Playing poker can definitely be nerve-racking. The hot glow of the lights, the sights, the sounds, and the pressure of being surrounded by cutthroat players who all want your chips – it’s almost too much to bear unless you’re used to it. A lot of today’s players are coming from internet stock. Their careers were born and nourished online, and when they finally sit down to play with the big boys in a live game, they fold like origami.

Don’t let the recent influx of World Series of Poker amateurs fool you. For every one of them you see win a bracelet, you need to remember that there were literally a thousand others that didn’t make the cut. Could it be because nerves got the best of them? It’s hard to say for sure, but you definitely shouldn’t dismiss the possibility. Sitting down at a live poker table, especially the WSOP, with only online experience is one of the most daunting tasks you’ll ever have to face.

Some people are nervous by nature. They’ll get nervous when sitting down at online casinos or in an online poker room. For this type, well, there’s really no help that an article can provide. Maybe a trip to a shrink and some meds for anxiety disorder would help. For the rest of us, there are ways to conquer those butterflies and play with a level head.

What’s the importance of being calm? That basically goes without saying. A nervous poker player is not only considered an easy-to-read fish at a table full up with sharks, but he or she is a mistake waiting to happen. You simply can’t process what needs to be processed if you’re letting your nerves get the best of you. And even if you’re not a nervous Nelly most of the time, seeing thousands of people inside of Harrah’s getting ready for WSOP action may change your mind. It’s like going from midget football to the NFL – a completely different world.

One of the first things you can do to beat back the jitters is to train for live events. Start out with some home or neighborhood games. Play with your friends and family. You feel comfortable with these people. You can be yourself. You don’t have to sit like patience on a statue, ala Chris “Jesus” Ferguson, to be considered calm. Look at a guy like Phil Hellmuth. All he does is talk.

After you get a feel for some home games, you can take it around strangers and unwind on a small scale. Develop a ritual to combat the nerves. Johnny Chan brings an orange with him to events. He claims it’s for luck, but if you’re ever watched him pick at it, some might say it’s a nervous habit. You can find something similar. But whatever you do, make sure you don’t do it during a hand. You don’t want to give away a tell.

When you sit down, let your body flow free. Don’t try to hold still; don’t try to keep a straight face. Just play poker. You already know how to do that. When you sit down, just let the cards take over and you’ll do just fine. And if you start to get too nervous, winning a hand always helps. So never freeze up. Get in there and get involved in the action.