nervousness and self-consciousness at live table

dmochow · #1 08-14-2007, 02:43 AM

Hello,
This may seem like a bizarre post -- I learned to play poker online and have a good grasp of the probabilistic nature of the game through reading Sklansky's and Harrington's books. I do quite well at online games and in small home games.

However, when I play at a large casino tournament, I become so nervous and self-conscious when the action is on me that it seriously hinders my play: I tighten up and don't take the time to think through each decision. My decisions are often rushed, and afterwards, I often realize that I played the hand wrong: I simply can't settle down my emotions and focus on the hand.

My questions are:
1) Have any of you had encountered such "nervousness" problems at live tournaments, and if so,
2) Does it get easier with experience?

If you have any tips on how to overcome these problems and acquire some kind of poker "zen", *please* post.

Thanks,
Jacek

uDevil · #2 08-14-2007, 03:46 AM

Playing in a casino can be intimidating for anyone at first. I know I was nervous the first few times. Even now, it may take me a few hands to settle down. Just taking a few deep breaths helps. Even so, my hands will often shake the first time I throw in a bet. Oh, well, it'll pass, and if I look inexperienced and clumsy, it doesn't hurt my image, so I try not to worry about it.

John Bontus · #3 08-14-2007, 04:12 AM

Really don't shoot me, but have you tried drinking an alcoholic beverage before playing?

dmochow · #4 08-14-2007, 04:15 AM

Haha, sure, but it doesn't help with the nervousness, believe it or not. If I had more than a few drinks, then it would certainly help, but on the other hand, it would take away from my analytical abilities. In any case, I need to learn to zone out without substances.

Alexost · #5 08-14-2007, 04:40 AM

As you play more I'm sure you'll settle down and feel more comfortable. Try exercising before you go play.

leatangclan · #6 08-14-2007, 07:30 AM

Like you, I used to get nervous playing live. I don't anymore because I played a lot since I started playing poker a couple of years ago. In fact, I really like playing live with real poker chips and cards. And I enjoy watching people and try to look for tells.

So that maybe something you may want to experiment with. Think of the fun things you would have in live situations that you would not have online. They tell you to not look at your cards first but look at everyone else looking at their cards to detect tells. That never worked for me. In fact, I don't want to give off tells looking at my cards. So I would look at my cards when everyone is busy looking at their cards. This gives me time to think about what I want to do when it's time for me to bet - rather than look and think when everyone is looking at you; talk about pressure right?

This may or may not be a good idea. Another thing you may want to do is play some cash games before the tourny. This will serve as a "warm up"? The problem with that is if you lose that might throw your game off. I would say just enjoy the live game experience and you should be fine.

thrasher789 · #7 08-14-2007, 08:56 AM

A couple weeks ago I was on a cruise and they had a 5/10 limit table, the very first time I sat down to play I was a little nervous or excited becuase I remember an Ace hit on the turn and as soon as I bet out the guy next to me instafolded and said "I know you got the Ace cuz your hands were shaking when you went to bet earlier" but really my hands had just been shaky for some reason the entire time I was at the table just becuase I had some nerves about it.

cheburashka · #8 08-14-2007, 10:12 AM

I suck at poker, but I actually know quite a bit about this topic.

There are a number of theater techniques that you can try to help you relax, concentrate, and create the image that you want at the table. A good place to start would be Alexander Technique training (which is just a fancy term for a lot of normal theater training exercises). There's a lot of info on the web about this, including local training resources.

bearwiredpair · #9 08-14-2007, 12:03 PM

I suffer from the very same condition.

Lots of good advice above.

The more you play the easier it gets.

Do warm up by playing a ring game before hand. If I make mistakes I always look at it as better now than later. If you are ahead then you start the tourny with confidence.

If its ZEN your looking for find something to focus on when you feel the nervousness and self-consciousness comming on. A place on the table where you can zone in and focus. I use a card protector that has a few words of inspiration on it (its a picture of Jules' wallet from Pulp Fiction. "Its the one that says Bad MFer on it") I look at it, count to 5 and then act.

It gets easier and youll get over it. Just keep palying regualarly.

PantsOnFire · #10 08-14-2007, 12:45 PM

Yes, I have experienced nervousness in the live game setting. It happens the first few times and sometimes again later on if you are in a really big tourney. It will simply disappear the more you play.

In the meantime, at the table, concentrate on the other players every hand and not on yourself. Think of how they are playing and how they are reacting to your actions.

And really, playing holdem in a tourney or cash game in a casino is a hell of a lot of fun.