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Just wondering how everyone deals with distractions while playing poker?

markycashmarkycash Member Posts: 2,837
edited April 2017 in Poker Chat
I remember Shaun Deeb doing an interview for a P5's podcast while he was playing 17 tables. My game on the other hand goes down the toilet if I am playing 2 or 3 tables and the phone rings... 

I do have quite a busy house with my partner, my son, 2 dogs and 2 cats and it feels like an extreme challenge trying to concentrate at times. There always seems to be a phone ringing, dog wanting attention or someone chapping the front door to see if I would like to convert to being a Mormon or join the latest super duper electricity/gas tariff.

I do on occassion lock myself away upstairs in the bedroom and play and generally do a little better (that is the plan for tomorrow nights £4k package final). However if I am playing for 5 or 6 hours it feels a little anti-social and can be boring being locked away in another room so this is not ideal either.

So do distractions bother you? Can you offer any advice on dealing with them?
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  • nickkaynickkay Member Posts: 171
    edited April 2017
    Personal preference is to just listen to music. If I'm watching TV or mucking about on my phone, I just don't feel as focused. I've a similar set up with a wife, 3 girls and two dogs so I feel your pain!

    All will be quiet tomorrow night for the 4K package final though, let's hope we both make the final table ;)
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  • markycashmarkycash Member Posts: 2,837
    edited April 2017
    In Response to Re: Just wondering how everyone deals with distractions while playing poker?:
    Personal preference is to just listen to music. If I'm watching TV or mucking about on my phone, I just don't feel as focused. I've a similar set up with a wife, 3 girls and two dogs so I feel your pain! All will be quiet tomorrow night for the 4K package final though, let's hope we both make the final table ;)
    Posted by nickkay
    Yes GL Nickkay!

    I do listen to music sometimes and it definitely can help, good shout on that one :)
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  • fi33erfi33er Member Posts: 164
    edited April 2017
    Yup similar situation for me, 3 kids and a dog, always busy. Tournies are always hard because of the amount of time you need to dedicate. I have just bought some wireless headphones and I do find that it makes it a lot easier to focus.  It's better than being locked away in a different room for 2/3 hours, everyone leaves you alone but I can still make sure that things don't get to crazy.  Good luck in the vegas final guys.
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  • waller02waller02 Member Posts: 9,095
    edited April 2017
    I know what you mean mate. The ideal answer is obviously to go and play in a quiet room on yur own or stick some headphones in a listen to music. As you say though it isn't ideal as far as the family life goes and the missus soon starts to moan that you aren't spending enough quality time with her and the kids etc. 

    If you played for a living then you really need to be on your A game and giving it your full attention, but then you could say to the the missus that your time on the computer playing poker is being "at work".

    I play most of my poker sat on the sofa with the missus and kids and the tv on in the backround. This is far from ideal but I rarely play more than 4 tables and find that I can focus reasonably well on the action. Besides it's only ever been a hobby for me so I'm not going to sit in a different room from the rest of the family night after night to play.

    Obviously there are exceptions. If, like you, I was playing the VLV final then I would 100% lock myself away, maybe stick some headphones in and give it my full attention. 

    Best of luck to both nickkay and yourself in the final btw.
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  • weecheez1weecheez1 Member Posts: 1,686
    edited April 2017
    same here but i find shouting and swearing helps oh no wait they all just laugh at me (includind dog ) so actually im not very good with distractions as my recent results will testify to
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  • hhyftrftdrhhyftrftdr Member Posts: 8,036
    edited April 2017
    No friends, no wife or significant other, no kids, no pets.

    Still can't win but at least give losing my full attention.
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  • fi33erfi33er Member Posts: 164
    edited April 2017
    Ha! Ha! lol you're a winner in my book ;)
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  • GlenelgGlenelg Member Posts: 6,616
    edited April 2017
    In Response to Re: Just wondering how everyone deals with distractions while playing poker?:
    No friends, no wife or significant other, no kids, no pets. Still can't win but at least give losing my full attention.
    Posted by hhyftrftdr
    I find this really HARD to believe...you're a  loser?  ;-)
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  • pomfrittespomfrittes Member Posts: 2,981
    edited April 2017
    In Response to Re: Just wondering how everyone deals with distractions while playing poker?:
    No friends, no wife or significant other, no kids, no pets. Still can't win but at least give losing my full attention.
    Posted by hhyftrftdr


      Knew Jimi was bluffing when he said you were on holiday with ur latest squeeze. :)
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  • chillingchilling Member Posts: 3,774
    edited April 2017
    In Response to Re: Just wondering how everyone deals with distractions while playing poker?:
    No friends, no wife or significant other, no kids, no pets. Still can't win but at least give losing my full attention.
    Posted by hhyftrftdr
    Some bits of this are quite sad.Not sure which bits though.
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  • GlenelgGlenelg Member Posts: 6,616
    edited April 2017
    In Response to Re: Just wondering how everyone deals with distractions while playing poker?:
    In Response to Re: Just wondering how everyone deals with distractions while playing poker? : Some bits of this are quite sad.Not sure which bits though.
    Posted by chilling
    REALLY?  Harry has the life I aspire to!!!

    NOT the losing obvs...
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  • EssexphilEssexphil Member Posts: 8,879
    edited April 2017
    In Response to Re: Just wondering how everyone deals with distractions while playing poker?:
    No friends, no wife or significant other, no kids, no pets. Still can't win but at least give losing my full attention.
    Posted by hhyftrftdr
    Not only that, this poor man's name suggests that he is suffering from Irritable Vowel Syndrome :)
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  • weecheez1weecheez1 Member Posts: 1,686
    edited April 2017
    In Response to Re: Just wondering how everyone deals with distractions while playing poker?:
    In Response to Re: Just wondering how everyone deals with distractions while playing poker? : Not only that, this poor man's name suggests that he is suffering from Irritable Vowel Syndrome :)
    Posted by Essexphil

    wp :-)

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  • stokefcstokefc Member Posts: 7,878
    edited April 2017
    In Response to Re: Just wondering how everyone deals with distractions while playing poker?:
    In Response to Re: Just wondering how everyone deals with distractions while playing poker? : Some bits of this are quite sad.Not sure which bits though.
    Posted by chilling
    double post 2hrs apart how do you do it?
    headphones with pink floyd on that does it for me 
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  • chillingchilling Member Posts: 3,774
    edited April 2017
    God knows, ive been on a school memories site and chatting to an old mate.I think Misty knows the secret.
    Ah, i did come back on here to place a bet. Also , Marky never mentioned his lairy neighbours in distractions.
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  • tomgooduntomgoodun Member Posts: 3,756
    edited April 2017
    I prefer playing in front room with TV on and chatting to wife :)
    good luck in final chaos.
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  • GlenelgGlenelg Member Posts: 6,616
    edited April 2017
    Distractions FTW!  ??
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  • MattBatesMattBates Member Posts: 4,118
    edited April 2017
    In Response to Re: Just wondering how everyone deals with distractions while playing poker?:
    In Response to Re: Just wondering how everyone deals with distractions while playing poker? :   Knew Jimi was bluffing when he said you were on holiday with ur latest squeeze. :)
    Posted by pomfrittes
    Latest squeeze was in reference to him getting himself in the aeroplane seat
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  • hhyftrftdrhhyftrftdr Member Posts: 8,036
    edited April 2017
    In Response to Re: Just wondering how everyone deals with distractions while playing poker?:
    In Response to Re: Just wondering how everyone deals with distractions while playing poker? : Latest squeeze was in reference to him getting himself in the aeroplane seat
    Posted by MattBates


    Sick of airlines continually reducing seat width.
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  • AerionzAerionz Member Posts: 84
    edited April 2017
    In Response to Just wondering how everyone deals with distractions while playing poker?:
    I remember Shaun Deeb doing an interview for a P5's podcast while he was playing 17 tables. My game on the other hand goes down the toilet if I am playing 2 or 3 tables and the phone rings...  I do have quite a busy house with my partner, my son, 2 dogs and 2 cats and it feels like an extreme challenge trying to concentrate at times. There always seems to be a phone ringing, dog wanting attention or someone chapping the front door to see if I would like to convert to being a Mormon or join the latest super duper electricity/gas tariff. I do on occassion lock myself away upstairs in the bedroom and play and generally do a little better (that is the plan for tomorrow nights £4k package final). However if I am playing for 5 or 6 hours it feels a little anti-social and can be boring being locked away in another room so this is not ideal either. So do distractions bother you? Can you offer any advice on dealing with them?
    Posted by markycash
    You just got to deal with it the best you can mate. Set aside grinding time and leisure time, don't mix the two. Lock yourself away and put a big red sign on the door saying 'Do not disturb'.

    Being a poker pro is generally incompatible with people in the real world. A poker pro leads a semi-nocturnal lifestyle, playing evenings/nights and weekends, because that's when most games run. Compare that to people with normal lives - they are at work/school from 9-5, evenings and weekends are for relaxing and socialising.

    There's a reason why most pros are young males with no gf and no kids ;)
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