OTB 082: Slow Down to Speed Up
- Gareth James
- Mar 4
- 3 min read
Picture this: you’re driving towards a roundabout...
Do you speed through without checking the traffic? Of course not.
You instinctively slow down, assess your surroundings, and only then decide the best way forward.
It’s a small, but crucial pause that prevents disaster and ensures a smooth route onto the roundabout.
Poker is no different.
Many part-time players rush through decisions, either out of excitement, habit, or the pressure of the moment.
But if you don’t slow down at the right time, you risk making making mistakes that cost you real money–crashing your tournament hopes before you even realise what went wrong.
The Power of Slowing Down
The best poker players, like the best drivers, know when to hit the brakes.
Slowing down in key moments helps you process crucial information, avoid costly mistakes and gain clarity and control.
Just as you check for oncoming traffic, you need to assess things like stack sizes, the stage of the tournament, bet sizing, ranges and player tendencies before making a decision.
Slowing down allows you to think logically rather than emotionally, helping you spot patterns, leaks, and opportunities that others might miss.
When to Slow Down in a Hand
Just like navigating a roundabout, there are specific situations in poker where slowing down is essential:
Facing a Big Bet or All-In – When the pressure is high, don’t rush. Take a deep breath and consider all of the information available to you before making a decision.
Deep in a Tournament – The closer you are to the money or the final table, the more each decision matters. Slowing down here ensures that you maximise $EV instead of acting on impulse.
Against Tough Opponents – Great players exploit rash decisions. If you slow down, you give yourself time to recognise their approach and adjust your strategy accordingly.
The Counterintuitive Secret: Slowing Down Helps You Play Faster
Here’s the twist—when you consciously practise slowing down at critical moments, you actually become faster and more efficient over time.
Just like an experienced driver doesn’t hesitate at a roundabout because they’ve internalised the process, a well-trained poker player develops the ability to make calm, calculated decisions under pressure.
This all comes from experience.
How to Implement This in Your Game
Pause Before Every Major Decision – A simple two-second mental pause can prevent you from making mistakes because you're playing on autopilot. Try taking your hand off the mouse.
Ask Yourself the Right Questions – Think back to OTB #080—don't just learn what to do, but why.
Use Time Banks Strategically – Don’t be afraid to use your time bank in crucial spots. Give yourself room to think.
Final Thought: Embrace the Roundabout Approach
The next time you’re in a tricky poker spot, picture that roundabout.
Take a breath, slow down, check your surroundings, and only then proceed.
Because in poker, as in driving, the smartest route isn’t always the fastest—it’s the one that keeps you on the road to success.
OK, that was a bit cheesy. But hopefully you get the point.
That's it for this week.
See you next time.
P.S. Shout out to my student Paul, a driving instructor from Norwich, UK, who inspired this newsletter issue.
Whenever you're ready, here are 4 ways I can help you:
The Final Table: Play your best poker when the most is at stake. Detailed analysis of over 100 hand examples at different stages of play. Learn how to make great decisions every time and set yourself up for daily progress.
Poker On The Mind: Listen to my podcast with Dr Tricia Cardner as we discuss peak poker performance and tournament poker strategy.
MTT Poker Academy: Join the tournament poker community for part-time players with full-time lives. Learn the strategies to optimise your study time and boost your ROI around your day job.
Purposeful Practice for Poker: Gain a clear theoretical understanding of the science of purposeful practice and how you can apply it to your poker study & training. Includes specific exercises designed to create an infallible plan for poker improvement.
How To Build Your First $10K Bankroll: A FREE, 5-day email course breaking down everything you need to build rock solid fundamentals, study tournament poker effectively, confidently move up in stakes, and develop the right mindset for long-term success.
Comments