Although poker is a game which does not involve long term preparation before a big game, other than having some experience in the game of course, short term preparation can be important.

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As a player I like to go to a game in a calm and positive frame of mind, and I find certain things help me to do this. Half an hour spent online playing some poker can help get you into a poker mindset, and give you that little bit of extra sharpness going into the first hand I feel. Sometimes going into a tournament having not played for a couple of days, can mean your ‘radar’ is slightly off with reads and suchlike. This might of course not be a problem, but if you get involved in a hand which requires a big decision early on, then you want to be focused enough to get it right.

Sometimes I also find that a glass of wine and some music help me relax too, and put me in the right frame of mind for a big game.

I also know someone who is a little superstitious and likes to bring a lucky charm with them. They also sometimes play out hands of holdem with a deck of cards on their own, and only stop once they have been dealt the losing hand a few times in a row. Their reasoning is that if they do this, they will go into the tournament being due a winning hand, crazy as that sounds.

As much as I think that is ridiculous in some ways, I firmly believe that anything which sends you into a game with more confidence can be helpful in it’s own way.

Whatever your own routine for preparing for tournaments, as long as you go into the game relaxed, positive, and with faith in your ability, you are bound to do as well as is possible.