Finding the Zone at the Poker Tables

The best athletes are able to find it when it matters most, whilst the rest -the mere mortals-are constantly seeking it out, occasionally crossing over into the mythic “ZONE”. What you may not know is that you can be in the zone in just about any endeavor, from model-making, to reading, even and even while playing poker; which will of course be the crux of this article.

The Zone is when you are firing on all cylinders towards a specific goal and are 100% focused on the task at hand. When you hit the zone in poker you know it, even if it’s only a brief interlude. When you’re in the zone all of the distractions that go along with poker are somehow tuned out; your reads on your opponents are impeccable; and your decisions are made crisply and confidently.

Now that you know what the zone is, and why it’s so desirable to be in it, let’s now get to the nitty-gritty and discover how to enter the zone.

One of the most important aspects of entering the zone is to be clear-headed. Players that get involved in a poker game when they have pressing issues on their mind are unlikely to become ensconced in the tunnel-vision mindset that occurs when you are in the zone; there’s simply too much extra information floating around in their head. To get a handle on this you need to make sure that your personal life is in order, so when you do sit down at the poker tables you can focus completely on the game.

You also want to make sure you are at a heightened level of awareness, but not too heightened. And here is where it gets difficult: Studies have shown that people with an increased heart-rate -above 115-are able to focus better. However, these same studies show that when a person’s heart-rate goes over 180 your decision making ability will start to deteriorate.

We’ve all had moments of anger or terror where the tunnel-vision takes over, and we focus so much on one specific thing -whatever is causing the anger or fear-that everything else escapes our attention. So the goal becomes heightening your senses, but not to the point where you’re over-stimulated.

SO, what are some of the ways you can increase your heart-rate to get yourself physiologically into the zone?

Exercise - Exercise is a terrific way to boost your heart-rate. However, the longer you sit at the poker table the more likely your heart-rate will slow down. You can counteract this by a brisk walk, or even going to the bathroom and doing a few, full-body, flexes to get your blood pumping again.

Caffeine - Caffeine is an excellent stimulant to increase focus. Unfortunately many people overdo it when it comes to caffeine consumption. The best way to utilize caffeine is to drink it slowly, in small amounts, over a period of time; large doses of caffeine often lead to headaches, tremors, and gastric issues.

Energy Supplements - A step above caffeine, supplements like ephedrine are capable of increasing your focus at the poker tables, and therefore getting you closer to the zone. Even more so than caffeine, these supplements must be used sparingly and properly; overuse can cause the same issues as caffeine and then some.