OT: How long to get tired playing poker?
 

Poker is going great as I really enjoy the game and make decent coin from it. I've recently controlled my diet (more salads, less carbs and meat) and its helped a lot with my ability to think at the tables. Further, I've been exercising twice a week and that's helped too. Thing is, I used to play much longer hours a year ago w/o fatiguing and now I cannot push myself to be at my best for more than 3-4 hours a day. What if anything do you do to help yourself with the endurance factor? How many hours can you play per day?

For reference, I'm 30, 6'1 185lbs. Always been in decent shape and I do pwn the weekly recreational bball games so I'm not used to tiring out like this.

Indy

Re: OT: How long to get tired playing poker?
 

Reading this post was especially tiring [img]/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]

Re: OT: How long to get tired playing poker?
 

Are you talking about live, or online?

Re: OT: How long to get tired playing poker?
 

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Are you talking about live, or online?

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I mostly play online, but live would apply too. I hear Phil Ivey runs 3 miles every morning. I've been thinking of trying it. I know some of you guys here can play multitabling all day. One thing that really [censored] my day up is alcohol. I'm just about to abstain totally from drinking.

Indy

Re: OT: How long to get tired playing poker?
 

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Reading this post was especially tiring [img]/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]

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Whoa, that's probably because its just about your bedtime right? [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: OT: How long to get tired playing poker?
 

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Are you talking about live, or online?

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I mostly play online, but live would apply too. I hear Phil Ivey runs 3 miles every morning. I've been thinking of trying it. I know some of you guys here can play multitabling all day. One thing that really [censored] my day up is alcohol. I'm just about to abstain totally from drinking.

Indy

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I don't think you realize how much aerobic activity would help till you try it.

Re: OT: How long to get tired playing poker?
 

One thing that really [censored] my day up is alcohol. I'm just about to abstain totally from drinking.

Good thinking. Clear head at the table is what you want. My eyes get tired from lookin at the screen after a couple hours, and I start to lose focus.

Re: OT: How long to get tired playing poker?
 

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I'm just about to abstain totally from drinking.

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This would be -EV(life/fun).

Anyway, Indy -- I think you're on the right track with eating well and exercising. Those two imo are the most important. Playing in sets and taking small breaks (even as short as five-ten minutes) while playing will increase your energy level and attention span, as well as relieve some I strain.

Re: OT: How long to get tired playing poker?
 

Online, a few hours is the most I can play without getting completely bored with it. I'd say 3 hours for any non-MTTs and MTTs will keep my attention as long as it takes to win obv.

Live is completely different. I've played a 12 hour session in AC and had no problem doing so. The only reason I quit was because I was there with friends and decided to meet up with them at a bar. Had I been there solo, or had my friends been as into poker as I was, I think I could have easily played for longer and I don't think a 24 hour session would be out of the question for me.

Re: OT: How long to get tired playing poker?
 

I guess being in good shape and eat the right food will help, but your monitor also has to be good if you gonna play for long hours. What kind of monitor(s) are you using? Some of the mods will also go easier on your eyes. I don't use it myself, but the black one on pokermod is supposed to be good to your eyes.

Re: OT: How long to get tired playing poker?
 

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Online, a few hours is the most I can play without getting completely bored with it. I'd say 3 hours for any non-MTTs and MTTs will keep my attention as long as it takes to win obv.

Live is completely different. I've played a 12 hour session in AC and had no problem doing so. The only reason I quit was because I was there with friends and decided to meet up with them at a bar. Had I been there solo, or had my friends been as into poker as I was, I think I could have easily played for longer and I don't think a 24 hour session would be out of the question for me.

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Yah live is easier for me too. I just don't think I can ever do this full-time for a living. I was practically yearning to get away from the poker yesterday and looking forward to getting into the office this morning. Poker used to be my diversion from work, but now work is my diversion from poker. 9-5 jobs are less challenging but so much easier than a poker career.

Indy

Re: OT: How long to get tired playing poker?
 

Don't forget sleep. Even though a proper diet and regular exercise helps your energy level, plenty of regular sleep is even more important. Your body does not respond well to you breaking it's internal clock cycle.

Re: OT: How long to get tired playing poker?
 

I actually think I could go pro, but it would be a [censored] living at the stakes I play compared to my 9-5 income. I'm trying to move up into mid-stakes NL, I've all but quit STTs now. The few I play, I feel like I'm a noob again b/c I've completely quit studying them and never really spent much time with SNGPT.

I'm not sure what it would take for me to go pro. I think I'd need to make about double what I make at my 9-5 for probably 10-12 months before I'd even consider it. And I don't see that happening for a while, if ever.

I actually do think I could sustain the hours though. I think part of the reason that I can't play long sessions online is because usually I play my session after work so I've already been staring at a computer monitory for 8 or 9 hours by then.

Re: OT: How long to get tired playing poker?
 

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Don't forget sleep. Even though a proper diet and regular exercise helps your energy level, plenty of regular sleep is even more important. Your body does not respond well to you breaking it's internal clock cycle.

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Sleep is so important, I try very hard to do 8 hrs/night.

Indy

Re: OT: How long to get tired playing poker?
 

I can't play continuous because it is too boring for me.

I play sets of 6. Usually put in some hard hours...like 2 a day. HAH!

Re: OT: How long to get tired playing poker?
 

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I actually think I could go pro, but it would be a [censored] living at the stakes I play compared to my 9-5 income. I'm trying to move up into mid-stakes NL, I've all but quit STTs now. The few I play, I feel like I'm a noob again b/c I've completely quit studying them and never really spent much time with SNGPT.

I'm not sure what it would take for me to go pro. I think I'd need to make about double what I make at my 9-5 for probably 10-12 months before I'd even consider it. And I don't see that happening for a while, if ever.

I actually do think I could sustain the hours though. I think part of the reason that I can't play long sessions online is because usually I play my session after work so I've already been staring at a computer monitory for 8 or 9 hours by then.

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Yah I was thinking about this over the weekend. I make a grand a week playing SNGs, HU matches, and cash games all at the medium to lower limits. Now, if I didn't have to work all day before playing and I could full-time it like ZeeJustin or somebody could I make 3 times what I am currently making playing 20 hrs a week on the side? Perhaps. Also, if I didn't have my full-time job and stupid work problems to worry about perhaps I would move up in limits faster as well. What if I could move out of Indiana to Vegas? I don't think 200K per year is completely out of the realm of possibilty. That's almost twice what I make now at my 9-5.

Indy

Re: OT: How long to get tired playing poker?
 

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taking small breaks (even as short as five-ten minutes) while playing will increase your energy level and attention span, as well as relieve some I strain.

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Yeah...I can 8-table all day so long as I go lie on the couch for about 5-10 minutes between sets.

Re: OT: How long to get tired playing poker?
 

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I actually think I could go pro, but it would be a [censored] living at the stakes I play compared to my 9-5 income. I'm trying to move up into mid-stakes NL, I've all but quit STTs now. The few I play, I feel like I'm a noob again b/c I've completely quit studying them and never really spent much time with SNGPT.

I'm not sure what it would take for me to go pro. I think I'd need to make about double what I make at my 9-5 for probably 10-12 months before I'd even consider it. And I don't see that happening for a while, if ever.

I actually do think I could sustain the hours though. I think part of the reason that I can't play long sessions online is because usually I play my session after work so I've already been staring at a computer monitory for 8 or 9 hours by then.

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Yah I was thinking about this over the weekend. I make a grand a week playing SNGs, HU matches, and cash games all at the medium to lower limits. Now, if I didn't have to work all day before playing and I could full-time it like ZeeJustin or somebody could I make 3 times what I am currently making playing 20 hrs a week on the side? Perhaps. Also, if I didn't have my full-time job and stupid work problems to worry about perhaps I would move up in limits faster as well. What if I could move out of Indiana to Vegas? I don't think 200K per year is completely out of the realm of possibilty. That's almost twice what I make now at my 9-5.

Indy

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Sounds like you're in the same boat as me. I wonder how much more money I could make if I weren't playing at night when I'm tired after work.

Re: OT: How long to get tired playing poker?
 

exactly. I've noticed that I have my best stretches when my wife is outta town on business and I play the whole [censored] weekend. I also noticed that I start crushing the live games in vegas by the end of my vacation, but suck at the beginning. I don't thing its fair to compare a recreational player with a full-time 19 yr old with no responsibilities as there is a huge difference when you've got other [censored] to do outside of poker. Hell, some days I just want to enjoy it so I play lower limits and drink while I play. Hard to say how good I could really become.

Indy

Re: OT: How long to get tired playing poker?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Poker is going great as I really enjoy the game and make decent coin from it. I've recently controlled my diet (more salads, less carbs and meat) and its helped a lot with my ability to think at the tables. Further, I've been exercising twice a week and that's helped too. Thing is, I used to play much longer hours a year ago w/o fatiguing and now I cannot push myself to be at my best for more than 3-4 hours a day. What if anything do you do to help yourself with the endurance factor? How many hours can you play per day?

For reference, I'm 30, 6'1 185lbs. Always been in decent shape and I do pwn the weekly recreational bball games so I'm not used to tiring out like this.

Indy

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I get tired after like 2-3 hours almost always. I could play through it but why make myself suffer when I can just watch a movie or go out and then play again later well rested!

Re: OT: How long to get tired playing poker?
 

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I get tired after like 2-3 hours almost always. I could play through it but why make myself suffer when I can just watch a movie or go out and then play again later well rested!

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curtains,

Do you have any kind of fixed routine for a day's play? Do you exercise? Eat well? Drink well? I know that you go to bed late, but maybe you can handle that.

Indy

Re: OT: How long to get tired playing poker?
 

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I get tired after like 2-3 hours almost always. I could play through it but why make myself suffer when I can just watch a movie or go out and then play again later well rested!

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curtains,

Do you have any kind of fixed routine for a day's play? Do you exercise? Eat well? Drink well? I know that you go to bed late, but maybe you can handle that.

Indy

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Im going to bed earlier nowadays. I have been excersizing but been on a small hiatus for last few weeks [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] Well its just been less regular.

I don't get physically tired, its just why do I want to play for 6 hours in a row? That's not really the point of being a pro poker player, at least to me it isn't. When I was coming up and making less money I played more hours though.

Re: OT: How long to get tired playing poker?
 

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I don't get physically tired, its just why do I want to play for 6 hours in a row? That's not really the point of being a pro poker player, at least to me it isn't. When I was coming up and making less money I played more hours though.

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maybe i'm still in my honeymoon phase... i've been pro a little over 3 months. i still really enjoy it playing 35-40 hours a week. yesterday i played for 4 hours in the afternoon, hung out and had dinner with the roommates, and played another 6 hours after that. occasionally if i am getting bored with it i'll disconnect my laptop from my 2001fp and 6-table on the couch while i watch a movie.

Re: OT: How long to get tired playing poker?
 

When I'm trying to work out of a downswing I can play 16, maybe 20 hours straight. Probably not a good thing. I used to get this weird head thing from playing even 1 table for very long. Not like a headache but a weird fuzzy feeling is the only way I can describe. Now I can 8-table for 20 hours and the only issue is my neck might hurt some if I'm slouching too much. I'm sure I'll revert to something normal once I stop getting my clock cleaned on a regular basis.

Re: OT: How long to get tired playing poker?
 

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When I'm trying to work out of a downswing I can play 16, maybe 20 hours straight. Probably not a good thing.

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chau giang is known for this...if hes down in the big game he'll play as long as his little asian body will carry him, ridiculous endurance. if you can play your best game it doesnt matter but its sort of counter intuitive if you ONLY do it when youre hurting IMO.

indy,
youre old, deal with it. kidding kidding, but have you noticed drastic lifestyle changes that may result in new fatigue? based on training experience, i find these to be most important for me when fixing fatigue problems, roughly in this order:

1) sleep-you cant physically play if your eyes wont open (8+ is a good amount, im sure you can play on more than 6 if your other lifestyle factors are strong, though)
2) exercise- i recommend 3+ days a week. im 19 years old so i have more energy, but i lift weights 3 days a week and do cardio 2 days a week, and it really does well for me. for you (someone with a real life), if youre not into lifting weights (though i do recommend at least light lifting), id say 3 days a week of some kind of exercise is good.
3) family/social/work affairs- if theres problems in the home or work, this can EASILY effect play, even subconsciously and lead to fatigue. make sure you know all the angles of your life and that its not effecting your fatigue or emotion
4) eating- dont be a pig. sounds like youre doing that. i eat mostly what i want but when im home in the summer i stay away from bad carbs and it does well for me, but carbs do give you energy: i recommend things like brown rice and if eating a sandwich, whole grain bread. sweet potatoes do well for you as well, and theyre YUMMY.


gl.

Re: OT: How long to get tired playing poker?
 

I just turned pro at the start of this month. I was intending to place high up the leaderboard, but I discovered that 9 tabling 6 hours a day is not what man was meant to do. I wasn't getting bored or sick of poker or anything, but it was [censored] me up pretty good, just overstimulated I guess.

I wouldn't play more than 3 hours/day if you multitable.

Re: OT: How long to get tired playing poker?
 

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I don't get physically tired, its just why do I want to play for 6 hours in a row? That's not really the point of being a pro poker player, at least to me it isn't. When I was coming up and making less money I played more hours though.

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maybe i'm still in my honeymoon phase... i've been pro a little over 3 months. i still really enjoy it playing 35-40 hours a week. yesterday i played for 4 hours in the afternoon, hung out and had dinner with the roommates, and played another 6 hours after that. occasionally if i am getting bored with it i'll disconnect my laptop from my 2001fp and 6-table on the couch while i watch a movie.

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Yeah my problem is I have too many other random things that I'm obsessed with wasting my time with, aka video games, whatifsports.com etc etc

Re: OT: How long to get tired playing poker?
 

[ QUOTE ]
I just turned pro at the start of this month. I was intending to place high up the leaderboard, but I discovered that 9 tabling 6 hours a day is not what man was meant to do. I wasn't getting bored or sick of poker or anything, but it was [censored] me up pretty good, just overstimulated I guess.

I wouldn't play more than 3 hours/day if you multitable.

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Heck, I did 3 hrs/day 8-tabling for months on end while I still had a full-time job, building up the bankroll so I could quit.

Now it's just a matter of opportunity cost vs. all the other crap I have to do or want to do. But I feel like a slacker if I don't get at least 6 hours in per day. I plan to make a run at the leaderboard once I get settled into Vegas.

But everyone's different, that's why it's a nice career, you can find your own comfort level.

Re: OT: How long to get tired playing poker?
 

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I don't get physically tired, its just why do I want to play for 6 hours in a row? That's not really the point of being a pro poker player, at least to me it isn't. When I was coming up and making less money I played more hours though.

[/ QUOTE ]

maybe i'm still in my honeymoon phase... i've been pro a little over 3 months. i still really enjoy it playing 35-40 hours a week. yesterday i played for 4 hours in the afternoon, hung out and had dinner with the roommates, and played another 6 hours after that. occasionally if i am getting bored with it i'll disconnect my laptop from my 2001fp and 6-table on the couch while i watch a movie.

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Yeah my problem is I have too many other random things that I'm obsessed with wasting my time with, aka video games, whatifsports.com etc etc

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thats my problem as well. I wish I had the discipline to play 10 hours in a day. Im jealous.

Re: OT: How long to get tired playing poker?
 

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I don't get physically tired, its just why do I want to play for 6 hours in a row? That's not really the point of being a pro poker player, at least to me it isn't. When I was coming up and making less money I played more hours though.

[/ QUOTE ]

maybe i'm still in my honeymoon phase... i've been pro a little over 3 months. i still really enjoy it playing 35-40 hours a week. yesterday i played for 4 hours in the afternoon, hung out and had dinner with the roommates, and played another 6 hours after that. occasionally if i am getting bored with it i'll disconnect my laptop from my 2001fp and 6-table on the couch while i watch a movie.

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Yeah my problem is I have too many other random things that I'm obsessed with wasting my time with, aka video games, whatifsports.com etc etc

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thats my problem as well. I wish I had the discipline to play 10 hours in a day. Im jealous.

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Well, at some point, the party has to end. I'll have lots of free time then and a nice roll. Or, if the party never stops, I can always take six months off and do whatever. Delayed gratification. Yeah, yeah, I could get hit by a bus and die, I'll gambool that it won't happen. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: OT: How long to get tired playing poker?
 

I try to get up and take a short break after every set (about every hour). If I'm playing ring games I stop after 2 hours. If I do that I can take 10 min to an hour off and be ready to play again. If I try to push on and play 3 to 4 hours straight I'm generally much more fried.

Try short sessions with breaks/naps. If I do have to play long sessions (on a mtt day it can run 12 hours straight or more) I only play 3 or 4 tables usually.

Re: OT: How long to get tired playing poker?
 

I have no idea how you're not leaderboard already playing 6 hours per day. Too many thirds?

Anyway yeah. This doesn't reflect on anyone else's capabilities, but personally 9-tabling 6 hours per day brought on a recurrence of anxiety symptoms for me. I've dealt with that in the past and yeah, when my mental health is at stake, forget about it.

But so what? I've made 5K already this month, I can do what I want for the rest of the month.

Re: OT: How long to get tired playing poker?
 

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I have no idea how you're not leaderboard already playing 6 hours per day. Too many thirds?


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I'm somewhere on there now. I meant like Top 4 as a future goal. Although who knows, that might be too much. But I do want to have a couple of big months soon regardless of the leaderboard just to give myself a real nice monetary cushion. Then I'll probably become a dilettante like curtains. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: OT: How long to get tired playing poker?
 

Meditate for 15 mins a day (I'm not talking abt new-age fruity stuff).

Re: OT: How long to get tired playing poker?
 

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Well, at some point, the party has to end

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definitely a big part of what motivates me. if it can hold on for a couple years and i can end up with a big pile of money in the bank for kids' college/retirement/etc, that'd be awesome.

Re: OT: How long to get tired playing poker?
 

Agree. This is definitely on my agenda.

Not sure where to go to get started, though.

Re: OT: How long to get tired playing poker?
 

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Meditate for 15 mins a day (I'm not talking abt new-age fruity stuff).

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Yeah, 15 minutes sounds about right, depending on the attractiveness of the particular objects you are meditating on.

Re: OT: How long to get tired playing poker?
 

yo this isnt even a joke, but for those of you that are single and horny guys like most of us, you need to consider porn. not even kidding, itll help if you arent thinking of nude women when you play a set of 12 sng's.

Re: OT: How long to get tired playing poker?
 

I can hardly play more than 2 hours a day anymore...I hardly play MTTs anymore cas its simply a waste of money.

Its over 2 years now and I'm burning out. My eyes literally start to close while im in my second set...

So, yeah I get tired.

Re: OT: How long to get tired playing poker?
 

I can't play more than a couple of hours a day, and it doesn't bother me much. Being rested and playing my A game as well as balancing poker with everything else in my life is far more important to me than squeezing in more hours at the tables.