Why you play better when people are watching

It's not fun, but exposing your play to others can help you develop as a player, says Dara O'Kearney.

I recently had a discussion about the experience of playing on a live streamed table. Some players nit up, some players show off (I'm looking at you Barry), but I'd say the biggest change is that most people largely play better when they know others are watching.

Twitch streamers know this better than anyone. Not only do they have to play in front of an audience, but they also have to justify the decisions they make in real time.

I noticed this personally once when I tried to show my wife how to play poker in preparation for an Irish Open ladies' event. I loaded up a poker tournament and explained what I was doing at every decision point.

I ended up winning the tournament and realised it was the best I had played in a long time.

Why visibility improves decision-making

When you are on your own, especially playing online, you can easily make a bad decision. You can make a nitty fold, know it was wrong, but you don't care because you are tired, or bored, or tilted, safe in the knowledge that nobody else saw it.

I am not suggesting that you become a Twitch streamer, but it's not a bad idea to expose yourself a little bit to others.

Sharing hand histories is an obvious first starting point. I'd say recording your online sessions for a coach to potentially review them is a great idea.

It's an uncomfortable feeling having others watch you play, but it might unlock a secret to fast growth as a player.

You can get Dara's free book on effective poker study by joining his mailing list.