FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Seems like such a simple question, "How do you feel", but its one you should ask yourself every time you are about to sit at a poker table.  Because your physical and mental state are two critical areas of your poker playing ability.  All the knowledge in the world about pot odds, hand odds, and reading tells won't help you a bit if you are not 100% prepared to play poker.

The easiest of the two to consider is your physical health.  If you don't feel good, you probably won't play good.  Poker is a game that requires concentration and consideration, and if you have an illness going on, neither of these two function very well.  Besides, if you are in any way sick, you risk getting other sick by touching the cards and chips, and then passing that on to other players.  In other words, if you are sick, don't play.

But how about other physical things?  Are you just tired?  Is your back hurting?  Are your eyes sore from reading the zing you just got hit with by DJ in a throwdown?  All of these factors can interfere with quality play. 

As always, some examples:  We had a guy one time in a 44 person tournament, and he was sneezing and coughing.  Not only did it affect his play, it affected the play of everyone in the game.  None of us wanted to touch his chips.  He was absolutely wrong for playing, and we let him know it.  We then insituted the Bobby Rule, which simply states "3 sneezes and you're out".  Of course, now nobody will put pepper on their burger before the game, but that's just how it goes.

Another time I played 24 hours after being hospitalized when my Menieres Disease put me out of action.  I was at the table all drugged up on stuff I take for the dizziness....and I won the tournament.  I don't remember winning it, but I had the money in my pocket the next day.  And no, I don't recommend this.  I think its just a really cool story. 

Now, we move on to your mental health.  In other words, are you really "at the table", or are you just there because you paid your buy in or agreed to play.  Because if you aren't 100% mentally ready to play, you might as well mail in a check and stay home.  You'll save the gas money. 

Included in the mental portion is simply this quesiton "are you thinking about anything other than poker?".  This is a very important question.  I don't care if its as simple as admiring the hoots across the table.  If you're thinking of them, instead of your game, you'll lose.  Every time.

For the past month, I've been cashing in nearly every tournament I've played in, and at least doubling up in the cash games I've been in.  But last night, shortly after I sat down, I realized that I simply didn't want to be there.  But hey, I paid my buy in, so I was at least going to try.  But that's all I did.  Early on I was on the ball.  I called a guy when there was a Jack high on the board, and A-Q in my hand, because I KNEW he also had A-Q.  I put him on A-Q right after the flop, and stuck with that belief.  I told him so before I made the call and we chopped the pot.  But then I just slowly slipped into playing a completely different game than I usually play, and the results were disaster.  And when I was finally busted out, I knew exactly what I was up against, but called anyway.  Because I wasn't mentally in the game anymore.

So the morale of the story is quite simple:  In poker, you are risking valuable resources (namely CASH).  So if you are going to put that cash at risk, make sure you are mentally and physically prepared for battle.  Otherwise, stay home.  If not, you'll end up there shortly anyway.  Why not save the money?