When all-in, any tips for mentally adjusting to the drama of it?

[derosnec]

When I'm all in on preflop or on the flop, and the cards are flipped over, despite my knowledge of % of winning/losing, I notice that my body tenses up, heart rate increases, and the usual profanities fly when the cards don't hold up.

It's a little odd since, for example, I know I'm supposed to lose, say, 25% with a certain hand. Yet "75% favorite" sounds big. So I started telling myself I lose 1 out of 4 times, to make it so that I'm not "mentally pocketing" the money (a term used in a 2+2 magazine article).

When i watch a CR video for example, the player is cool as can be when all in. I want to be him. I want to stop my blood pressure from increasing on the all-ins.

Does anyone have any tips?

[e_phemeral]

Close eyes until hand is over, then check your stack size to see if you won. Seriously. Once the money goes in, what's the point? I too get all tense and freaked after the money goes in. If I see that I'm ahead, I am convinced I will lose somehow. Lately I just close my eyes. Of course I'm talking about online play. If you're playing live you have to watch.

[Super Tool]

Always think positive!

[BarryLyndon]

Just expect the worst and, furthermore, accept that you are playing a game of chance.

Barry

[ayurice]

I love the feeling. That's what we play for!

[Vetgirig]

Just call out for the cards you want to come. Root for them to come and they will come.

[CrustyFace]

[ QUOTE ]
Just call out for the cards you want to come. Root for them to come and they will come.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's just about the 100% wrong advice.

[Arito]

[ QUOTE ]
I love the feeling. That's what we play for!

[/ QUOTE ]

[DarkMagus]

I always put my hand over the cards on the screen and wait to see who the pot slides towards. That kind of stuff helps from the annoyingness of, say, when you flop a pair with AK vs. QQ, but the Q rivers. Even though you were all-in preflop it still seems like a bad beat from the time between the flop and the river.

[Wardfish]

You could try Mike Caro's tip: root for the other guy. If he wins you are pleased because your guy won. If he loses, you get the consolation prize: the pot.

Personally, this doesnt work for me.

Im just happy to see that I was ahead when the money went in. Thats the end of the hand as far as I'm concerned. I couldnt care less what happens after that.