kings up tens...I new he had big cards and knew I was unbeatable...my hand stared to quiver when I picked up the chips...I bet 60$...he had no choice but to call..yet it would have been a sure sign in any other case making them fold..so after that I stopped live games..

Dertaderp23 · Feb 24, 2009

Thanks for all of the advice. Im getting much better at it now

AmnesiaLogic · Feb 24, 2009

throw some rope

Got a girl? or a palmala handerson? take care of it before you go!!! Calm the whole time at the table after that.

naruto_miu · Mar 2, 2009

popo12 said:
There was about 220$ in the pot..I flopped two clubs matching my two clubs...JQ..flop..KT...then the next card..a 9Clubs giving me a straight flush..the other guy had a full house kings up tens...I new he had big cards and knew I was unbeatable...my hand stared to quiver when I picked up the chips...I bet 60$...he had no choice but to call..yet it would have been a sure sign in any other case making them fold..so after that I stopped live games..

Just wondering what form of poker was this that your playing? You state that you had the SF (Ok

), yet you stated the other guy had the boat (Also Great

), but I can only read that there were only 3 cards dealt?

Hahaha, just playing I know what you meant just had to post it is all

nevadanick · Mar 3, 2009

OP mentions live play as 'tournaments'. For tournaments, you usually have to sign up somewhat in advance. Watch who else is signing up and try to strike a conversation with them. Once you have 'met' a few of the players. it makes the trip to your table a little less un-nerving, even if who you met is not seated at your table right then.

You can also approach many tourney players and tell them it's the first time you've played AT THAT CASINO or ROOM. Ask if there is anything you should be aware of. It's not admitting you've never played live before, just that THIS place is new to you. Helps break the ice.

For ring play, watch the tables for a while, especially the one you might want to join. Watch to see who the 'friendlier' players seem to be and when you get seated, make sure they are one of the ones you look at and greet when you sit down. Gets them on your good side from the start, in most cases. You can also spend a few minutes and talk to someone from the sign-up desk or pit. Same question there - "anything you should know?"

Having said even a few words before sitting to play helps clear the cobwebs and gets the butterflies flying in some sort of formation.

RichKo · Mar 3, 2009

Funny Thing

I played in my 4th live tourney recently...1st one in probably 7 months, and I noticed, when I played a hand...even if I had the stone cold nuts, I was like a rock, no crazy movements, no heavy breathing. As soon as the hand was over (which went to showdown, so everyone knew it was a huge hand) I passed the deck next to me (we had to deal ourselves) and my hand friggin shook so hard...I actually chuckled when I first noticed. By the time it was over I didn't do it anymore, but it kinda wierded me out cause I was so nervous, that I was hoping I wouldnt put on wierd moves or tells.

Dertaderp23 · Mar 3, 2009

can you please explain

AmnesiaLogic said:
Got a girl? or a palmala handerson? take care of it before you go!!! Calm the whole time at the table after that.

Live Tournys

Dertaderp23

Rock Star

Bigsmak

Rock Star

supercilious

Enthusiast

OzExorcist

Broomcorn's uncle

Velutha

Visionary

TheNoob

Visionary

naruto_miu

Legend

flint

Visionary

Jaynore

Enthusiast

Dertaderp23

Rock Star

marvinas

Enthusiast

Tom1559

Legend

mpbmoney

Enthusiast

flint

Visionary

donfl6975

Rising Star

Leo 50

Legend

popo12

Enthusiast

Dertaderp23

Rock Star

AmnesiaLogic

Rising Star

naruto_miu

Legend

nevadanick

Back to work ... zzzzz

RichKo

Visionary

Dertaderp23

Rock Star

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