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Any of you higher volume guys get really bored while playing? Has playing become auto pilot for you?

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  1. spectrefax spectrefax is offline

    Henderson, NV
    United States

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    Jan 19th, 2008 (1/19/2008 3:09am)

    Alot of times I find myself flickin on a movie or doing wtf ever during my daily routine and being quite bored with tournaments(poker in general) most of the time. I feel like I'm on auto pilot lately alot and I really don't like it.

    It's like 'raise here, have to fold to his reshove, yawn.' 'He's likely raising light here I can reship and get a fold, yawn.' 'He wouldn't bet that flop with hand xyz or he would bet there to protect his hand with abc most likely, I raise, yawn.'

    The only time I really feel interested is when the blinds are bigger and we're nearing the final 3,2 tables. Then I'm glued.

    Anyone else deal with this problem? How did you handle/fix it?

    I guess this is kinda like STC's post the other day, but really I'm not curious about the boredom part, but more the auto pilot part. I remember when I first started learning this game and how into it I was and how I just sucked up every little tell and betting pattern like a sponge and would SINGLE table for hours on end with no tv or anything. Now I have to play 4 games at once and have the tv going because most of the stuff in tournaments seems mindless to me lately. bleh.
     
  2. AJKHoosier1 AJKHoosier1 is offline

    Los Angeles, CA
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    Jan 19th, 2008 (1/19/2008 3:12am) in reply to spectrefax

    It's like 'raise here, have to fold to his reshove, yawn.' 'He's likely raising light here I can reship and get a fold, yawn.' 'He wouldn't bet that flop with hand xyz or he would bet there to protect his hand with abc most likely, I raise, yawn.'

    maybe youre just really, really good!
    131
  3. AllYourChips AllYourChips is offline

    Scottsdale, AZ
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    Jan 19th, 2008 (1/19/2008 3:13am) in reply to spectrefax

    Talk to me on Yahoo more.
  4. spectrefax spectrefax is offline

    Henderson, NV
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    Jan 19th, 2008 (1/19/2008 3:17am) in reply to AJKHoosier1

    No...it's that certain situations arise so often when grinding out tournaments you don't feel like you're on auto pilot somtimes?

    AJK there's not really long stretches in your daily tournament play where you really don't have to think about anything? For you being highly ranked and better than me, I'd figure this problem would be worse for guys like you.
     
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  5. spectrefax spectrefax is offline

    Henderson, NV
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    Jan 19th, 2008 (1/19/2008 3:20am) in reply to AllYourChips

    Send me msg's....been having a rough past few weeks so I haven't been good company.
     
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  6. AJKHoosier1 AJKHoosier1 is offline

    Los Angeles, CA
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    Jan 19th, 2008 (1/19/2008 3:24am) in reply to spectrefax

    If you ever feel like you're on auto pilot, (and need to watch TV, multitask etc while playing) then its likely that youre not paying enough attention to the action at the table, your image, other players' tendencies, etc. this will in turn lead to far less success, and less of those times making it to the final 2-3 tables of a tournament, which obviously everyone enjoys more than the beginning stages.

    its one of those vicious circle thingies. tournaments ain't an autopilot game, u gotta be making these plays not with yawns but with good reasons.

    holler,
    AJK
    131
  7. spectrefax spectrefax is offline

    Henderson, NV
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    Jan 19th, 2008 (1/19/2008 3:28am) in reply to AJKHoosier1

    Yea, thats the problem.....I know its hurting my game. The ironic part is when I've tried single tabling lately I tend to play much worse and get over involved due to lack of action.

    Just seems like theres rediculously long sessions where there is no thought process involved and I lose interest.
     
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  8. holdplz holdplz is offline

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    Jan 19th, 2008 (1/19/2008 6:04am) in reply to spectrefax

    i guess you're lucky all you have to do is 4 table.

    but yes, i have been both bored, and autopiloting lately, neither of which have much +EV in them.

    ive been thinking of possibly single tabling once in a while, but i can't really fathom that. then i think of just 2 tabling, maybe like the 50k and 32k at 3 then just regisre for everything from 7 on.

    as for the handling/fix it part, i don't know i guess. which I guess means this was a fairly pointless post on my behalf.

    maybe you're simply somewhat bored with the game - which is related to sct's post i guess. figure out how to enjoy the game more and you'll be more attentive -> play better ->successful
    128 
  9. xxjondxx xxjondxx is offline

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    Jan 19th, 2008 (1/19/2008 6:58am) in reply to spectrefax

    I tend to keep adding tables until I am no longer bored. The tvs almost always on anyways not that Im really watching anything on it. Ive also tried playing guitar hero when I only have 4 tables going but then I time out :(.
     11
  10. TELESCOPE TELESCOPE is offline

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    Jan 19th, 2008 (1/19/2008 7:16am) in reply to spectrefax

    Profession Poker Player Hobbies There's nothing other than poker............................................. ................. this might be your problem,get a puppy, go fishing, ride a bike, play chess, masterbate occasionally? work out, collect stamps, find something to offset all the poker. (i hate how this site reformats my posts)
  11. Mr_BigQueso Mr_BigQueso is offline

    Melbourne
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    Jan 19th, 2008 (1/19/2008 7:44am) in reply to spectrefax

    yes, this can be a problem.

    solution?

    double your tables.
    572 1
  12. TonyBlaze TonyBlaze is offline

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    Jan 19th, 2008 (1/19/2008 7:53am) in reply to xxjondxx

    <span>The burn out Factor</span>

    The human psyche is set up to only be able to enjoy so much of one thing. Too much of ANYTHING, no matter how great or beneficial will make you grow tired and bored of it. Even that girl you once liked so much and thought was sooo hot wore thin on you you because she "smothered you".

    Maybe you can recall a time where you were not so happy in a relationship with a girl but after she went away for a couple of weeks you realized how much you cared?.

    For those who get bored and lose the desire it is your brain tellingyou that it has been "too much" of one thing. My advice as someone who goes through this is to take a break and do not <span>allow </span>yourself to play until you are dying to play and appreciate it again. I like to choose an amount of time and stick to it like glue regardless.Depending on the seriousness of your burnout factor your break needs to be potentially longer.

    So lets say I decide no playing for 1 week. The truth is the desire to play again starts to at least mildly creep up after a few days. The key is DO NOT give in to the mild urge and stick to your scheduled plan. The end result is usually a gathering desire to play throughout the time frame followed by excitement for "finally being able to play again" and a renewed enthusiasm that will result in a much clearer mind and concetrated focus.

    As the burnout factor goes it is more severe for tournamnet players due to a number of variables:

    1. heavy variance creates frustration-coming close so often can wearthin on you and make you feel somewhat detached as an internal defense mechanism to prevent you from becoming overley emotional.

    2. Traditional style is to play "nitty" early which is very ABC and in our minds and not challeging enough for us to really get super focused. This can set a bad tone for our session.

    3. To start @ point A--> 1500 or 3000 chips and imagine all of the work and luck involved with making the FT and how long it will take can be something that will make us subconsiouly reject the process andbecome detached and unfocused. We would rather robot our way to wherewe will actually be excited and enjoy oursleves but then as AJK mentioned this will simply lead to less times we get that far

    Another thing you can do is obviously try new games or new challenges or anything that will renew your enthusiasm. Without enthusiasm you will never play to your potential.

    So while the answers to cure burnout are pretty standard and well documented I find the most important thing is understanding how your mind works and recognize when this is hapenning. If you understand fully then you will also understand that a break or change is absolutley needed for your poker weapon (your brain) to renew and improve its usefulness.
     
  13. spectrefax spectrefax is offline

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    Jan 19th, 2008 (1/19/2008 10:46am) in reply to Mr_BigQueso

    Isn't this the same as watching some TV while playing?

    I mean there has to be a point where you've added so many tables that you're not really able to pay attention anyway and simply on auto pilot.
     
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  14. p0k3rj03 p0k3rj03 is offline

    Livonia, MI
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    Jan 23rd, 2008 (1/23/2008 1:39am) in reply to spectrefax

    try playing cash games.
     
  15. icucanucme icucanucme is offline

    Chicago, IL
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    Jan 23rd, 2008 (1/23/2008 1:47am) in reply to p0k3rj03

    Get a job.
    You're 26, you've done well at poker, but you don't want to spend the rest of your life "autopiloting", right? If you're bored with it, there are other ways to make money.
    Careeeeful with cash games also. Good tourney players have been known to drop a healthy portion of their bankroll at the cash tables (see: lilholdem954, summer of 2007) .
  16. DoubleS00ted DoubleS00ted is offline

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    Jan 23rd, 2008 (1/23/2008 5:16am) in reply to spectrefax

    I'm going through the same thing.. COMPLETELY.
  17. Frank1The1Tank Frank1The1Tank is offline

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    Jan 23rd, 2008 (1/23/2008 8:17am) in reply to spectrefax

    Spectre, 4 tabling is not really "higher volume". A lot of average players can 4 table no problem and still profit. Simply add more tables to your routine and maybe you'll get less bored, or mix it up and learn cash games etc..
     
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