Feeling My Heart Beating

[andyfox]

So I played in a tournament yesterday, first time ever. (Well, not ever, I played in a lowball tournament once during the Bronze Age.) $500 buy-in, no re-buys, limit hold'em. I normally play 40-80, so the buy-in was 1/4 of what I normally buy in for in a ring game.

By and by, I got pocket aces and 3-bet a raiser. I think there were 3 or 4 of us who saw the flop and as it was coming down, I felt myself being nervous. NERVOUS.

I'm never nervous in a poker game. I'm not a professional, I'm a social player. It's not unsual for me to lose close to $500 on one hand, or win $1500 in one pot. Yet here I was nervous betting (essentially) play chips.

I had told several friends and my family I was playing in the tournament. Was I afraid a bad showing would be a blow to my ego? (I finished out of the money, losing with those pocket aces, and on the very next hand, also with pocket aces, a first for me.)

Any ideas?

[Al Schoonmaker]

One reason I play occasional tournaments online is that I enjoy that adrenaline rush. There is something about tournaments that makes them more exciting. I can never go broke in a ring game, but -- sooner or later -- I nearly always bust out of tournaments. That feeling is a BIG kick, but one I want only rarely.
Regards,
Al

[onegymrat]

Hi Andy,

Perhaps it's one of those oddities of poker. I think it's especially because of your experience and success in live play. You are playing in a game in which you are very used to and comfortable with, and perhaps have full control of the situation most of the time. But although the game may be familiar to you, the slight unfamilarities make it very distracting, enough that it causes you to not be yourself fully. The thought of the timed play, rising blinds, the ability to be knocked out of the game if you lose your chips make you to not have full control of the situation. I don't play tournaments either. My reason is that my strengths in live play don't apply too much in tournaments, but more important, I suck at them. Good luck in your new quest.

[Six_of_One]

I know exactly what you mean. I play tournaments sometimes, mostly because they're exciting. Like you, the tournament buy-ins are generally less than I can win in a single pot (I play 8-16 at the Bike, and I don't go above $100+20 tournaments).

I think a lot of the nervousness just comes from the finality of not being able to play anymore if you lose. I still get nervous sometimes in live games too (though not to the same extent as in tournaments), but I think that's because I've only played 500+ hours in my life.

Also, tournament chips may be sort of like "play money" in a sense, but in another sense they're worth a lot. I'm guessing that the top prize in the tournament you played was an amount that would take you quite a while to win at 40/80. So, even though the buy-in was small compared to your usual stakes, in a sense you're playing a higher stakes game.

[Ed Miller]

Yet here I was nervous betting (essentially) play chips.

Same thing happens to me. I get nervous in $20 buy-in tournaments. Never nervous in a cash game.

[Filip]

Damn isnt it a great feeling!

In an omaha tournament at the casino 4 players left. 3 places pays 60-30-10%. Me and a dane are in the pot. Turn is the 3rd spade. He got me covered. I only got the ace of spades no draws no nothing. I bet pot, all in. He thinks for a long time and folds. I tell him good fold and flashes the ace of spades. He nod and sighs. *purrrrrrr*

Putting hours of work and alot of cash at risk sure makes one nervous.

How would i have felt if he would have said call without hesitation?


The only other activity that i can think of that brings forth the same emotions are hunting. Preparation, hard work, focus and it all boils down to one critical moment; pull the trigger or not.

[zuluking]

Jesus Ed, you hit it on the head. Cash games? No nerves with the exception of a capped pre-flop with 5 or 6 players. $20 tourney? Shakin' like a leaf.

[adios]

Besides what others have stated, I would guess that your eventual outcome in the tournament is a lot more to do with this hand than you outcome in a cash game (it's just one long poker game). Think of playing tournaments as a long run gamble as well would be my advice.

[andyfox]

Thanks to all. I think it must be the ego part of it: how'd you do in the tourney, Andy? Out of the money. I even felt the need to post here that I lost with pocket aces on consecutive hands. (Now I've posted it twice!) And also, I guess, the possibility of going bust, which doesn't happen in a cash game: you just go into your pocket for more (if you so desire) if you get down to the green.