What are your pre-game rituals?

theRealMacoy · #1 02-26-2005, 05:38 AM

Hello Gentlemen,

How do you prepare for that big game/tournament?
What routines do you have, if any?
Do you dress in a particular way (i.e., coolest shirt/hat)?

I am talking for home/private games. If there is a seperate way for casino lets hear it! (e.g., you dress in a particular way for the casino v.s. a private game)

As for me, I run a group called the "Gentlemen's Poker League". It seems everyone tries to wear the most outlandinsh clothes possible. Generally I go with a 1950's tie and short sleeve dress shirt with a '70 three-piece suit vest. As far as preparation, I go through my book on the various members and their game. Then I play a few hands of Poker Academy, listening to some kicking music to get me psyched.

Let's hear frow you......

Cheers,
the Real Macoy

TenPercenter · #2 02-26-2005, 05:56 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Hello Gentlemen,

How do you prepare for that big game/tournament?

[/ QUOTE ]

Load 16 folding chairs, three tables tops and a cooler into my truck. I have a newborn and can't play at my house, so I have to drag all my gear to my frien'ds since I AM THE diehard poker guy and they're not.

Ten

jojobinks · #3 02-26-2005, 09:45 AM

i have none. although if the buy in is big enough to scare me a little, i have to figure out a way to expend some extra energy. last night before my live multi-table (see my post here) which had a large buy in for me and 8 tables of players, i actually went to a nearby grocery store to buy gum and walked up and down all the aisles, just to feel a little more relaxed.

that sounds kinda weird, i know. it was freezing out, though, in the middle of nowhere, and i was going to explode from a huge dosage of caffeine.

have i already said too much?

AcesKracked · #4 02-26-2005, 09:48 AM

I always be sure I put on my favorite pair of SpongeBob Squarepants boxers the morning of the "big game." Thus far it has produced pretty good results.
AcesKracked

faith · #5 02-26-2005, 10:07 AM

Sacrifice a virgin to the pokergods. A difficult task- mind you, I live in Bangkok. But, the pokergods must be appeased.

-faith

jtr · #6 02-26-2005, 01:25 PM

Hey, Macoy.

Your home game sounds fun. Sorry to disappoint, but I think I have no rituals at all. At a casino I tend to get on the waitlist and buy a rack or two of chips, but I guess that's a little unimaginative of me.

[ QUOTE ]
Then I play a few hands of Poker Academy...

[/ QUOTE ]

Apologies for the thread hijack, but I was curious about this: how do you like Poker Academy? Do you find it a useful tool? Apart from the famed heads-up bots, do you find the play of any of the other strategies (e.g., full ring game players) to be challenging?

Thanks for any thoughts.

Cheers,
--JTR.

SamIAm · #7 02-26-2005, 02:26 PM

I open Empire and get on 6 or 7 short waitlists. Then I open PokerTracker and start it importing. GameTime+ comes next. Then I load Party and open the 4 loosest tables, all minimized. (Double the datamining = double the fun.) Then I open iTunes. By this time I'm starting to get seats. Four Empire tables, one in each corner, go on the primary monitor. PTracker, GT+, iTunes, and any IM windows go in the secondary monitor. That means I have more than 13 windows open at all times. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

I know this doesn't quite answer the original question. It's still pretty ritualistic, though. A friend came over recently to watch me play, and politely asked if I could move the live tables to the secondary screen, so he could watch better. Moving my windows was a head-trip. Things weren't were I was used to, and I had to move them back.

Who'd have guessed I'd be superstitious about online play?
-Sam

Bellagibro · #8 02-26-2005, 03:52 PM

I watch porn for inspiration.

theRealMacoy · #9 02-26-2005, 06:22 PM

thanks everyone for you excellent replies. it is nice to know i am not alone in my weird little rituals. love to hear some more....

[ QUOTE ]
i have none. although if the buy in is big enough to scare me a little, i have to figure out a way to expend some extra energy. last night before my live multi-table (see my post here) which had a large buy in for me and 8 tables of players, i actually went to a nearby grocery store to buy gum and walked up and down all the aisles, just to feel a little more relaxed.

that sounds kinda weird, i know. it was freezing out, though, in the middle of nowhere, and i was going to explode from a huge dosage of caffeine.

have i already said too much?

[/ QUOTE ]

loving it! rituals are just what we need to put us at ease. i too sometimes drink one of those huge cafeine juice drinks and get a little over-buzzed and edgy. i find it alot better being a bit wired than feeling dazed. if i get to a point where i am brain-fried and fuzzy i take a break for a smoke, but first i usually go for a little jog up and down the street just to get my blood moving. add a little nicoteine to the mix and i have taken the gooey crust of complacency off my brain.
cheers,
RM

theRealMacoy · #10 02-26-2005, 06:25 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I always be sure I put on my favorite pair of SpongeBob Squarepants boxers the morning of the "big game." Thus far it has produced pretty good results.
AcesKracked

[/ QUOTE ]

i know it is like sacriligious to be supersticious around here but aren't we all secretly wearing our favourite underwear? for me it is usually about the hat. this cool furry gentlemen's cap just puts me in the mood to dominate at the table. i always feel ready to play when i put it on.

-RM