Brunson's Checklist:

On whether or not to play.

Almost verbatim from his book 'Poker Wisdom Of A Champion' which is kind of like 'Ace On The River' by Greenstein because it's more so about the life of a poker player than the game itself. It's a fun read and mostly just a bunch of short stories.

Anyways:

(1) Have you had enough sleep? If NO, don't play.

(2)Is there something else you'd rather be doing? if YES, don't play.

(3)Are you feeling physically well enough to sit through a movie? if NO, don't play.
When you have a headache or are tired or you'd be fidgety in a theatre, you probably won't play your best poker.

(4)Are you so mad at someone that it is interfering with your concentration? if YES, don't play.

(5)Are drugs,alcohol or medication interfering with your logical thinking? if Yes, don't play.

(6) Are you emotionally upset? if YES, don't play.Fights with your wife or girlfriend are not healthy for you bank roll.

AND MOST IMPORTANT:
(7) Do you feel that you're going to win? if NO, don't play.
Give credibility to your hidden feelings. Your subconcious mind might be analyzing things you're not aware of.

If it looks like a good game and you survive the checklist then sit down and do some serious winning. Otherwise, save your energy for tomorrow.

edit- can someone fix the typo in the title.

I think number 2, 4 and 6 are my biggest problems. or rather, she is the problem lol.

I would almost never put in hands if i had to pass that checklist.

looks good though

i pass these 90% time i play , hardest is #7 when you are in a downswing imo

On January 16 2009 19:53 traxamillion wrote: I would almost never put in hands if i had to pass that checklist. looks good though

really i can't see getting good consistant winning sessions without passing these 80+% of the time you play

FUCKing GF AND FAMILY KILLING MY BANKROLL

if i followed this id have a LOT more money.

I agree with number 6 especially. Lost my bankroll in one night after some shit with my then gf.

fuck that haha.

lol this is exactly what I try to think about before I start a session, funny

I don't always have them every time I play though, and that's usually when I end up with a bad session, or where I could win for the first 4/5ths of it and then I start losing my concentration and just kinda donk all of my winnings off =)

Hmmm, there has to be one missing in there somewhere.

Interesting, this actually pretty much my checklist except I have a couple of extras. I didn't really think many people did this heh.
To add to the list, I don't play after 12am and I want to be fully concentrated when I play so I don't play when there's people watching tv in the next room, cleaning (vaccuming)etc...

actually, the two important things for me aren't on the list:

8) Are you hungry?

9) Are you cold?

On January 16 2009 23:45 thundza wrote: actually, the two important things for me aren't on the list: 8) Are you hungry? 9) Are you cold?

hungry is a good one, dont play on an empty stomach

i feel i play the best poker right after a nap/sleep. peak focus.

god damn #7 aajs;dofihawlkefasldkfj

nice, got a new quote

(2)Is there something else you'd rather be doing? if YES, don't play.

well, of course i'd rather be out having fun with friends or whatever, so this is probably always in the way

(7) Do you feel that you're going to win? if NO, don't play.

and during downswings, i feel like im never going to win, yet i still play anyway

but you could have a break during a downswing, move down in stakes a little so that you know for sure you crush the games, and then play. Might make downswings shorter too (or might not).

anyways I found these pretty useful

for those who havent read ket also wrote an article about these things, http://www.liquidpoker.net/pokerarticle/423038/Ultimate_Zone_Warriors

i think that i should never play poker

There's almost always something I'd rather be doing than playing poker, I don't find it boring, it's just never the thing I want to do the most.