Mindset and hand histories

Since I haven't been playing I've been reflecting a lot on where I went wrong in poker. I came to many conclusions but the most obvious one was playng in a bad mindset. My Bottom end game is horrendous while my top end game
is realistically good enough to be a consistent winner.

Wit that being said to stay close go the game I have been analyzing hand histories as well as discussing them with friends. What I noticed was that there was one key variable mssing.

I feel like there are many in poker who have the top end game to be winners but don't accurately assess their mind set. Or they just lie to themselves which is something I am guilty of as well.

So, what I propose from now on is simple when posting a HH. Among the explanation of hands really try to remember how you were feeling before you made the play, how you were feelng after and stop yourself. Stop playing and just reflect.

In hand histories it seems as of everyone makes "standard" plays. They know what's right or wrong but something within leads them to the unprofitable play. I think from now on when posting a hh you should add what state of mind you were in when making that particular play!

There should be a scale, for example, of 1-10 that will give a brief introduction. We can build upon this to advance our self awareness!

Thoughts?!?

I feel pretty confident when i say about myself that when i make a bad move, it's usually based on emotions, and not rational thought, yet pinning down what exactly sparks those emotional responses is something i wouldnt be able to do for myself, i simply wouldn't know.

It's been numerous times already that i was going trough my biggest losses saying to myself "what on earth was i thinking playing it like that", and the worst is that that's what i have with most of my big losses apart from bad beats.

I would love to be able to isolate that moment or feeling that makes me play simply horrible at times, as if i'm just willingly tossing my chips in the middle, but as soon as it happens i snap out of it (usually after losing a full buyin or more in a simply stupid way, in general bad position play), and im back to my normal game. What makes it happen in the first place is something im not able to put my finger on though, but i do know it hurts to realise afterwards you can only blame yourself.



Edited by Romekje - 25 Jul 2010 at 4:02am