Poker Routine

[Rushmore]

Every morning, I wake up, stumble into the kitchen, and put coffee on. Then I turn on the news, and get on the internet for a half hour while I drink my coffee. Then I work out for about 15 minutes, mostly for the aerobic benefit.

Then I take a shower and I start playing poker.

From time to time, when I'm drinking my coffee, reading Drudge, 2+2, Foxnews, and CNN, I'll stick my head in at UB or Stars, to see what the lineups look like for the bigger games. Sometimes, the games look GREAT, and I jump in, regardless of the fact that I haven't gone through my morning routine.

Here's the important part:

I nearly ALWAYS fare worse when I haven't gone through my regular morning routine. I always chalk it up to coincidence, for the sake of convenience, and so that I might be able to continue to play whenever the spirit moves me.

I have decided that this is not prudent.

There MUST be some valid reason why my results suffer when I do this, inspite of the fact that I only do it when the lineup looks good.

Therefore, I have decided to abide by my routine.

I am only posting this because it occurs to me that it took me a fairly long time to make this resolution, and there are likely plenty of players making the same mistake.

Hope I save you some suffering.

[private joker]

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... reading Drudge, ... Foxnews,

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.
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Hope I save you some suffering.

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I agree that a routine can be helpful, especially when it allows you to focus more on the task at hand because you've trained your brain to respond to the same stimuli.

But to me, reading Drudge and Fox News *is* suffering. /images/graemlins/smile.gif

[Rushmore]

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But to me, reading Drudge and Fox News *is* suffering.

[/ QUOTE ]

I knew I'd never slide that by.

[sfer]

I read somewhere that listening to Ladies Love Cool James will virtually guarantee a winning session.

[Rushmore]

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I read somewhere that listening to Ladies Love Cool James will virtually guarantee a winning session.

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I didn't mean my post from a superstitious perspective--I'm anything but superstitious.

What I meant was that just maybe the human brain doesn't function optimally when you take it (and the rest of the body) out of its routine.

[Pov]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I read somewhere that listening to Ladies Love Cool James will virtually guarantee a winning session.

[/ QUOTE ]

I didn't mean my post from a superstitious perspective--I'm anything but superstitious.

What I meant was that just maybe the human brain doesn't function optimally when you take it (and the rest of the body) out of its routine.

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Purely because I'm from a physics background I have to question your correlation . . . do you think your results suffer because you've failed to follow your routine or because your assessment of the "lineup" is flawed?

[Rushmore]

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Purely because I'm from a physics background I have to question your correlation . . . do you think your results suffer because you've failed to follow your routine or because your assessment of the "lineup" is flawed?

[/ QUOTE ]

It's definitely not my assessment of the lineup. I keep copious notes, and have played against all of these guys a LOT. I match up really well against some, not as well against others. Standard fare.

My implied theory is that my physiological performance somehow suffers when I do not achieve my entire routine before beginning to play.

Liken it to not warming a car up on a cold day. It's just no damned good for the car, and the car doesn't perform as well.

I'm surprised this doesn't sound like a reasonable theory.

[twomarks]

Well, I get out of bed, stumble to the kitchen, and pour myself a cup of ambition - nevermind - that's something else.

There actually is A LOT of validity to your getting into a routine. Read any serious golfing book with a contribution from winning golfers and you'll more than likely get some information on what their routines are.

Basically, it starts the night before - go to bed at a set time, wake up at a set time, get the same type of caloric intake at breakfast, same pre-game warm up, etc. It gets your body and mind working together without having to overanalyze things. The same way the professional golfers have a pre-shot and pre-putt routine - they take in all information, get the line, then go into the routine so they don't analyze/paralize themselves.

This is done even on a micro-level. If you watch, in presure situations, if they are starting to feel tight or anxious, they will do something so simple just to get their motor skills back on track. They do this by putting chapstick on, or twirlling the golf club in thier hands - anything to get themselves out of thier own way so they can concentrate on what's most important.

Thanks for the great post to remind us how translatable a lot of these things are.

Regards,

twomarks

[Pov]

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I'm surprised this doesn't sound like a reasonable theory.

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I think it's very reasonable. For some reason I just couldn't go on when you phrased your situation with two variables and only attempted to causally link one of them. I've read your posts before and I was quite sure you were assessing your games correctly, but the old scientific method just wouldn't let go. And you never know, sometimes answers hide in unexpected places that were realistically overlooked.

So moving on, have you been able to determine what it is that is different about your game when you don't go through your routine? Are you impatient, overly aggressive, your judgement on opponents' thinking is off, etc.? I'm just wondering if you can isolate it or if it's just a general malaise.

Also, I would be lead to wonder if there was some component of your routine which was responsible for your good starts or if it was simply having one. If your routine was simply to jump into a game, would you adjust over time or is it actually something about what you're doing? Then maybe you could find an optimal routine if you could isolate the factors that got you in the zone on average.

[Screwtape]

I think going through your routine is a valid concern, I think it helps you to approach your session with more seriousness and as if it were a real job. Can you imagine a job where you could peform optimaly after just rolling out of the bed?

[Rushmore]

[ QUOTE ]
I think it's very reasonable. For some reason I just couldn't go on when you phrased your situation with two variables and only attempted to causally link one of them. I've read your posts before and I was quite sure you were assessing your games correctly, but the old scientific method just wouldn't let go. And you never know, sometimes answers hide in unexpected places that were realistically overlooked.

So moving on, have you been able to determine what it is that is different about your game when you don't go through your routine? Are you impatient, overly aggressive, your judgement on opponents' thinking is off, etc.? I'm just wondering if you can isolate it or if it's just a general malaise.

Also, I would be lead to wonder if there was some component of your routine which was responsible for your good starts or if it was simply having one. If your routine was simply to jump into a game, would you adjust over time or is it actually something about what you're doing? Then maybe you could find an optimal routine if you could isolate the factors that got you in the zone on average.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is a good post, and definitely what I was looking for.

I think that a big thing is exercising. I honestly believe that some aerobic workout--even brief--is especially valuable for getting my brain operating properly (assuming it EVER does).

Also, I think you may be right--I might be a little less patient if I just jump in, as if maybe it's floating around in my head that I want to just jump out to a solid start for the day, sort of like just getting some pots under my belt before the "real action" starts for the day.

Lastly, I imagine you're also right that just the FACT of a routine helps, for whatever reason.

I like it. Good stuff.

[Rushmore]

[ QUOTE ]
I think going through your routine is a valid concern, I think it helps you to approach your session with more seriousness and as if it were a real job. Can you imagine a job where you could peform optimaly after just rolling out of the bed?

[/ QUOTE ]

I have tried to imagine it pretty often; I think that's been a problem.

Ultimately, I think there's a lot of validity to the idea that you take things more seriously when you, uh, take them more seriously, if you see my point.

Maybe I should install a time clock on my desk, maybe start wearing suits.

Or just make sure and stick to the routine that works.

[Wally Weeks]

FWIW, I have the same psychological effect when I don't do my usual morning rituals. When I get up, I usually take a shower, shave, have a cup of coffee, etc.

The word that best describes my feeling throughout the day if I skip my normal routine is "funky". I seem to notice it more when I don't have my morning cup of coffee. No ritual or caffine makes for a grumpy morning. /images/graemlins/smile.gif

The way that I look at it: why rush it? There game will still be there in 30 minutes. (It's probably also the reason why I always run late to everything.)

Regards,
Wally

P.S. Why is this post in this forum? It sounds like the psychology forum would be more appropriate, but I'm no forum Nazi...

[Dan Mezick]

This is a super post. One of the things rituals do is get you, step by step, to a certain state of mind. Anyone who has done real academic homework, seriously, for years, knows what I am talking about. You go step by step to a state of mind that is conducive to the task at hand. You do the same preliminary steps over and over. Then you go and kill the task.

This post is spot-on and is all about the role of largely unconscious processing of information.

Thansk again for posting on this topic.

[Rushmore]

Sometimes, back when there was no internet poker, I would play 20+ hour sessions. Of course, the reason for this was because I had made some significant effort to GET to the game, and quitting meant no poker for x or y days, until I could get back to the casino or cardroom. I used to nod off at the table all the time. One of the dealers at the Oaks in Emeryville, CA once pulled me aside and said "Why beat the game for 8 hours, then give it all back while you're falling asleep? Go home and get some sleep."

I bring this up because now, more than ever, we have no rationalization or justification for playing under less-than-optimal circumstances. There will be a game going on when you're not tired, one going on with a beatable lineup, one going on when you're ready to play, and you won't need to get on a bus or a plane or pay any tolls or sit next to Ellix Powers or anything.

Bottom line: we got it good nowadays. There's no reason to screw that up just by being impulsive or irresponsible or lazy or impatient.

P.S. You're right about the Psychology forum. Oh well.

[Bluffoon]

I am careful about playing first thing in the morning. I THINK I am fully awake and alert but it isnt until I actually AM fully awake and alert that I realize that I wasn't.

The problem for me is that it is hard to judge when all systems are functioning at 100% when they are not functioning at 100%.

[Paluka]

I absolutey understand what is going on here,because I do the exact same "stick my head in and check out the high-limit games" thing at weird times sometimes. It is often when I don't have a long time to play so I dont' feel like firing up the full complement of tables, which for me often involves playing on 4 different sites. I almost always play worse when I feel like I'm "rushed". If you go in with the mentality that you need to make a score and then hit the shower, you are bound to play a little worse. Also, when you might subconsciously view these sessions as being for enjoyment rather than your daily "income". That is bad as well (at least monetarily). I've lost a lot of money because I'm sitting in front of my computer thinking "man, I don't really feel like playing poker, so I'll play some 100-200 instead." Your situation isn't as obviously dumb as mine, but I think there are definite reasons why you might be playing worse.

[TheWorstPlayer]

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"man, I don't really feel like playing poker, so I'll play some 100-200 instead."

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Quote of the day for sure. I just spit Coke out all over my computer.

[Benman]

I take my hat off to anybody that can lay down a decent Dolly Parton reference.

[glen]

I've lost a lot of money because I'm sitting in front of my computer thinking "man, I don't really feel like playing poker, so I'll play some 100-200 instead."

I don't even want to think about what my bill has been for thinking this, lol. . .

[hogua]

Great post.

Back in the old days, I played poker only in the B&M's. I lived in LA and would have to drive for at least 40 minutes to get to a game. During the drive, I'd mentally prepare myself to play. I'd think about what I did right/wrong that last time I played. I thought about what other players would be there and I reviewed my mental notes on them etc. So, when I finally got to the game I was ready to play. (This became a habit and eventually I never realize I was doing it.) As a result, I became a winning player... in LA. When I went to Vegas, it was a different story.

In Vegas, I'd wake up. Take the world's quickest shower and take the evelator down to the casino. Time from sleep to sitting in a game could be 12 minutes. I never did well playing this way. I'd go to lunch down. At lunch, I'd think about my game and refocus. Then, when I got back to the game, my A-game would be back with me.

After doing this serveral times, I realized that when playing in Vegas in the mornings, I never allowed myself to prepare to play.

I brought this same leason to my online play and never jump into a game until I know I'm ready to play. Without trying to be overly dramatic, to me it's kind of like my high school coach telling us to "get our game faces on."

[Rushmore]

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I've lost a lot of money because I'm sitting in front of my computer thinking "man, I don't really feel like playing poker, so I'll play some 100-200 instead." Your situation isn't as obviously dumb as mine,

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My situation is literally exactly as dumb as yours.

It's "I don't feel like putting in ANY time at the table, but if I MUST put in at least SOME time, I may as well be playing for something of some serious value. Maybe I can make a decent score in an hour or less and then I will have achieved the best of both worlds."