Pre-poker session rituals: how to switch to A-game mode and approach the game more professionally

A player who can focus on demand, maintain emotional stability, and retain clarity of thought gains an advantage that directly influences the quality of decision-making over the long run.

To make this process systematic, rituals are used — short, repetitive actions that help the nervous system switch from everyday mode to professional playing mode. Despite their outward simplicity, rituals operate on a deep psychophysiological level and allow for the maintenance of A-game stability.

In this article, we will explore why rituals are truly effective, how to create your own, and the role played by tools such as stress relievers in this process.

You will learn: 

• why rituals help you enter the A-game state

• how psychophysiological mechanisms activated by rituals work

• which four blocks an effective pre-session ritual should consist of

• what actions can be used in each of these blocks

• how to know if a ritual really works

Why do poker players need rituals?

Our brain dislikes chaos. It works better when there is structure, clear signals, and repetitive patterns. A ritual is a mini-scenario that informs the nervous system in advance:

“We are about to solve complex problems”

Such actions help reduce anxiety, stabilize attention, and prepare cognitive functions for stress. Below are the mechanisms underpinning ritual effectiveness. 

1. Context switching

When you regularly repeat the same set of actions before a session, the brain starts associating them with a specific state — concentration, attention, and control. Over time, even a short ritual triggers a mechanism of automatically entering work mode.

2. Anchoring effect

Any stable action creates a neural “pathway.” Repetitions reinforce it. If you perform the same set of steps before each session, they become a signal to the brain — “now is the time to show your A-game” — which means you activate the necessary state by performing familiar actions.

3. Reducing uncertainty

The start of a session is a moment of maximum cognitive load. The brain isn't yet ready for this load, decisions are harder to make, and impulsiveness is higher. A ritual sets a sequence: this reduces anxiety and the number of mechanical mistakes in the first hands dealt.

4. Enhancing internal autonomy

When a player has a ritual, the state becomes manageable. The game no longer depends on mood, external circumstances, or fatigue levels.

Do stress-relievers help you win? 

Players are often surprised — how can pop-its and spinners affect the quality of decision-making in poker? But psychology and neurophysiology explain this very clearly.

1. Releasing tension is biology, not “self-soothing”

During play, cortisol and adrenaline levels rise in the body. Accumulated tension is especially concentrated in the hands and shoulders.

When you squeeze a stress-reliever, three processes occur:

• muscles receive controlled exertion

• proprioceptors send a signal to the brain — all is safe

• the parasympathetic nervous system is activated — the “calm down” mode

Result: the body relaxes → the brain is allocated more resources → decisions become more stable.

2. Safe discharge of emotions

Emotions in poker are energy. If not given a safe outlet, they turn into tilt, impulsive calls, broken mice, shouting, and swearing. 

A stress-reliever becomes a safety cushion: emotions are released but are not transferred to game action.

3. Rhythm — a universal calming mechanism

The brain loves predictability. When you click or squish a stress-reliever at a consistent tempo, a stable sensory pattern is formed, which:

• stabilizes breathing

• aligns heart rate

• reduces amygdala activity — the anxiety center

This helps you return to a calm state more quickly after a tough beat or losing a large pot.

4. Halting ruminations and silencing internal dialogue

After an unpleasant hand, the brain often starts a loop of thoughts — “what if I had played differently?”, “why did I choose this line?”

This activates the “default mode network” (DMN) — the center of rumination that triggers endless rehashing of the same thoughts.

A stress-reliever shifts the brain into sensory mode, reduces DMN activity, and literally pulls the player out of an unpleasant internal dialogue.

5. Maintaining focus and a sense of control

During long sessions, attention naturally wanes. A stress-reliever creates tension that:

• maintains concentration

• prevents states of boredom and distractibility

• provides a sense of control over the situation

This is a crucial support for the psyche.

How to construct an effective pre-session ritual?

 A good ritual is not a set of random actions, but a sequence that works on different levels of the psyche.

Block 1 — Setting session goals

The brain needs a framework — “what counts as good play today?”. It is essential for the player to set appropriate goals, such as: 

“I focus on the quality of decisions”

“I don’t overplay dubious spots”

“I assess each hand through a plan”
“I avoid impulsive decisions after a bad beat”

This reduces emotional swings and keeps the focus on the correctness of chosen decisions. 

Block 2 — Physical activation

Any movement is a powerful signal for the nervous system. Just 30–40 seconds of simple exercises suffice. In total, a pre-session warm-up takes no more than 5-10 minutes, but the long-term effect is significant. 

Professional players use exercises such as: 

• 10 squats or bends

• neck and back warm-up

• light shaking of hands and shoulders

• self-massage of traps or jaw.

These actions quickly get the body into work mode and improve cognitive flexibility.

Block 3 — Emotional tuning 

The goal is to create a light state of readiness. This isn't aggression, but controlled tension that helps avoid lethargy and passive decisions.

Examples:

• Brief visualization of readiness. Imagine yourself in the first two hands — focused, precise, active.

• Musical start. Listen to a track that gives you a working drive.

• “Power pose.” Stand tall for a minute, shoulders back, body composed — a scientifically proven way to boost subjective strength.

• “Combat breath.” A sharp short inhale through the nose + long exhale through the mouth.

Block 4 — Cognitive tuning

This is a mini-warm-up for the prefrontal cortex — the area responsible for strategic thinking. Simple actions help engage the analytical process before the game starts, such as: 

• Mathematical warm-up. Remind yourself of pot odds calculation rules, formulas for determining bounties, or revisit notes on working strategies. Or all of them! 

• Self-analysis of a few hands from the last session. This helps not only in the short term but also in the long run — decision-making becomes easier, and the brain doesn’t have to expend resources recalculating during the session. 

5 Signs Your Ritual is Working

1. You enter work mode faster

2. The first hands are played confidently and without fuss

3. Fewer tilting or impulsive decisions

4. Concentration lasts longer

5. Emotional reactions become softer and more manageable.

Conclusion

Rituals and stress-relievers are not peripheral details, but state management tools. They help stabilize attention, reduce emotional highs, and maintain the structure of play throughout the session.

A poker player who can activate their A-game on demand gains an advantage that manifests not just in a single hand, but over the long run. 

If you want to build a professional approach to the game — from strategy to state — join FunFarm. We teach not only how to play but also how to think, feel, and act like a professional.