What Music Do Online Poker Players Listen To?

Playing your favorite poker games at the top poker sites online is a thrilling experience where concentration plays a major role in every round’s outcome. With every session, you need to focus on your hand, the dealer’s moves, and your opponents’ plays. The same applies to online gaming, especially for players participating in a live online casino game.

Players have various ways to get themselves in the right frame of mind for their game. It could be by dressing in a certain way, like having sunglasses on throughout the game. Others opt for methods like having music playing. You might think songs during a poker session would be distracting, but research has shown that it can help with elements like:

Calming you – if your agitated during your game, you’re likely to make mistakes with your various plays. Music can help to keep you centered, even when your luck seems to be running out.
Increasing your concentration levels – paying attention to what’s happening at the table is key to minimizing your losses. You’ll know when to call or fold based on how your opponents and the dealer behave with the card hands they have. But that’s only if you concentrate, which is something you can quickly achieve with some tunes to keep your mind sharp.

The effects of playing music during a poker game are many. We’ll look at these in more detail while also giving you the genres you should stick to while creating your ideal playlist.

How Music Helps You Stay Focused

Our minds have conscious and subconscious parts that work together whenever we’re awake. The conscious mind helps us concentrate on the tasks we’re handling in the present. So, during a poker session, for instance, this is the part of the mind that helps you come up with the various plays you make. It ensures you stay immersed in the task you’ve chosen to do until you complete it.

Then there’s the subconscious which is constantly working in the background whether you’re awake or not. That element makes it a part of the mind that we can’t really control. It’s in charge of things like what we see in our dreams, our gut feeling, or how a certain smell automatically links you to a memory without you having any thoughts about that past event.

Use Music As A Poker Gaming Advantage

While playing a poker game at your chosen online casino, you need to be alert because of the different activities happening at the table. But your subconscious mind can distract you since it’s always on the lookout for sounds beyond the game you’re concentrating on. It works like a safety feature to warn you whenever something around you shouldn’t be there. Even if it’s a good thing, it can prove disastrous to your gaming session since any ambient sounds will pull on your focus.

That’s where music comes in to save the day. With music in your ears during your gaming rounds, your subconscious will be momentarily subdued since it’ll focus on the music. But that’s only if you pick tunes you’re already familiar with. Picking a playlist with songs you don’t know can still be a distraction as your mind will work to break down the various elements like the tempo and lyrics.

The Type Of Music You Can Play

There are different ways to go about how you choose your poker gaming songs.

Preference – base your selection on your genre preference. Remember that familiar songs are the best way to go since your mind won’t try to dissect them into their various elements while you play.
Soothing music – the music you choose needs to calm you enough so that you don’t have any tells regardless of the hand you’ve been dealt or the plays made by your opponents.
Upbeat tunes – something else the songs should trigger is a heightened concentration level. A playlist with songs that will, for instance, lull you to sleep are sure to throw you off your game unnecessarily. Your streak on a poker game can change in an instant if you lose even a second of concentration.

Research has shown that music has the power to evoke different emotions. For your poker sessions, you may want to go for tunes that evoke positive feeling throughout the game. These will help you keep your head in the game regardless of how things play out. Some of the genres most associated with poker gaming include:

Electronic Dance Music (EDM) – the upbeat tempo has been seen to increase concentration levels. So, if you’re a fan of this genre, having a playlist of your favorites will keep your mind from wandering while you play.
Jazz – the mellow yet funky beat helps you maintain a calm demeanor. It’s also a favorite for most casino players. With this genre, even when things don’t seem to be going your way, the music will keep your mind centered enough to keep your tells in check.
Rock – if this is your preferred option, then opt for soft rock songs. Metal versions can be too loud, which may also wind up distracting you instead of helping you.
Hip Hop – not many people realize this, but older hip hop variations are a great way to keep your mind alert while you play. Pick songs that won’t be too distracting since some of these can have thought-evoking lyrics.
Instrumentals – listening to an instrumental is one of the best options for poker players. It’s been proven that classical music tunes like Vivaldi are great for boosting your mental vitality.

Add Poker Strategies To Your Ideal Playlist

Once your playlist is ready, look into other aspects of your gameplay. Having a strategy will ensure that your session goes off without a hitch. Some of the rules you should keep in mind when playing most poker variations include:

Be attentive – look at how other players conduct themselves. It’ll give you an edge with your plays.
Be careful with Aces – only continue if you have a card with the same suit as the Ace or cards with a value of 10 and higher.
Be patient – if you’re the first player, play less and keep an eye on your opponents’ moves so that you stay in the game longer.

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About the Author

Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.