Poker Forum > General Discussion
Mental Game - The Process Model
VBlue:
--- Quote from: mporter123 on November 01, 2012, 16:22:54 PM ---
I am just not sure that a "warm up" would help me. I dont see how it would change the way I play. My goals are longer term focussed. Maybe I am massively deluding myself but I think I play my A game >80% of the time.
The general point I was trying to make is that sometimes there is no need to over complicate poker. The absolute best way to learn initially is to play as much volume as possible and get yourself into lots of spots that make you think. Supplement that with some strategy, reading/videos, PHA boards and your well on your way.
--- End quote ---
The last two sentences I agree with completely. The caveat I add about reading strategy and watching videos is that there needs to be a well-thought out approach to working on the front-end of your game and equally focus on the back end, as if you don"t do both the gap between C game and A game just gets wider as the front-end moves on, and the back-end stays where it is - the Inchworm theory.
When the brain takes on new information it goes through four stages of learning (think learning to drive a car). Unconscious incompetence - you do not know what you do not know. Conscious incompetence - you know what you do not know. Conscious competence - you have learnt something new but need to think about it when doing it, Unconscious competence - you have learnt something to an an instinctive level.
If you keep only working on new information and not working on correcting your C game mistakes it can potentially be damaging to your game. It is like an inchworm, the C game stays where it is but the A game is much further along - think bell curve. We want both games to move on together so the gap between them remains small.
Also, a lot of people read a strategy book from cover to cover and think they now have that new knowledge, when it takes a much more methodical approach to learning and applying it to your game for most people.
Volume and PHA boards are certainly a great way to learn.
The purpose of the warm-up is so you are ready to play from the very start of play. Think professional football. The team go out on the pitch, they stretch, they perform warm-up routines (strikers take shots against goalkeepers for example). They go back into the dressing room and they might have a pep-talk from the coach/manager. Someone will put some music on. They fire each other up. When they are on the pitch and the whistle blows - they are ready to play. Now think about this if they just turned up, put their kit on, ran up the tunnel, lined up, and the whistle blew. Would they be prepared?
I recognise that poker in not a physical sport, but is a sport right? We do agree on that, in one format or another? So, we have to prepare. If we do not, then we are preparing during the initial stages of playing.
If we wanted to play more aggressively pre-flop, I might review some hands from a previous session where I flat-called my ATs in position with 40bbs behind 4 limpers, when it could have been a spot to raise. I might think about the nuances of that hand. I might look over some notes from my coaching on this subject and remind myself of what conditions I am looking for to 3-bet or 4-bet and write out some session goals. I might get a drink, put on some music, re-read my short-term goals - looking for some inspiration. I might turn off my social networking tabs and my phone.
Am I now better prepared than if I just finished watching TV, turned on my laptop, and fired up some cash tables?
VBlue:
--- Quote from: Swinebag22 on November 02, 2012, 18:24:54 PM ---
Preparation - My preparation is very important. I make sure my son has been bathed and has gone to sleep. I then prepare a few snacks and a load of drinks. I then run a bath for my wife to make sure it is ready for 55 mins past the hour so I can come up and scrub her back. I then feel ready to bust some major chops on the online felt
Evaluation - I don"t write anything down but I do think through hands and try to make sure I have made the correct decisions during the session. If it is a late session and a decent score then I just think GTFIT - shiiiiip!!!!!!
Analysis - A weakness in my game. I find this too time consuming. I have a job and poker is my hobby. If it was my job and I actually played enough hands/tourneys for analysis to be effective, then I would spend a lot of time on this.
--- End quote ---
Analysis - sure. It is a personal choice how much we put into our game depending on what we want to get out of it. I understand if poker is purely a hobby and you have better things to do than study the game much outside of playing time.
Evaluation - is always better to evaluate hands away from playing otherwise you are in danger of thinking about a hand you have just played and not the one you are currently playing. This would come under Analysis.
If time is an issue - even just looking over 1 or 2 hands per session would probably be a big help.
VBlue:
I drafted this last night. What do you think?
Preparation - 15 minutes pre-game warm up and preparation:
1.Review short-term and long-term goals. The session is about playing poker. Remind yourself why you are playing and what your successes will look like
2.Review my A game, B game, and C game. Cut out the mistakes of the C game and instead focus on the elements that make up my A game
3.Make any session goals I want, in line with my current game analysis and coaching
4.Review any coaching notes or hand history feedback that is relevant to the improvements I am working on currently or my session goals
5.Prepare drinks, snacks, and session music
6.Inspire the coming session with a favourite piece of music, short video, or reading some quotes
Evaluation
Score each of the following areas on a scale of 1-5, 1 = excellent, 2 = very good, 3 = good, 4 = poor, 5 = very poor:
1.Achievement of session goals
2.Focus on the session and avoidance of distractions
3.Concentration on the game and all the nuances as opposed to just mashing buttons
4.Tilt-control
5.Range reading skills
6.Overall decision making ability
7.Note-taking
Also take some game-flow notes or thoughts about hands I want to analyse later.
Did I see any progress in the work you I am doing on my game?
Anaylsis
1.Review last sessions hand history and post one or two hands for discussion - 1 - 2 hours
2.Breakthrough Poker Coaching (online coaching course material) - 1 hour - 1.5 hours
3.Mental game work - 1 hour - 2 hours
4. Equity calculations - 0.5 hours to 1 hour
Total work per week - 5 hours
Fatcatstu:
Quick question. How much time is dedicated to actually enjoying playing?
VBlue:
Odd question, but all the time I spend playing (or certainly mostly all).
I play two evenings per week, and can play three on occasion. Usually something like 10-15 hours each week, but nearer 10 most.
I also take equal enjoyment from studying the game and working on all these different elements. I think a lot of the skills here are very transferrable to other parts of life.
Is there a suggestion from you that if you take it a bit more seriously and put work into improving you cannot enjoy the game? Or am I reading too much into your question? I suggest that it is much more enjoyable for many players when they do work on their game and figure out how to get the best out of themselves and study how to win.
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