Quote:
Originally Posted by zinzir
Guys, joking aside, I found something that actually works for me: I wrote on a piece of paper “SLOW DOWN AFTER THE FLOP” and placed it next to my computer screen.
It's making a big difference, now I'm taking my time to go back and think about what happened in the hand from the beginning, think about bet sizing to avoid pot commitment, what hands I could beat, what my next move would be if I bet, call or raise, and so on.
I like this idea. If you're playing online, you can put all sorts of reminders like this on index cards or Post-it notes.
I played Omaha with a guy who wrote the letter "A" on the fleshy part of his left hand between the thumb and forefinger. Every time he lifted his cards to look at them, this "A" was clearly visible. I thought it might be a reminder to only play hands that contained an Ace, but he told me it was a reminder to always play his A game.
At postflop decision points, you have two or three options: check or bet; or call, raise, or fold. And if you're playing NL, you have sizing options for bets and raises, which might be categorized as small, medium, and large in relation to the pot. Use the number 3 somehow (e.g., a triangle-shaped card protector if you're playing live) to remind yourself to consider all your options at every decision point. Instead of automatically betting pot, for example, slow down and force yourself to consider the pros and cons of checking, or the pros and cons of other bet sizes.
While the cards are being dealt, you might try repeating this mantra: Sit up straight; take a deep breath; make good decisions on every street. Or if you prefer: Sit up straight; take a deep breath; and get a grip on every street!
Another practical tip: As my father used to say to my brothers and me when we were acting up in the car while he was driving, "Sit on your hands!" Seriously. This simple physical act will keep you from rushing your decisions.
Finally, read Atul Gawande's book
Better. He talks about how the best surgeons are constantly focused on their mistakes and striving to be better. They do this in part by asking themselves what they could have done differently to avoid making a particular mistake. You're already doing this, so good for you. Not everyone is willing to admit their mistakes and try to figure out how to avoid them in future (mediocre surgeons tend to think their work is always perfect and therefore never improve).
Once you get into this mode of constantly asking yourself why you made a mistake, you'll find other reasons besides rushing your decisions—maybe you'll start to notice when you're too tired to play well or when you go on tilt—and then you can find creative ways to avoid those mistakes as well.
Good luck!
