Movements at the Poker Table..

I thought this post was going to be about taking a dump on the felt or something.

[WWJFergusonD?]

Hi, vex --

Great question! My background is in clinical psych, and the one thing I would add (beyond the valuable "always take your time" and "imagine that you hold a 2-7o" advice previously offered here)is don't do anything that is inconsistent with your natural personality at a poker table: the energy required to maintain that kind of facade will eventually do you in.

For example, if you are not normally a boisterous person, do not try to be a boisterous person at the table. If you are not a Zen master, do not try to be a Zen master. If you are not a fidgeter, do not try to be a fidgeter.

In the meantime, however, try to become more aware of your hands, your shoulders, etc. and how your typically use them. After you discover this, you will be able to control them in a way that is *consistent* with your personality. That is the key to being able to bluff. Or not.

Until you're able to do that, you might also just stare at the center of that table or down at your cards, so that no one can see your eyes.

[vexvelour]

thanks wwjfd! [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

i appreciate all the help on this post.
my next step: getting a sweatshirt with a big hood. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

[DoomSlice]

[ QUOTE ]
my next step: getting a sweatshirt with a big hood.

[/ QUOTE ]

Say it ain't so! (It is my opinion that the large hoody actually makes people pay attention to you)

[vexvelour]

is it really an eyecatcher? i don't really interpret clothing in a poker game much..i just like the idea of hiding if i want to.

[TheCroShow]

watch mike caro's videos on poker tells and see if those tells apply to you. some of the most common tells at so many levels are the staredowns or look aways, etc etc.

definately work on the counting in your head, checking your cards the exact same way, etc etc.

one tell i have picked up on, maybe it's just a personal thing but when this one guy checks his cards, if he snaps his cards as he releases..he has dogxxxx, so when i hear the snap i know he has xxxx! stuff like that, work on being consistent as everyone else has mentioned.

[TheCroShow]

[ QUOTE ]
I thought this post was going to be about taking a dump on the felt or something.

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL POTD

[vexvelour]

you know, I read the Caro book, but it seems so outdated....is the dvd better?

I can't believe you picked up on something like that. I need to practice picking up on things like that as well.

[goofball]

i think the biggest thing is what you do when someone is staring you down. If you are wearing sunglasses it's not a problem (and i'd just close my eyes), but my standard approach is to just stare at the pot. Soemtimes I'll imagine what i could get if i spent the pot on hookers.

[vexvelour]

lol! that's great. i usually just busy myself if i'm being stared down, whether i want to be called or not... i'll shuffle for the next hand, etc. i hate stare downs.