Can you guys watch tv, hear music etc and win at poker?
 

I tried it so I don't get too bored but can't win as much. I feel it shouldn't matter much but I think it does affect me.

actually in longer tourneys it helps me better but shorter games no

Re: Can you guys watch tv, hear music etc and win at poker?
 

I dont pay too much att in the beging of any tourney. but after the 4th round Im waching and noteing every little thing, wheather im in the hand or not.
Cash games I just leave if I get board.

Re: Can you guys watch tv, hear music etc and win at poker?
 

i listen to music but i don't find it distracting.

Re: Can you guys watch tv, hear music etc and win at poker?
 

I play Cuber during the early portion of online trnys - but cash games, no distractions. I mess up enough without it.

Re: Can you guys watch tv, hear music etc and win at poker?
 

Online I generally have music/tv on early in the tournament (its usually already on), suddenly an hour later I'll realize that I haven't looked that way in at least that long. At that point I'll put some sort of instrumental/jazz on.

Live I generally bring the ipod, just to help avoid being annoyed by the people who are whiny.

Re: Can you guys watch tv, hear music etc and win at poker?
 

I don't think music has any effect on me. TV certainly does as does surfing the Internet.

I need good focus in cash games. However, early in a tourney or late when I'm in the push-bot mode, I don't need as much focus. It also depends on the stakes. When I decide to do a $3 rebuy MTT, I really don't think reads matter too much and given the stakes, I am really just playing for the fun of it.

I play so low stakes limit holdem once an awhile like 2.5/50. Here, I don't use reads as much and pretty well play a mechanical, mathematical game. I can do this with some distractions.

If I'm at a 1/2 or 2/4 NL cash game, it is a completely different story. Same for a $200 buyin MTT. In a big buyin MTT, I find the play a lot tighter and there is a mix of good and bad players. This needs more attention since stealing pots is much more prevalent than in a low buyin MTT where you really don't know what anybody is up to.

If I am multi-tabling, I need complete focus so music is the only outside input.

Re: Can you guys watch tv, hear music etc and win at poker?
 

It is possible, but I do a lot better when I concentrate on the game exclusively.

Listening to music is much more forgiving than television. I can use it to help change my play style.

Television is just a pure distraction.

Re: Can you guys watch tv, hear music etc and win at poker?
 

I usually turn up the music to prevent myself being distracted by ambient noise.

Re: Can you guys watch tv, hear music etc and win at poker?
 

I can't win b/c poker + MSN + WMP + IE = computer crash

Re: Can you guys watch tv, hear music etc and win at poker?
 

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i listen to music but i don't find it distracting.

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: Can you guys watch tv, hear music etc and win at poker?
 

i listen to one track on repeat while playing online.

Re: Can you guys watch tv, hear music etc and win at poker?
 

I always listen to various types of music when playing. I think that it does affect me, but not necessarily negatively. Metal for example might make me less patient and more aggressive, which I think is bad for me most of the time, but more relaxed music like reggae, jazz or classical has a calming effect most of the time.

I listen to music almost always when I'm at the computer, and usually when I'm away from it but in my apartment. I've gotten so used to it I tend to get very nervous without music.

Re: Can you guys watch tv, hear music etc and win at poker?
 

A song with good beat/rhythm gets me dancing and moving behind the computer. I will get carried away from the game and play more loose/agressive. It sucks because that's the music I like. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] Should try out some classical music.

Re: Can you guys watch tv, hear music etc and win at poker?
 

I did this for a long time - what's ur reasoning behind it?

Re: Can you guys watch tv, hear music etc and win at poker?
 

For me the best stuff is easy listening with quite simple melodies and repeated choruses. Beat can be tough but not fast. Simon&Garfunkel type singalong stuff is good. Also Bob Marley and Grateful Dead have helped me score profit.

If I play punk or heavy during the game I tend to loose more often. I often keep losing for an hour even after I turn it off. Might also be that I only listen to hard music when I'm in a losing mode anyway.

With instrumental I have to be quite selective, some Jazz for example makes me feel nervous. One might think classical is good, but if you have a musical ear, you start following melodies and then if you have a big hand at the same time you could make a big mistake.

Also rap can be dangerous if you're just listening to what the dude is saying while you flop top pair and bet half your stack without thinking. Another thing is that if the music is complicated, but you're not really listening to it, it becomes an annoyance in the background.

I guess it's normally a good thing to be familiar with the record you're playing while playing poker, then you can easily take your mind out of it and get back on again without too much distraction.

Sometimes I watch videos/youtube clips while playing, but it's never been a good idea moneywise.

Re: Can you guys watch tv, hear music etc and win at poker?
 

uhm, I play 8 to 12 tables
If I look at my TV for more then 10 seconds I hear *beep* *beep* *beep* and half a dozen tables pop up.
I like to listen to music though.

Re: Can you guys watch tv, hear music etc and win at poker?
 

I like rubbing one out while I play...