Finding the Poker Zone

[CRAZYBEAR007]

What do I say about a weekend so full of Poker I wanted to pull out of some tournaments late on Sunday. Now I have a glimpse of what the big live tournaments are like. Grueling is a good word. While I went deep in a number of these 40+ tournaments I only cashed 2 times until late on Sunday night. I was really starting to lose my confidence. Then I went on a run and finished 12th, 10th, 6th 4th and last but not least a 2nd. I believe if I was fresher I would have had one or two 1st finishes but fatigue became a factor.

No big cashes but it definitely was a humbling and character building experience. I finally found a zone where I made solid decisions, stayed patient and found my places to make large chip gains and fold when I really wanted to push all in with marginal hands. Now if I can just recreate that mind-set EVERY time I start a tournament I might become a very good player and succeed at my Quest.

[arjonius]

While I have only played in one major live tournament, I did last until a few hands before the end of day 1. IMO, it was not very similar to playing a bunch of online ones.

It also wasn't even remotely gruelling. It's just not that hard to concentrate for eight or 10 hours, especially since it's not constant. At least half the time is spent shuffling and dealing, and even though you do watch what goes on, it's not something that takes brain-straining effort to do.

[elbandido32]

I find myself in zones like that but then the next day I ussually have terrible games where I can't win a single hand! I have also noticed that there are or at least appear to be zones during tournaments where u win five or six hands and then go cold again.

[SWScuracao]

good luck with that, and congrats with your places.

[greywind50]

There have been times when I was in the "zone" and felt like I was in perfect sync with the opps at the table....I KNEW when my cards would win and when to fold. No stress, no rush just go with the flow.
I don't stay in that zone for very long but I keep trying...

[eberetta1]

The zone doesn't last too long. I was in four tourneys today and cashed only in the fourth one. I was kind of bummed because I was in third place in one of the tourneys and would have been in the money, and my aggressiveness cost me. But I have bubbled enough games to know that getting a good stack of chips makes good things happen.
Now back to ring games for the rest of the night.

[rllngn]

When you find those zones it is sweet. Like everyone else I wish to be in that all the time. There is times I start questioning if I am playing bad or just bad cards. I usually find its bad play and try to refocus but easier said then done.