Controling nerves

I started playing online fairly recently. My problem is that every time I hit a good hand, my adrinaline goes way high, heart rate goes way up, ect...
Not a big problem, but very distracting. Anyone else have this problem, or is it just me. Any suggestions?

I used to have this problem with bad beats (Anger) and great hands (Adrenalin). Keep a weight or a hand squasher thingy near by and burn it off that way. Unused Adrenalin is really bad for the heart....

I'm naturally not an emotional person. Which is bad for watching the Chiefs game with the guys, but good for playing poker. (I'm also not a high-fiver, which I need to be when watching the Chiefs)

But super-charged emotions are not a bad thing online. I like Toastys idea about squeezing a stress ball or something.

The only thing I'd be worried about is pushing too hard or giving away tells when you have the goods. Be very observant of what you bet when you get these good hands, compare it to how you bet when you don't have the good hands and make an analysis of betting and giving away information. Post hand histories here if you want help.

My play doesn't deviate much in these situations, I can remain perfectly calm on the outside, it's just irritating to me.
Is unused adrineline really that bad, and will simple exercises like that burn it off?

Originally Posted by Humphrind

I'm naturally not an emotional person. Which is bad for watching the Chiefs game with the guys, but good for playing poker. (I'm also not a high-fiver, which I need to be when watching the Chiefs)

<hijack>

Humpy - FYI.... I have Trent Green in my fantasy league. What a stiff! He was absolutely awful last night.

</hijack>

Originally Posted by linker33

I started playing online fairly recently. My problem is that every time I hit a good hand, my adrinaline goes way high, heart rate goes way up, ect...
Not a big problem, but very distracting. Anyone else have this problem, or is it just me. Any suggestions?

Don't play any live games.

I know how you feel. What's funny is this only happens to me when I play online. When I'm at a home game. I'm cool as a cucumber. But put me in front of a monitor and I go bonkers. Go figure.

I still celebrate big pots.

However, after a fish catches a 2 or less outer on the river against you for the 100th time you'll learn to take cynical pleasure out of all the +EV he leaked your way.

Yeah but once you lose lots of money on +EV plays it's either the monitor out the window or the stress ball :P

Originally Posted by Fnord

I still celebrate big pots.

However, after a fish catches a 2 or less outer on the river against you for the 100th time you'll learn to take cynical pleasure out of all the +EV he leaked your way.

And then you quietly sit there wishing you had a sledge hammer and pliers. So you could go medieval on their asses.

I experience similar feelings when I get good hands too. In fact now I've taken to sitting on my hands so that I don't make reflex clicks with my mouse. I was making too many rushed decisions in these situations for my own good. At least now I have a few seconds to think before acting

I almost always have a stack of poker chips at my desk, so if such a situation occurs when I'm playing online, or heck, just in general, I'll be sitting there, riffling the chips. Just the same as if I spent ten hours a day at the casino, the hands have to do something when you're not in the action.

Impresses the chicks too...*

*This claim is not based on fact or evidence and could, in fact, be false.

Originally Posted by FyrFytr998

I know how you feel. What's funny is this only happens to me when I play online. When I'm at a home game. I'm cool as a cucumber. But put me in front of a monitor and I go bonkers. Go figure.

Ditto that....

I'm cool when I'm in a live game, but as soon as I start clicking, my nerves go all to hell until I've played 10+ hands....

Must be in B&M games, I know I have to have my "game face" on, so I psych myself down, whereas when I'm online, it doesn't matter how I act, because they'll never know how many curse words I've used at them when they suck out my rockets to their 10/3 off on the river...bastads


Billy

I tend to be much more emotional playing online than live... and that's ok. It's a fun release.

"C'mon b*tch! Call!! Raise even!! I've got the NUTS over here!!"

I'm not sure, but I think that'd be a huge tell live.

Originally Posted by ku_ratpack

I almost always have a stack of poker chips at my desk, so if such a situation occurs when I'm playing online, or heck, just in general, I'll be sitting there, riffling the chips. Just the same as if I spent ten hours a day at the casino, the hands have to do something when you're not in the action.

Impresses the chicks too...*

*This claim is not based on fact or evidence and could, in fact, be false.

I do the same thing with chips at my desk. Do you also get really pissed when you knock them over picking up the phone or something?

yeah, I start shaking when I have a good hand. (or atleast a hand that I know is better than everyone elses.)

usually my friends don't notice but i can't imagine how bad it would work against me when I start playing in casinos. everyone has any tips for that, I would really appreciate it.

Sometimes the best way to hide a bluff is to do something consistently. So if you shake when you get good hands. Try to shake also when you get bad hands. If you put your hand over your mouth to hide your face when you have a good hand. Guess what? Do it the same for a bad hand. One problem I had was that if I had a good hand I got silent. Which went against my usually chatty patty self. So now I just run my yap all the time. Good or bad. And it has the added bonus of distracting other players.

Just be consistent in your mannerisms. Rocks a rock. Loose as a goose.

I think I need to get me one of those stress balls ASAP.

Being in an almost -$300 slump when you play relatively small stakes is putting my computer monitor at serious risk of having an unfortunate "accident".

Maybe I should just stick to playing in the FTR Showdowns where I'm the king of the suckout...