The Importance of Music in Online Poker

So, you’re sitting down to play some poker. To play one of your favourite poker games at one of your favourite poker websites online. It’s highly unlikely that the music that you choose to have playing is an important factor in your mind. After all, poker is all about concentration.

Concentration plays an immense role in a game. It plays an immense role in every single round. The outcome and how you feature in it, can depend on your level concentration.

Think about it for a second, you’re not just concentrating on what you do. This starts from the moment you set about choosing the right poker sites. Then you have the hands you play and the money you invest. You’re thinking about your opponent’s hands and watching how they play. You’re thinking about the dealer and what cards they play. A session of poker, especially a high-stakes game can be intense, to say the least. So, what possible purpose could music play in poker? After all, surely it would be more of a distraction than anything, right?

Well, this comes down to the type of player you are and what you need to do to get yourself in: A) the right frame of mind to even start a game and B) to keep your focused as you play. Suddenly, something that seems like it would be nothing more than a distraction takes on a new form.

Music can do so much for the mind. This is no secret and there’s plenty of research out there that back up this claim. Apply that thought-process to playing poker and you will find music can have a positive effect on how you play.

Maybe it’s a rocking and rhythmic tune to get you pumped before you sit down to play. Maybe it’s a calming piece of instrumental melody to clam your nerves as things get tense. Or maybe it’s something devilishly heavy to help you feel like a champion as you lay down your winning hand. Regardless of your taste, music can help keep you focused when you need it most.

Even if you’re not even aware that anything is playing in the background at all. Such is the wonder of the human mind. The subconscious part doing all the heavy lifting while your conscious part wipes out the poker field with ease.

Not convinced because you’ve never tried it and you happen to be into garish blackened metal? Perfect, because one of the most important aspects of using music as a concentration device is to use music you enjoy. It sounds so obvious but it really works. Apply this idea to any other task you might do in your life.

Let’s say you enjoy exercising – going out for a daily jog or something like that. Chances are, you put some earphones in and hit a playlist you’ve specifically designed to match your job. Music that you can enjoy, music that fits your mood and music that sits in the background, allowing you to focus on the jog. The same can apply to more mundane tasks such as doing the dishes, cleaning your home, sending e-mails, writing articles like this and so on. Chances are, many people, will have tunes playing in the background.

So why separate that system from online poker? The emotional connection you have to songs will fit the emotional feelings you will have as you play. Creating powerful moments of elation and disappointment. Not only will it help you concentrate but it might make your poker game all the more fun.

Next time you play, put some music on. You might just find yourself playing your best game yet.