ADD Much?

[LombardiStix]

I enjoy playing multi-table tournaments. However, I often am watching a movie during play. I use the word "watching" loosely because its almost always a movie I've seen many times. Anyway, my point is that my attention isn't entirely on the multi-table tourney. This is partly because of the amount of time a MTT takes. I find myself getting to aggressive if i'm watching my cards go by. I suppose another way to take entire focus off of the tournament would be to play a side game, maybe low stakes cash table or sng's.

I can see the other side of this argument though... I could see you wanted to get as much information on those you are playing against as possible for use during the tournament. Does the cost of such intense focus outweight the benefits? What has been your experience? What would you suggest to beginners?

[derringer007]

I also find it hard to concentrate when playing long drawn out tourneys, and watching T.V. don't help me either. I like to watch the players betting patterns to get some sort of read on how they are playing and if the T.V. is on i find myself getting a read on that instead. I will put on some music seems to be the only alternative for my PADD (poker attention deficit disorder)

[scrawnybob]

hi

I would say that I play best when I am relaxed

so when I'm playing well (either cash or tournament) if I am in the right frame of mind to be patient and observant - waiting for an opportunity ... but that doesnt neccessarily mean I'm waiting for good cards - just good opportunities

I generally have the TV or the stereo on as this is a low level distraction that I can tune out but also avoid getting too agressive at the wrong points or too "motivated" where I end up making bad plays and try too hard to control the table - which you cant do constantly and under all situations

at the moment I am on a pretty bad 2 month run on cash games - where I have been pushing too hard and getting alot of bad beats on my really strong hands ... that combination is fatal - as you need the good hands to stand up a decent amount of times to allow you to push the game on other hands - if both fail then its a quick road to the poor house & tilting which then makes it all alot worse

so I guess being relaxed and patient IMHO is key to sucess - and if you not in that frame of mind or there are too many distractions that you cant tune out ...

dont play (I have recently to my cost & bankroll)

if you know where the problems are you can fix them - but you need to be in the right fram of mind to fix them rather than continue to make them

cheers scrawnybob

[Jepulator]

nice post!!! I just realized i also have PADD lol! for me if it's not the tv, it's too many other games poping up on me! things really get messy when i have to break out the laptop just so i can see all my poker tables at one time hahaha. bad bad

[Terminal Frost]

Unlike a lot of players, I don't like to mix ring and mtt's. Rather have one mtt and be listening to music and chatting or posting. That way I can concentrate on the game but still be doing other things that don't require action at any particular time.

Having games popping up all over the place drives me nuts and I find myself wanting to commit suicide (in a game) just to stop it.

[wixx]

I usually mix ring and MTT. I also usually have the stereo on. I get too aggresive and bored watching the hands go by in a MTT, and also I try to play tight in the ring game, so they both benefit by mixing.

[rllngn]

i would suggest to stay focus on the hands that are played and not whos playing them, cause you will notice when certain situations come up, and if you see the same thing it helps out alot, lol stix i do same thing, watching 10,000 b.c. as i t ype this, and to keep my attetion on the game, sometims i will turn it so it dont show pot total, so i have to keep track of the bets and how much in pot, also will help with live games too cause you will be used to doing it,

[jacksRwild63]

Ill watch TV in a MTT, playing good cards only the first hour, after first break I begin to watch the players much closer