Mental Toughness
 

We spend a lot of time talking about analysis, game theory, odds, reading hands, etc. As much as I believe that being a strong technical player is essential to becoming a winning poker player, sometimes I feel that is not enough.

Some days, I find myself becoming weary and unfocused, in games which I need to be playing my A game. I also have caught myself becoming excessively loose in a very easy game, one in which a TAG style is much more appropriate.

I have come to the conclusion that some days are just not good days to play. My question is this:

1. What do you do if you are just not feeling right during a especially good game?

2. If you are on a bad losing streak, what are some things that you do to help keep yourself motivated and focused? (Like multiple losing sessions - over a few weeks or a month)

3. How can you improve your "mental toughness" on the felt?

Thanks for your thoughs

Re: Mental Toughness
 

If I'm feeling sick or bad in a good game I just ask myself if I can focus objectively on poker or if I am going to tilt and loosen up and make bad bluffs. I really, really don't like to leave good games but if I'm not playing well, then the game isn't that good. Think about your relative edge.

If I can't focus or if I'm just not caring anymore I rack up pretty quickly(regardless if I win/loose a big pot right before I'm leaving) and usually go to sleep. I wake up feeling sooooooo good and just come back to the game fresh.

WEhat do you mean by "bad losing streak?" 25bb? 50BB? 100BB? 200+?

Re: Mental Toughness
 

1. What do you do if you are just not feeling right during a especially good game?

Answer: I get up, walk around, try to motivate myself to focus, and if after another half an hour or so, I just have to leave if it continues.

2. If you are on a bad losing streak, what are some things that you do to help keep yourself motivated and focused?

Answer: I am motivated by making correct decisions. If I play a hand well and see someone suck out on me again, I smile inside, and sometimes on the surface, because I know I just theoretically made a profit. If you know you are a favorite in the game, and are making correct decisions, the wins will return soon enough. If you aren't sure you are a winner......well, thats different.

3. How can you improve your "mental toughness" on the felt?

Answer: Practice of course. The more you play, the better you are at all aspects. If that means not getting excited hitting quads anymore, then so be it. I knew I had arrived when I hit quads, bet the turn heads up, got a fold, and didn't show my hand. Repitition of correct practices is key.

Re: Mental Toughness
 

Become frienldy with some of the quality regular players in your cardroom maybe even some of the dealers. By doing this you may not want to look bad in front of them and will be compelled to play correctly.

Re: Mental Toughness
 

[ QUOTE ]
We spend a lot of time talking about analysis, game theory, odds, reading hands, etc. As much as I believe that being a strong technical player is essential to becoming a winning poker player, sometimes I feel that is not enough.

Some days, I find myself becoming weary and unfocused, in games which I need to be playing my A game. I also have caught myself becoming excessively loose in a very easy game, one in which a TAG style is much more appropriate.

I have come to the conclusion that some days are just not good days to play. My question is this:

1. What do you do if you are just not feeling right during a especially good game?

2. If you are on a bad losing streak, what are some things that you do to help keep yourself motivated and focused? (Like multiple losing sessions - over a few weeks or a month)

3. How can you improve your "mental toughness" on the felt?

Thanks for your thoughs

[/ QUOTE ]

1 I quit. If I can not play well its not a good game.

2 I analyze hands and look for ways to play hands/situations better and then I implement them. It is easy to play well when you are running good. When you are running bad is when you can really find ways to improve your game.

3 Put things in perspective. Dont focus on results. Some of the hands that please me the most are hands that I lost but played really well.

Re: Mental Toughness
 

Back when I was playing 6-7 hour B&M sessions I used to set my cell phone alarm to go off every hour or so. Every time it went off I would take a break and reevaluate the game and how well I'm playing, then and there committing to either leave immediately or stay one more hour. It's a lot easier to quit when you force yourself to make the decision NOW, instead of letting yourself put it off repeatedly when your decision making process is already questionable.