MTT Casino Preparation

I'm on forced absence from online play to induce rest and prevent tilting before Friday's Showboat tournament. Here are some personal thoughts about my preparation and outlook for casino MTTs.

The biggest issue for me is SLEEP. Getting out is such an occasion that I'm often too anxious to sleep the night before. Compounded with habitual interrupted sleep due to young children, I'm basically doomed when confronted with the long drive and strenuous day. Consequently I like to soak in my hot tub the nights leading up to the big event, and get to bed early.

On the days preceding, I will often play online, read, study hand histories, or some combination of the three.

I'm not in any way superstitious, so I don't wear or do anything out of the ordinary. I do like to be comfortable, so it's jeans and sneakers, maybe a new pair of socks for ultimate comfort.

On the drive down, to clear my head, I like to listen to comedy. Lately my comedian of choice is Brian Regan. Laughing is a great way to relax.

On site, I like to get the registration out of the way. After a long, arduous drive, I don't want to get shut out. I also have a good breakfast, since not all casinos allow food on the playing floor.

I've had poor success playing ring games prior to a tournament. Occasionally I'll play 200NL, but otherwise I'm happy to wait for the tournament to begin.

I don't wear sunglasses or listen to music. I don't wear a baseball cap or baggy pants. I don't wear bling bling and I can't do chip tricks. I don't use a card protector, but my favorite would have to be that of fellow homey J.S. who uses a Pooping Pope , a popular Spanish caganer.

I'm not a coffee drinker, so I get my caffeine boost from an energy drink (sugarless RockStar) and hot tea (Earl Grey) throughout the tournament. I'll usually take advantage of a $1 Heineken. My metabolism doesn't afford me the opportunity to not eat for long periods of time, so I pack some snack bars or fruit.

During breaks I try to email or blog chip stacks for my homeys that are railing via the internet.

After I bust I like to play SnGs or 200NL.