Distractions
 

While in the process of establishing a bankroll at the small stakes tables online when I am folding a bunch I will get distracted and start browsing the web or playing minesweeper, just tabbing to poker when it's my turn. I know this can hurt my game, what does everybody do, besides multi-tabling?

Re: Distractions
 

Besides multi-tabling? Not much.

Watch TV, preferably Poker (I always seem to play better when I'm watching a Poker Tourney for some reason).

Read the twoplustwo forums.

Re: Distractions
 

Read these posts.

Re: Distractions
 

music. reading/anything else active hurts my game.

-evan

Re: Distractions
 

I am playing right now...

no distractions!
 

Have you tried following the action (and hand histories) and taking player notes? Even in a loose, soft game players have various tendicies. Some people slow play to much, some people rarely bluff or semi-bluff, some poeple check-raise a lot, some people are steaming, and others are small time grinders like you, who actually aren't playing half badly. Learn who is who.

If you follow this advise, you'll begin to make expert raises and fold which you otherwise would have missed, and large percent of your profits will come from these plays. You're skills will improve, which is good because you will need them in the larger games which you will be joining as your bankroll flourishes.

If watching the hands you are not in (which only take about 1 min each online) is too borring for you, you should stay at small stakes and you might as well multi-table. You are simply not gaining anything from playing only one table if you are not paying attention anyway.

Good luck in oyur endevours.