Feb. 5, 2005
 

Use the Power That Comes From Within

Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody has thought. -- Albert von Szent-Gyorgyi

More and more I'm becoming enamored with online poker.

I still love to sit in a live game with real people and work at playing people poker rather than just playing cards. I don't always want to talk to my opponents but as long as it doesn't distract me, interrupt me during a hand, or divulge any information about my style of play, talking is okay. (Naturally, I don't mind when someone else gets distracted or interrupted or manages to divulge information.) But there is much to be said about being able completely focused on your game, knowing the only interruption you might get is your cat rubbing against your leg or you dog asking to go outside for a moment.

The ambience of online poker is totally different from the clatter and chatter of a live casino or cardroom. And unless you are hard hearted and unwilling to relax, there are ways to make your online experience enjoyable and relaxing to the point that your game might even improve.

I should make it perfectly clear from the start that you have to be comfortable with a computer before you can slip into a cyber room. You don't have to be an expert; you just have to be familiar with the mouse, with understanding the difference between single clicks double clicks of the mouse, and feeling comfortable with the one-dimensionality of the screen.

While I know many people take lunch breaks to play online poker, I believe most players participate in the game from the coziness of their living room or home office.

Understanding that some people cannot multitask, these recommendations won't work for everyone. If you are easily distracted or can't concentrate on one thing while something else is going on in the background, then maybe we'll have advice for you at a later date.

I spent four full hours my first visit to an online poker room. I learned how to navigate between the lobby and the rooms, where to find the cashier, how to deposit money, and how to join a game. As familiar as I am with computers, it took the four hours to feel comfortable!

Instead of jumping right into a cash game, I played the free games for a while mostly to develop a discipline. I learned very quickly that even though hands go much faster online than in live action, they eventually seemed too slow. But I realized I could be using that "down time" to observe other players and try to guess what they were doing.

Eventually, I felt comfortable enough to try a very low-limit game of hold'em. Before I signed on, though, I slipped some new-age instrumental music into my CD player and turned it on. Then I turned off the overhead light and lit enough candles to be sure my eyes wouldn't get tired from poor lighting.

Before choosing a game, I did some deep breathing exercises and thought positive thoughts.

I promptly lost my initial buy-in! (Funny, I know, but I couldn't blame the loss on the atmosphere. Getting wired kings beat and flopping a straight that lost had a lot to do with it.)

Now I'm sure someone or many "some ones" out there are going to be laughing uncontrollable at this point, not because I lost but because my recommendations seem the ranting of a silly romantic woman but trust me. I might be silly but I'm not a romantic. I am just a person who understands that it's much easier to play when you have inner peace.

Try playing while some heavy metal hair band is pulsating in your eardrums or while your mind is on the fact that your wife wants you to clean the garage this weekend instead of watching the Super Bowl. See if that doesn't have a negative impact on your game.

Hey, it seems to work for me. I've had more winning sessions than losing sessions and I'm not that great a hold'em player. Hmmm, maybe I should take my Walkman to my next casino game.