How to avoid being distracted?

I first started playing at PacificPoker, mainly because my internet = 26.4kbps (mountains). I took a break, they changed to NL and all that jazz and took away my favorite 1on1. So I've moved to PartyPoker, and for some reason I am being distracted by their layout. The cards seem to catch my eyes and the colors in the background are messing me up. Marginal hands seem to look better to me and I can't explain why. I find myself playing ATo or KTo a lot more and I can't concentrate on the time/pattern in which people bet.

Does anybody else have the problem of concentrating while they play? I found Pacifics black background, no avatar way best. Distractions don't just have to be limited to Pacific or online, I also cannot type on AIM and play at the same time. Maybe I'm ADD, but I'm just having trouble focusing with all the jazz and colors they put on PartyPoker. And I have been an avid gamer (paintball-net 3 years, then Infantry 2 years, then Diablo2 4-5 years) 133wpm typer and well versed in computers.

I play 3-4 tables and have no problems

You played infantry?

What zone? I was a skirmisher .

Originally Posted by redih

Marginal hands seem to look better to me and I can't explain why.

I have this problem at party poker also. I can't explain it. My hunch is that I just have a hard time believing those little cartoonish avatars aren't trying to bluff me.

im exactly the same. hate party poker so much.

You can turn off the characters on party.

Go to Options > Video & Audio Options > Characters On/Off

You think online poker is distracting? Try playing live poker with some really really attractive girls. Honestly, I'm so weak when it comes to heads up with them. I even gave this girl money to play after I took her out.

Originally Posted by zarniwoop

when i play online i've got this good jam that i listen to that keeps me both awake and concentrated on the game.

live is a different story, for sure. if there are big-talkers at the table, you've got to learn to hear what they're saying, but also not listen to them. weird, i know, but i'm sure you know what i mean.

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The cards values don't change so it's the graphics that distract you? Turn off the character images like it was mentioned. You can also go in the images directories where PP has it's images on your HD. Change the images on there to your liking. Might have to spend some time in a graphics program to get this accomplished. Seems odd still. KTo is KTo. Your brain should tell you to fold unless you are BB.

The pastel colors of the cards seem to be more inviting to me for some reason. At Pacific Poker when I looked at the cards they seemed more darker and defined. Like if I saw KTo, i knew it was KTo and it just looked crappy. But with these pastel colors everything seems to blend. I'm also partially colorblind, so I definitely think I'll try and change the graphics.

It's the same way as chips instead of dollars makes u not think about the money; the stupid pastel colors make me think 1 bet isn't gonna hurt. Not that I've lost any money, I just end up losing blinds to stupid cards where I wouldn't have on Pacific. UltimateBet makes me think the same way too. I'll have to mess with the graphics.

honestly, when I started playing on PP, I had the exact same reaction. I used to play over at RoyalVegas, but lately, it's been drying up. No bad players to feed off of, and so people started feeding on me. :P

But yeah, party's software I think is DESIGNED that way, to make you think, "ah, what the hell. What's another bet?" when you push those buttons. The oversized buttons make it seem even moreso like a game. Eventually, though, you get used to it.

All I did was play tourneys for a while, because I couldn't keep my head on straight in ring games. The chips just kept on looking like ONLY CHIPS to me. At elast in tourney play, when they LOOK LIKE CHIPS, it's because THEY ARE CHIPS. :P

I got over it though. Eventually, you start to just see the cards and the "oooh" factor disintegrates.

Of course, it starts up every time I download a new party skin.. :P

Originally Posted by Usuyami

You think online poker is distracting? Try playing live poker with some really really attractive girls. Honestly, I'm so weak when it comes to heads up with them. I even gave this girl money to play after I took her out.

heh, i had a girl say, you're such a nice guy james, how can you be any good at poker, later that night I busted her from our poker game.