how to improve patience

[Aequitas58]

There is so much to concentrate on at a home game. WATCH the players. Look how they bet when they win a pot. Remember their actions and mannerisms. It's amazing.

Here's a story:
In my group of friends, there is one other person who I actually respect. He is a good player, well-read, does well online, and is ferocious heads-up. Sitting blankly as I folded hand after hand, I picked up an interesting tell, which TO THIS DAY he still does. I told him that I got something good on him, and he claims he doesn't give anything away.

It's incredible. And, it's fun when you pick something up like this.

[Talking Poker]

What is it?

[bigjohnstud2o]

its like the old story of a new player falling in love with their "bad ace". A-2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9..........fold some of the hands that you think you would fold more than not. I usually only play hands i can raise with so i put fear in my opponents. That leads to looser play later. But just watch some of those hands that you will be folding and see just exactly how many you would have won. It might surprise you how much you can save. Another thing, this does not directly affect patience but you will see it when i tell you. The biggest mistake that i see players making, including myself a few months back, is play from the small blind. Yes you have good position but that does not mean that you should play everyhand from the SB position every round. Say you are playing 2/4 where blinds are 1/2. say you play 2hours at 75-80 hands per hour. We will say 150 hands. 8 handed. thats nearly 20$ you could save right there. That is 5 big bets if you call with even marginal hands. Just a thought to throw out there. Yea sure you will win a few from this position. But what about those hands when you are starting to really pick up on your opponents and you need a little more money to play as comfortable as you can? huh? just my 2c

[Jackass_man]

When I play home games it's usually just for fun and the monetary thing is just to keep it interesting. There is usually beer going down and people are there to have fun!

[Aequitas58]

Private message me, and I'll tell you. I don't want to post publicly, he might be reading! (He is invovled in the poker world - B/M and online.)

[johnbaker]

if youre getting cold cards listen to music or something till you start getting some hands again... i find headphones annoying when i'm trying to concentrate on playing though

[BlibbityBlabbity]

Imagine that there is a jair of jumper cables hanging from your ears. Every time you loose a pot on comes the juice. You will be much less likely to get involved with crap hands.

Also, you will forever shutter at the sight of a deck of cards, but you'll be patient.

[eddo31]

i would suggest that if your only leak is at home games, change your focus for them. sure, every time that you sit down at a poker table you want to win as much as possible, but the traditional home game is meant to have fun.

i generally play just as tight while i am playing in home games, so this isnt really as much of an issue for me, but when i do fold a hand, i usually find something to focus on. drinking a beer, watching the game on tv, talking to other players, etc. when i am in a b&m casino i am more focused that i am at home games, but it is just a completely diffirent environment and purpose for me.

[Govman6767]

2 books the Tao of poker and the Zen of poker are 2 good books that give advice on keeping calm pretty good reads too. Does not delve into super pokerstrategy but tells how to keep calm and adapt to changing tables and circumstances. Very good reads once you have all your strategy books read

If your looking for books that lead away from exact hand strategys and
"Do this here and do there there"
I would recommend
Sun TZU and the art of war for poker tournaments
tao of poker
zen of poker
Makings of a poker play (matt matros)
Beyond Tells
I also liked Doyle Brunsons book (Wisdon of a Champion) ???
these are good books that give you a break from the meat and potatos's math and situational poker If you have the math down and are looking to ease your brain pick em up.