Nervous?

Card Whale

Hi all, I played my first Big slick poker tour event tonight and it was a lot of fun. I busted out after about an hour of playing but I enjoyed myself. I had like 3 blinds left and shipped it with 66 and lost to ATo.

anyways my question is does anyone have any tips on calming down before you start to play? I sat down and in like the first five hands I was just so nervous. It wasn't even for money! I just got a huge rush and couldn't relax and think. The third hand I got I played it to the showdown and didn't even realize it but I had 2 pair. I felt like a huge moron because I had no idea how I missed that. my head was not clear at all

Any help is appreciated!

schabs

drink heavily.

/thread

Unknown

Like any stressful performance situation it get easier with repetition which is experience. its good to have a little nerves though which keeps you on your toes and heightens your awareness.

source: bruce lee's notes

Wetts1012

Ive played a ton of live MTT and still get super nervous before almost all of them.

Part of the game imo.

trigs

if it makes you feel any better, it was a little known fact that bill russell (one of the greatest boston celtics players of all time and winner of 11 championships) would throw up in the locker room before every game because he'd be nervous.

compuease

Card Whale wrote: »

anyways my question is does anyone have any tips on calming down before you start to play?

Well when you get to my age, it's waking up in time to play that's the issue..

Wetts1012 wrote: »

Ive played a ton of live MTT and still get super nervous before almost all of them.

Part of the game imo.

Now this is hard to believe... really?

trigs wrote: »

if it makes you feel any better, it was a little known fact that bill russell (one of the greatest boston celtics players of all time and winner of 11 championships) would throw up in the locker room before every game because he'd be nervous.

Terry Sawchuck fwiw..

Seriously though, just think what the others at your table must think of you, looking so menacing and all... Or at least imagine it...

SteveKerr

I have played a ton of live MTT, I still get a little nervous when I am walking into the casino.

It does get easier to relax, but I agree with Wetts, it is kind of part of the game

Cerberus

Picture your opponents in NCAA or AHL mascot costumes. You'll be fine

Also, Comp, we all know it's just a worry for you falling asleep before the tourney starts. You're up at 4am everyday!

JohnnieH

Use the old trick of imagining your opponents in their underwear. Of course if Drtyore is at your table, you won't have to. Odds are he will already be pantsless.

Card Whale

ok cool guys, thanks a lot for the help

compuease

Cerberus wrote: »

Also, Comp, we all know it's just a worry for you falling asleep before the tourney starts. You're up at 4am everyday!

Damn incontinence.....

Macke

Yup I just started a BSPT as well and I got nervous.. but it goes away pretty fast once you get knowing.

well except when you have to deal if you're me.

hendo

i use to get nervous everytime i would sit down at a cash game table for like the first few hands, but like someone above stated it gets easier with repetition, personally i think the nerves are better to keep you on your toes

getem76

have decaf...no seriously, basically probably the more you play the more you relax....try having a quick cash game session if you can, get the thoughts flowing, probably pass the jitters...or instead be nervous and in turn not play anything till you relax a bit, yes your folding but really its better than giving something tellish away

blackmagicz

Like anything if you are too relaxed it may kill your focus. If I am not nervous before a session it bothers me. I like to think of it as your body preparing you to goto battle and its good to get a little adreline rush from the nerves.