music during poker?..

[xX zorrito Xx]

does anyone here listen to music while they're playing poker online?.. i personally don't think it's a good idea to be listening to your ipod during live games because you can potentially lose a lot of tells that way... but live do you guys have your itunes running?..

if so what kinda music are you listening to?.. anything anyone recommends?..

i mainly listen to slow instrumental rock when i'm playing... it helps keep me focused and off tilt...

[AFchung]

i listen to anything and everything on my playlist. i think music helps me not steam when i take a beat

for live poker i dont listen to anything. perhaps during slow hands i'll listen to music, but when im involved in a hand i turn off the sound (but leave my earbuds on)

[Sup3rM4N]

Live, never. I usually talk to people and like focusing/hearing what is going on at the table.

Online, I try real hard not to. Time to time I turn it on, but I always close it when making big decisions and try not to listen to it in general while playing. It hurts my concentration. I do have music on like 99% of the other time I am online surfing, chatting, etc.

[kmind]

Live, never. I usually talk to people and like focusing/hearing what is going on at the table.

Online, I try real hard not to. Time to time I turn it on, but I always close it when making big decisions and try not to listen to it in general while playing. It hurts my concentration. I do have music on like 99% of the other time I am online surfing, chatting, etc.

This.

As for tilt, I'm going to try out breathing exercises before and during play to use as opposed to music.

[dranger7070]

I have a playlist specifically for poker on my iTunes, but I rarely use it. I'll turn it on if I feel I'm getting bored or something, but other than that I leave it off. When I'm playing live, I'm usually at a casino that doesn't allow iPods or cell phones, so obviously I can't. I doubt I would if I could. I like to talk to the people at the table, so it would kind of defeat the purpose.

[kb coolman]

Never. My only destraction while I play is surfing FTR, and that's only if I'm only playing 4 tables. If I'm playing 6, the house is quiet, the kids are in bed, and the TV is off.

My wife doesn't understand why I get irritated when she asks me for something in the middle of a session. I take care of everything on the 'honey-do' list before playing any poker. My goal is to have a solid, uninterrupted 2 hour session.

[xX zorrito Xx]

do tell me once you do get those 2 hours of uninterrupted poker sessions... i must commend you or turn you in for killing your wife

[LuckySlevin]

Let me adjust the music up in here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wpP_JF-OKQ

There, that's better.

Today I find out that Pearljammer on stars is only 25 years old. WTF? I picked up poker too late, damnit!

Ah, back to grinding.

[kb coolman]

do tell me once you do get those 2 hours of uninterrupted poker sessions... i must commend you or turn you in for killing your wife

LOL. So true.

[Mr Bigcity]

im a big fan of music while playing..keeps me focused and energized

[Illfavor]

I may be the only classical musician/poker player in the world, but Beethoven makes stacking someone even better.

[killerkebab]

I tried listening to heavy metal but it turned out I was raising every single hand.

[mieczkowusc]

It depends on the day. If I feel like zoning a bit and there is no one around, I'll put on my headphones usually on a playlist with Incubus (A Crow Left of the Murder and Light Grenades) which will then be followed by Interpol Antics, then Mars Volta and Pink Floyd.

If my gf is around, i'll usually keep my headphones off so I can still hear if she is asking me questions.

[xX zorrito Xx]

I tried listening to heavy metal but it turned out I was raising every single hand.

rofl...

so music dictates your actions?!! if so might i suggest the following song when you're at my table:

Forever the Sickest Kids - Phone Call

[Micro2Macro]

Music and Poker, by Micro:

If your a weak-tight ass who's scared to move your hand over the mouse you better pop some heavy shit (at the very least metallica but preferably SOAD or some other excessively loud nutso crazyness) into your stereo to at least get your heart beating over something other than that bet you are afraid to call.

If you play too laggy and you can't stop firing, put on some Mozart or maybe even some Celiene Deon. Anything to calm you down.

If you play a pretty standard game and don't get too out of line, I would recommend soft rock or country. Both have a good beat and are a happy medium between too crazy and too meek.

And to do your game a big favour: if you can't count how many chips to put into the damn pot because the music is so distracting or you find yourself singing along, turn the damn sound box off. You're not paying attention.

[dev]

I am always listening to music when I play online. I remember a article that an english teacher I had in highschool handed out about studying. It said music is ok while you study as long as it's not your favorite album. The idea is that it's in the background, it helps the time pass and helps you focus. I listen to mello stuff like citizen cope, radiohead, norah jones, iron & wine, the shins (I'm just going right down my winamp playlist). In the morning I find it's better to have the kind of music that gets me pumped up a bit, so bosstones, switchblade symphony, brian setzer, etc.

Live, I tend to engage my opponents in conversation about ANYTHING but poker. I love talking about gambling, betting on sports, etc. because you can get a good read on how the see poker by talking about the other gambling-related things they do. At that point for me it's always about getting a read on players. If they don't want to talk, I usually tell stories. I have a LOT of stories of things that happened at a poker table and usually I can get people to open up within a dealer change or so.

[at BK 88]

If my gf is around, i'll usually keep my headphones off so I can still hear if she is asking me questions.

lol
I don't play poker while around my gf, but that's because I play sngs.. they take awhile and if she needs me to do something and I say no because of a reason like that I'm pretty sure I wouldn't like the consequences.

As far as sngs go, it would seem logical to me to listen to songs with a slower tempo during the beginning, and then move to faster stuff near the end when you want to be playing a lot more. I don't actually do that now though, but maybe I should...

[pocketfours]

I've started listening to music while I play but I thought it was a distraction when I was less experienced. It's pretty individual I guess...

[Da GOAT]

same here, gf told me some type of opera stuff or something actually can have an affect on you. some study or something i wasnt rly listening

[JinxT4]

Pandora ftw (saves me the hassle of creating my own playlists).

[Jack Sawyer]

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_pc...illout&x=0&y=0

[kettleofish]

[quote="Micro2Macro"]

If you play too laggy and you can't stop firing, put on some Mozart or maybe even some Celiene Deon. Anything to calm you down.

quote]

If somebody put Celine Dion on whilst I was playing poker the sound of the culprit's cries of pain would be heard across cyberspace. OMFG i haaaaate that woman.

[BreakDancinCow]

I can either surf the net or listen to music while I'm four tabling, both gets too distracting, and any more tables and I can't handle it. I find that the majority of my losses will happen when someone tries to start a conversation with me while I'm in a hand, because I tend to turn into a calling station if I'm not paying attention.

As for the type of music, it's about 50/50 jazz and rock. Sometimes I'll put on some hip hop or easy listening if I'm in the mood though. I'll often start my sessions off with a poker road or ESPN podcast, too, if I haven't listened to one yet that day, but usually end up missing half of it anyway.

[at BK 88]

I'm in a hand, because I tend to turn into a calling station if I'm not paying attention.

I'm exactly the same way! Ugh, it's so frustrating. I can't ignore an IM, but maybe I should just turn off AIM and Google Talk before I start playing.

Two nights ago I was playing horribly because my friend was snoring on the floor, and I couldn't get him to move to his bed or shut up. I was so frustrated, I placed out of the money in ten out of eleven sngs. It was so so so bad. I tried listening to loud music to drown him out but it just made it worse.
Sigh.

I can play while listening to music so I opt to do it 95% of the time while I'm playing. I only play on one table so it's great. I probably put in more hours that way.

[dev]

same here, gf told me some type of opera stuff or something actually can have an affect on you. some study or something i wasnt rly listening

There was a study done where they took 2 groups of HS students an hour before a test, one listened to Mozart and the other to nothing at all. The group that listened to Mozart fared better on the test.

Mozart != Opera.

It occurs to me now that after you've played a few hundred thousand hands, a lot of what you do is automatic. So the music helps me pass the time and keep me in a "this isn't work" kind of mood until an interesting hand comes up. Most of my adjustments are made after the session is over. While you're still not sure why you do some of the things you do, it's probably better to have silence so you can think more clearly about the best line to take. So if I had to make a rule, I'd say if you're still a bit nervous before a session, keep the music off until it seems like your play is fairly automatic. That, and if you play tourneys, turn it off at bubble time and on the FT if those make you nervous.

I've actually forgotten to turn my music on and played the first half hour of a session in silence without even realizing it. It's sort of like when you're driving a long distance and you don't remember the last 20 miles you drove.

[2ndline.4thstreet]

I like listening to jazz when I'm playing online. Live usually nothing.

[TAGurit]

I like the silence.

[Micro2Macro]

[quote="kettleofish"]

If you play too laggy and you can't stop firing, put on some Mozart or maybe even some Celiene Deon. Anything to calm you down.

quote]

If somebody put Celine Dion on whilst I was playing poker the sound of the culprit's cries of pain would be heard across cyberspace. OMFG i haaaaate that woman.

Hey if you think that's bad, try listening to Elton Jon, lol.

[kfaess]

Here's a great example of why not to listen to music during an online session.

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (5 handed)

MP ($2.25)
Hero (Button) ($12.60)
SB ($14.55)
BB ($40.85)
UTG ($12.65)

Preflop: Hero is Button with 7, 7
2 folds, Hero raises $0.30, 1 fold, BB calls $0.20

Flop: ($0.65) 7, 10, 8 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $0.60, BB calls $0.60

Turn: ($1.85) 3 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $1.65, BB calls $1.65

River: ($5.15) K (2 players)
BB bets $2.30, Hero folds

Total pot: $5.15

I went to do some stuff on other tables to pause for a second before I raised him, and since I had my ipod on pretty loud I didn't notice the warning bells that ps makes when your time bank is about to run out. I ended up timing out of the hand and it almost put me on massive tilt.

[CBAT]

Bob Marley is where its at when I need to concentrate. I know when doing work I play bob. Poker I usually mix it up or go with no music.

[dev]

bob.
*downloads a discog*

[CasalRoyal]

does anyone here listen to music while they're playing poker online? (...)

Well, I don´t like to listen to music while playing - I think it takes my concentration away... I started listening to country music, which I think is quite related to poker, but I gave up after some sections... I like silence...

[kb coolman]

I started listening to country music, which I think is quite related to poker

wat?

well, maybe when compared to bad beats and suckouts.

[TheBlueSpade]

I love music while playing poker online. Help's me focus. I don't play much live games but I don't think music and live games go together.

[dev]

When you listen to country music backwards:
You get your wife back, your dog back, your house back, your roll back.

[teabagger357]

lots of time I like to listen to music while play online . It helps pass the time between hands for me. when I live card games I like to have my Ipod because it helps me pay more attention to the game but I make sure it is at a low level so I can still what is going on around me. helps me from listening to chatter.

[Poker Orifice]

Here's a great example of why not to listen to music during an online session.

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (5 handed)

MP ($2.25)
Hero (Button) ($12.60)
SB ($14.55)
BB ($40.85)
UTG ($12.65)

Preflop: Hero is Button with 7, 7
2 folds, Hero raises $0.30, 1 fold, BB calls $0.20

Flop: ($0.65) 7, 10, 8 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $0.60, BB calls $0.60

Turn: ($1.85) 3 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $1.65, BB calls $1.65

River: ($5.15) K (2 players)
BB bets $2.30, Hero folds

Total pot: $5.15

I went to do some stuff on other tables to pause for a second before I raised him, and since I had my ipod on pretty loud I didn't notice the warning bells that ps makes when your time bank is about to run out. I ended up timing out of the hand and it almost put me on massive tilt.

Ha ha ha... too funny (although probably not too funny at the time). If multi-tabling cash tables I never listen to music. If I'm playing an MTT I will occassionally listen to music and find that it really helps my game... it keeps my own worst enemy in check (my mind). Maybe the increased serotonin levels or release of endorphins... not sure exactly why.. but have had good runs in mtts when the tunes are playing.
Never in a live game. My live experience is somewhat limited and so am spending my time learning to pick up tells, etc. I also still find it a bit cumbersome/challenging to always be keeping track of pot size in live tourneys,.. after being so spoiled online by having it sit right there for me on display at all times.

[dranger7070]

Here's a great example of why not to listen to music during an online session.

Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $0.10 BB (5 handed)

MP ($2.25)
Hero (Button) ($12.60)
SB ($14.55)
BB ($40.85)
UTG ($12.65)

Preflop: Hero is Button with 7, 7
2 folds, Hero raises $0.30, 1 fold, BB calls $0.20

Flop: ($0.65) 7, 10, 8 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $0.60, BB calls $0.60

Turn: ($1.85) 3 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $1.65, BB calls $1.65

River: ($5.15) K (2 players)
BB bets $2.30, Hero folds

Total pot: $5.15

I went to do some stuff on other tables to pause for a second before I raised him, and since I had my ipod on pretty loud I didn't notice the warning bells that ps makes when your time bank is about to run out. I ended up timing out of the hand and it almost put me on massive tilt.

Ha ha ha... too funny (although probably not too funny at the time). If multi-tabling cash tables I never listen to music. If I'm playing an MTT I will occassionally listen to music and find that it really helps my game... it keeps my own worst enemy in check (my mind). Maybe the increased serotonin levels or release of endorphins... not sure exactly why.. but have had good runs in mtts when the tunes are playing.
Never in a live game. My live experience is somewhat limited and so am spending my time learning to pick up tells, etc. I also still find it a bit cumbersome/challenging to always be keeping track of pot size in live tourneys,.. after being so spoiled online by having it sit right there for me on display at all times.

OMG QFT

I've been going to the casino near my house the last couple of weekends (doing pretty good up a couple hundo) and that shit tilts me so hard. Like I TRY to keep the number in my head, but it seems like every fucking time it takes me to figure my odds and shit the dealer is always bitchin at me to hurry up lol. Ah well, fuck the dealer imo. I tip well lol.

[Sasquach991]

I only listen to channel 6008 on Dishnetwork. That's '80's music..but then again I'm old.

[dev]

About live play:
Do hurry up, if the dealer has to get on you a lot, you're probably slowing down the game. I assume if you're playing that you think you have an edge, and that edge increases as you get more hands in per level.

As far as keeping track of the pot, etc. those are skills you acquire by playing a lot. It gets to be subconscious, so just do it and eventually it gets easy. Most of the time you know what you're going to do before it's your turn to act, right? While your opponent's are considering their moves, you can be figuring out what you want to do based on what they might do. There's only so many possibilities.

I don't listen to music playing live, but not because I think it'll distract me. I want to be distracting the other players and playing the information game. I try to keep my opponents from getting focused.

[amagic]

I lisen Enya or Enigma if i am angry!

But i lisen Metallica if i play agressiv and hard!

[dranger7070]

About live play:
Do hurry up, if the dealer has to get on you a lot, you're probably slowing down the game. I assume if you're playing that you think you have an edge, and that edge increases as you get more hands in per level.

As far as keeping track of the pot, etc. those are skills you acquire by playing a lot. It gets to be subconscious, so just do it and eventually it gets easy. Most of the time you know what you're going to do before it's your turn to act, right? While your opponent's are considering their moves, you can be figuring out what you want to do based on what they might do. There's only so many possibilities.

I don't listen to music playing live, but not because I think it'll distract me. I want to be distracting the other players and playing the information game. I try to keep my opponents from getting focused.

Yea its not like the dealer always has to tell me to hurry up, maybe a couple times the entire course I'm there. Just sometimes I'm trying to figure out if the pot/implied odds are good enough for me to draw. Usually not a problem. I can probably count on one hand how many times I've actually played live, so it's just a matter of getting more hands in. Can't wait for this weekend