How do you reduce the shaking tells?

[Jack Bando]

I was playing and I must hve been shaking when I turned a boat, because the person next to me NOT EVEN IN THE HAND mentioned it mid hand. (Still got every chip I could though) But shaking when I have a good hand is obviously a hinderence. Any tips on how not to shake?

[flatline]

Drink a lot. A whole lot.

[WhoIam]

I usually drink a lot of Red Bull when I play live so I end up looking freaked-out and jittery on every hand I'm in. I usually get good action this way. But seriously, this is something that should get better the more you play live. I don't know if you play online alot, but it can be hard to make the transition from jumping out of your chair and yelling "YESSSSS!" when you flop a set of aces to just looking blankly at your opponent in the same situation. Also, when you have the possiblity of making a big hand, mentally prepare yourself for the possibility and tell yourself you won't react whether it is the card you need or a total blank. Or take some Valium.

[SamIAm]

I agree. Experience is simply the best way to fix this. If it's happened dozens of times before, and you're comfortable with the stakes, you'll be ok.

Of course, once you're really comfortable, you should practice shaking whenever you're on a bluff. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
-Sam

[smoore]

It's just experience.

[ChuckyB]

Start thinking about all the cards that could beat you, or try and figure the odds that you improve your boat. Or try and remember the name of that girl you wanted to bang in 6th grade when you didn't know what banging was...anything except the cards.

You can also take the Chris Moneymaker pose...elbow on the table, head resting on hand, hand across face and mouth.

Or get up and walk away from the table like Hellmuth on a steamer.

hah hah... this trick worked for me in the first live tournament i ever entered in Vegas (daily $65 @ MGM). i ended up winning the thing, even to my own surprise. i think i went through at least five Red Bulls during the whole four hour tourney. i was a jittery mess the entire time, and no one was the wiser. Red Bull is definitely your friend.

[smoore]

throw some jager in it and I'm right there with ya!

[bruin]

The first time I played I couldn't contain my excitement when I hit my flush. Now, I could flop a royal flush in a 4-way raised pot and I'd look and feel the exact same as I would if I had 2-7o on the same flop.

discipline + practice + experience