ITH Poker Forum

[Bluedaq]

Could you suggest any exercises to improve

!) Concentration/focus
2)Discipline
and emotional control

with regards to poker. Also do you think diet effects poker playing ability.

Thanks

[Al Schoonmaker]

You wrote:

Could you suggest any exercises to improve

!) Concentration/focus
2)Discipline
and emotional control

with regards to poker. Also do you think diet effects poker playing ability.

xxxxxxxx

I don't know anything about diet and poker.

Tommy Angelo has written repeatedly about concentration, discipline, and emotional control. His book, tentatively titled "Elements of Poker," will be coming out soon.

His website is tiltless.com.

You can also listen to my interview with him on holdemradio.com. Click on poker psychology. There are three segments to the show.

Regards,

Al

[Bluedaq]

Bump

[Fumseck]

Blue,

I don't want to push a book here, but since it's ITH...

Pie's book The Poker Mindset will give you good insights on discipline and emotional control. It was a very good read for me.

Also, you may find some of Pie's articles very interesting:

The many faces of Tilt part 1
The many faces of Tilt Part 2

Why Do Players Go on Tilt?
When should I stop playing

Reactions to Losing a Big Pot – Part 1
Reactions to Losing a Big Pot – Part 2

[Tommy Angelo]

Hi Bluedaq,

Could you suggest any exercises to improve

1) Concentration/focus

Each sentence in the next four paragraphs is a separate exercise.

While peeing: Listen to the sound, just hear it. Look at the bubbles, just see them. Count how many times you breath from when the fluid starts coming out until it stops. Remember that number, and remember to count your breaths next time and compare. If you'd like to make a little competition, see how few times you can breath during a pee.

While eating: Sit your utensil down between bites. Observe yourself chewing. Empty your mouth before you put more stuff in.

While walking: Gaze at the ground two feet in front of you. Or gaze at your feet. Walk a little slower than you would if you weren't paying attention to your walking. Intentionally coordinate your breathing with your stepping in any way, for example, 5 steps per inbreath and 7 steps per outbreath. The numbers don't matter. Paying attention does.

While standing: Stand perfectly still and gaze at a spot on the wall. Stand still when waiting in line or at a crosswalk and fix your gaze on one thing.

2)Discipline
and emotional control

Because emotion exists in the mind, being able to take control of your mind is the same skill as being able to take control of your emotions. Concentration exercises are the best way I know of to train your mind to be able to take control of itself. When your mind is in tumult, such as when you take a brutal beat, or you are enraged by the actions of another, this is when it is hardest to take control of your mind. It is unreasonable to think that you can just wake up one day with the ability to control your mind when it is hardest to do so -- no matter how much you want to, or no matter how much you read -- just in the same way that if you can now do 20 pushups, you won't be able to do 50 pushups tomorrow just because you want to. It takes much time and work to build great physical strength. It takes the same dedication of time and effort to build great mental strength. And great mental strength is required to remain in control of your mind during all your poker sessions. The good news is, you have to pee and eat and walk and hear and stand and see everyday. So you can always be building your mental strength.

Also do you think diet effects poker playing ability.

If you change the word "ability" to "performance," then yes, I think diet is a significant variable that affects our poker score, because of two things. One is in how it directly affects our physiology. Two is that it is something we control.

Tommy

[AlamedaMike]

Tommy, What can I say? Thanks for the suggestions for one. I know that I have been hawking Tolle's book and I really do not want people to buy it because I liked it. It is hard for me to explain the connection that I feel between what he says and what you say.

Some of his exercise about being present and aware of the moment are similar to yours. I read his book and listened to the webcasts and it improved my life.

I read your book and it improved my life.

I look at people and see their reaction to a situation and think to myself - they need to read that book. But, I do not say anything.

You are, in my opinion, giving out some very helpful information. If you are not a practicing Buddhist maybe you should be.

Buddha Is as Buddha Does: Lama Surya Das

The transcendental gift of generosity.

[Bluedaq]

AlamedaMike here is Tommy Angelo blog

http://www.tommyangelo.com/blog/

mindfulness entries are v good.

[AlamedaMike]

AlamedaMike here is Tommy Angelo blog

http://www.tommyangelo.com/blog/

mindfulness entries are v good.

Thanks - I think the last time I looked his blog was not up yet.

Someone said that they were a big fan of Tommy's writing. I think it was our resident shark. I have never before in my life encountered an author that writes like Tommy does.

I flat enjoy reading what he writes. Even if it is about Redwood trees. I live near San Francisco.

[Bluedaq]

http://www.texasholdempoker101.com/no-l ... -tips.html

Was one of his students his articles seems to be clear and simple I think its a good site.

[AlamedaMike]

http://www.texasholdempoker101.com/no-limit-holdem-tips.html

Was one of his students his articles seems to be clear and simple I think its a good site.

Thanks

[Suited_Jock]

http://www.texasholdempoker101.com/no-limit-holdem-tips.html

Was one of his students his articles seems to be clear and simple I think its a good site.

Thanks

+1

[AlamedaMike]

When I wake in the morning I try a short Rising meditation from the Oprah web site.

I need to train more since sometimes I can only get to 4-5 breaths until my minds starts to wonder - this is a failure that a Zen book said is good. It allows me to bring my mind back and just be aware of my breathing.

After a bit I can do more than 5 and then I complete the meditation and get up to start my day.

This helps me.

After a bad beat (a common term used to describe a hand that lost that was the favorite to win, but a term that should be forgotten) I become aware of my breathing and after a few seconds it was like it never happened. Amazing.

Thanks to every one that contributed to this state of mind - this list is too long (not in order) to thank everyone - Tolle, Anglo, Taylor, Phillips, Leonard as well as all the forum members.

Speaking of bad beats - the only BB story that I am fond of is the one where I won $35,200. But, the strange part is that I gave him a bad beat on the turn and then he returned the favor on the river -

I had 88 and he had QQ - flop was 7-8-Q and the turn was 8 and the river was a Q.

Jackpot.

[LuckyLiam]

Jez - you guys have gone all Zen since I was last here.

Pass that reefer, man... :O)

Lol. Only joking - all good stuff this if it helps you keep your balance and ultimately allows you to play better for longer.

[toronexti]

Having a decent amount of sleep is important (6-8 hours there are individual differences).