What helps you prepare to play your A-game?

[Like2Play2]

Sleep well. Eat well and exercise. Those are the basics and I have them covered.
But my state of mind, is what varies. And when I am preoccupied which is too often, I play terrible poker.

 

[etipton1961]

In the past I have only played live poker at a casino. I always get a good nights sleep, eat well before I get there and drink water while I play.

 

[PHX]

It always a balance between rest and rust. You want to be rested and have a clear mind but you also want to be sharp and focused which can only come from playing. So I go with something like good night's sleep with some studying and planning night before and a little practice game before a big tournament is helpful.

 

[BillyR23]

How do you prepare for a poker session ? This could be physical or mental preparation, or organizing snacks or music. Does it differ for you when it's a cash game vs and tournament? Or an online game vs. live?

What helps you prepare to play your A-game?

I'm a simple person and I just do the basics before my poker sessions: sleep well, eat well and exercise a bit- usually going for a short run while listening to some music/ podcast.. I do this before both an online and live game, but tbh I do a few more things before my live sessions and that's why, nowadays, I prefer to play mostly online and save some time for other IRL activities with family and friends...

Other than this, I often take short breaks from any gambling activity- including poker(even after winning sessions), and this way I avoid feeling burnout and IMO it helps a lot in bringing my A game at the tables and also playing well for longer periods of time...

GLGL all at the tables 💸💸💸

 

[thejuice1]

no pregame ritual or anything like that for me to get in the zone. mostly just know that i have the entire day (if needed) to devote to playing, and then just never lose focus. play each hand as it comes, and play it the best i can. and if a bad beat happens, forget it as soon as the cards are dealt for the next hand.

 

[Aballinamion]

How do you prepare for a poker session ? This could be physical or mental preparation, or organizing snacks or music. Does it differ for you when it's a cash game vs and tournament? Or an online game vs. live?

What helps you prepare to play your A-game?

I turn off the cell phone and all of the computer's social media. I medidate, drink water, go to the bathroom.
Then I say to myself that it's a hard game. That I will lose no matter how good I play. That horrible things and worst can and will happen and it's perfectly normal.
I try to remove my ego completely before entering the tables. When I'm playing I do not listen to music, TV, nothing that could ever distract me.
I'm cold as a psychopath, my only concern is to make the most EV action and let the chips fall as they may.

 

[CRStals]

When I play my A game I'm always planning out what needs done before I sit down. I don't want to be rushed and I want to make sure my head is clear and I'm calm and ready to play. I also don't want to register too late so I need to be prepped so I'm 100% focused and ready to go!

 

[rsparente]

Sleep and pre-work, like playing sattelites just to get to remember, in action, that I must not pay till river to get cracked with pocket Qs, just due to it's initial value

 

[tony2521]

Generally, before starting an online or live session, the main thing is to have rested well and have enough time available for said sessions, whether they are MTT or Cash.
Good nutrition and hydration before and during the session.

 

[Poker Orifice]

For tournaments:
Meal plan & preparation in advance.
Play some music while reviewing some hands.
Watch a favorite Twitch streamer for 15mins.+
Take the dog for a walk.

For Cashgame play:
Take the dog for a walk

 

[pavel1111111]

A work ouț at the gym, a very good meal and some good music and I am ready to go and win poker tourneys 😁

 

[Skot_Gy]

Being well nourished, rested and calm is the best preparation.

 

[cracker]

I don't do anything special to prepare for a poker session. I just play when I have the time.

 

[Liedust]

Good music and be alone

 

[phoenixKK]

I try to sleep well the night before it I hate playing without sleepig well.

 

[Peteski84]

A cup of tea gets me started.

 

[xOneCoolHandx]

How do you prepare for a poker session ? This could be physical or mental preparation, or organizing snacks or music. Does it differ for you when it's a cash game vs and tournament? Or an online game vs. live?

What helps you prepare to play your A-game?

Great question. I just got back from Vegas and to prepare for my games while I was there (this applies to online games too) I would make sure that I got in a good workout that day and then if I had played the night before, I would mentally review any hands that I had played (for online, I just review the hands I have marked in PT). I like to get there early whether I am playing a tournament or a cash game and walk around and kind of observe the action, who was playing loose, who has the biggest stacks, who is drunk, ect. I did this for both cash and tournaments because I usually get there in time to play a bit of cash leading into a tournament and I have always noticed that the cash players are usually regged for the tournament, plus, the ones who aren't, I may see after the tournament at the cash tables. Then I like to get my seat assignment as early as possible so I can set up a side table to have drinks ready to go (non-alcoholic of course).

Online, I always prepare with the workout and hand review and I also set up drinks and snacks so that I know it won't take my attention away from the game during actual game play.

 

[Sebbour]

How do you prepare for a poker session ? This could be physical or mental preparation, or organizing snacks or music. Does it differ for you when it's a cash game vs and tournament? Or an online game vs. live?

What helps you prepare to play your A-game?

Since I'm recreational player and playing poker for fun and to relax myself I don't have many preparations but still have some.

If I play some significant online tournament (to me), first, I have to be "hungry" for poker (that means that I didn't played poker for several days) and secondly, I mustn't be tired before the start of that tournament.

If I play online cash game I just need to be "hungry" for poker since I'm usually less than 30 minutes at the table.

As for live game, I haven't been at a live game for a decade for sure but if I'd plan to go to a live game today preparations would be the same, don't be tired, don't be hungry and have enough time to play relaxed without any real life obligations to attend to.

 

[19aleks57]

For me, the main option for a normal poker game is having free time as well as pre-prepared sweets and drinks.

 

[ficticius]

Meditation half an hour before starting to play. Relax your mind and heart

 

[10gerka]

To play a poker session, I first have to be well rested, eat well, then disconnect from my cell phone and be 100% focused on my game.

 

[ammje]

I think you should study your game first, and accept that in poker you are going to lose no matter how good a player you are.
If poker were easy, everyone would quit their jobs to become millionaires playing poker.
You have to endure the bad streaks, study and put in volume, sooner or later you will be a winning player.

 

[Igor G]

How do you prepare for a poker session ? This could be physical or mental preparation, or organizing snacks or music. Does it differ for you when it's a cash game vs and tournament? Or an online game vs. live?

What helps you prepare to play your A-game?

Sleep helps me the most. I like to sleep before the game, if I have a free hour. Such a short rest restores my strength well and after a short sleep I play with more concentration.

 

[hilary antonik filho]

How do you prepare for a poker session ? This could be physical or mental preparation, or organizing snacks or music. Does it differ for you when it's a cash game vs and tournament? Or an online game vs. live?

What helps you prepare to play your A-game?

To play online I don't do any preparation, live I like to get to know my opponents, I observe and take notes

 

[HellKid13]

I like to go for a workout in the morning. After I am done, I study certain spots like SRP BtnvsBB etc and then eat something and start my session.
Just don't overthink and try to play your a-game.