Master Poker by Improving Your Focus

Focus is a crucial attribute of a great poker player.  without strong focus, you'll undoubtedly find your attention being scattered and your game suffering.  There are two basic threats to your ability to hold a strong focus:  internal and external distractions.

Internal distractions are usually scattered thoughts or an inability to follow along with the game, but can also include doubts, fears, insecurities and limitations that continually pull your attention from the game.  Sometimes you're not even aware of these negative thoughts on a conscious level; you just realize that all of a sudden you seem to be distracted or you begin to feel badly about the game and yourself as a player.

External distractions can be equally damaging to your focus.  You might get distracted by noises in the surrounding area and have trouble tuning them out, or you may also find yourself feeling intimidated by other players who seem to be rock-solid in their focus and confidence.  Before you know it, you realize that you're focusing more on them than the game, or you start doubting yourself and your own ability to play well.

The good news is that improving your focus isn't difficult at all; it just takes a little determination and practice.  You simply need to build up your mental "fitness" - much like you would improve muscle control through strengthening and toning exercises.

One of the best and simplest ways to do this is by performing daily mental exercises, which we'll cover in a moment. 

First, however, it's important to understand that strong focus begins with a clear mind.  If you are in the habit of ingesting gallons of caffeine or other mood-altering substances, mental exercises are going to have little effect because you will be clouding your mind and hindering your ability to think clearly.  Stimulants like caffeine and sugar SEEM to improve your mental function, but that momentary clarity is always followed by a "crash" later.  Depressants such as alcohol are even worse because they inspire a feeling that you are in total control - but your inhibitions are lowered and you find yourself making bolder (and often foolish) moves because of it.  If you want to be a great poker player, do yourself a favor and avoid any substance that messes with your ability to develop TRUE mental focus.

Then, try these exercises to further strengthen your mental focus:

- Clear your mind.

For 5 to 10 minutes a day, try clearing your mind of all thoughts and focusing on nothing.  Close your eyes and see the blackness behind your eyelids.  Breathe slowly and deeply and try to keep your mind completely blank for as long as you can.  Random thoughts will keep popping into your mind, and as they do, gently but firmly push them away and return your focus to nothing. 

At first it may seem like a futile undertaking, but the more you do it the better you'll get at tuning out mental chatter and keeping your focus steady.

- Keep a steady focus.

Another variation of this exercise is to call up a mental image of an object and keep your focus firmly upon it.  For example, picture an apple, pencil or other mundane object in your mind's eye.  See as much detail in this object as you can, as if you were looking at a photograph.  As random thoughts pop into your mind and you feel your focus shifting from the object to other things, gently push the errant thoughts away and return your focus to the object again.  Over time you'll notice that you are able to hold this image clearly in your mind for longer and longer periods of time. 

Do not be fooled by the simplicity of these exercises!  They may seem too easy at first glance, but they absolutely work.  The more steady you can keep your focus during these exercises, you'll find that you can more easily keep your focus in poker too.

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