Fatigue and length of play time
 

I was wondering how long the better non-tournament players play in a session/day/week?

How they deal with fatigue issues?

How they know when they are becoming fatigued? What then, coffee? Call it a night altogether?

I realize that the better the session, the longer one stays in and fatigue is minimized. I am speaking on average, day in day out.

thx [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Fatigue and length of play time
 

I really have difficulty doing more than 5-6 hours in my normal games in Los Angeles. Mostly because I wind up doing other stuff during the day. So I'm not able to go 8-10 hours. In Vegas, I usually get 10 hours a day.....maybe 4 earlier...around 3-7pm and then 5-6 more later like 10pm-4am.

I leave if how tired I am affects my game play. How much I am ahead or how much I am stuck play no part whatsoever in my decision making of leaving the table and going home. If being ahead or being behind is a factor for you, you should drop down to a level you are more comfortable playing.

Re: Fatigue and length of play time
 

I tend to play long sessions, usually 8-10 hours. This probably isn't advisable for most people but it works for me.
I drink lots of water and make sure to eat. Taking a walk every couple hours helps me a lot, as well.

Re: Fatigue and length of play time
 

This year, my average session length is 5 hours. I rarely play less than a 3 hour session, and rarely more than an 8 hour session.

Re: Fatigue and length of play time
 

I find 4-5 hour sessions to be the my max. Then I take a 1-2 hour break to eat, walk around and relax I can do another 4-5 hour session. The only time I will stay longer is if there are big schools of fish where I can still profit even if I'm not at my best.

Re: Fatigue and length of play time
 

I play cash games only and I do best when I play between 4 and 5 hours. If the game is really good I'll stay until I feel tired or that I'm playing poorly. I rarely play more than 9 or 10 hours-VERY rarely.

I bring protein bars and a couple bananas and sometimes yogurt. I drink more water than probably the next 10 people combined and I get up at least once an hour to stretch.

Also I'm trying a new experiment and not wearing a watch. I used to check that out CONSTANTLY and I'd think to myself, "I planned to play 6 hours today and it's only been 3! Ugh it's going to be a long day..." This week I haven't wore one and it helped me focus more on the game and more on my play instead of "having" to get in a certain number of hours.

Re: Fatigue and length of play time
 

I play 1/2nl and can easy go 6 hours. Then at about 8 hours I feel fatigue set it but luckily for me its a good thing because i will only play the better cards. Then since I live in the chicago suburbs and play at east indiana, I usually leave at 5am no matter what becuase of traffic. or I stay till after traffic about 10. So I'm a great long session player and have multiple 24 hour sessions with ease.

Re: Fatigue and length of play time
 

6-8 hour sessions 6 days a week I always have water and food with me and I stretch every hour, also not checking the time is a very good way to make it go quicker. I also bring a seat cushion and back pillow so I can go 10-12 hours if I feel like putting in some extra work but Im also 21 and work out daily. Live play has so few decisions so I find it relatively easy to play my A game even 9 hours into a session, Id say 95% of the hands Im dealt into Im focused on watching the players play and picking up betting patterns and reads.

Re: Fatigue and length of play time
 

Thank you all. That helps.

It seems that fatigue in poker is similar to when one was back at school, both being mental exertions. Take a break every so often, don't consume anything that one can "come down" from (caffeine, sugar, alcohol, etc,.), and play as you're able to clearly.

Again thank you all. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Fatigue and length of play time
 

I used to be bad about uber long sessions, like 24-30 hours. Not smart of course. I have cut it back to a max of 12 hrs and average of 8-9hr per session with better results both in poker and daily living.

edit: I used to have a bit of a problem with ritalin too so cutting that all out helped quie a bit.

Re: Fatigue and length of play time
 

I generally run 6-10 hour sessions, 5 days a week. Probably average closer to 7 or 8 hours. Unfortunately I do indulge in a little too much caffeine and junk food that's readily available at the casino, but I'm working on that.

Re: Fatigue and length of play time
 

FOr me I have found that the magic number where I start to lose a bit of focus is 5 hours so I keep my sessions to about 4-5 hours.

Re: Fatigue and length of play time
 

Usually no less than 8 hours unless I have something to do or the game is bad. Usually no more than 12 unless the game is too good to leave. I try to put in about 45-50 hours a week in 4 days so I can go fishing the other 3.

When I was working I would play for 5-6 because thats all the time I had.

Re: Fatigue and length of play time
 

I am very surprised at the responses. When I was young and in love with the game I would play 7-stud for a minimum of 12 hours and my record is 36 hours. I cant believe you young players dont put in marathon sessions to get the money.

Is this because the post poker boom players are lazy?
Possibly but it is most likely because of the nature of the games played. To make a good score in 10-20 20-40 limit games you often have to put in huge hours to make the money. In a NL cash game you tend to get the money much quicker since mistakes cost the fish so much more.

It could also be because you guys are a little lazy. I dont know if this NL money is gonna be there forever, you should all book long sessions and squeeze every penny you can get!

Re: Fatigue and length of play time
 

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I am very surprised at the responses. When I was young and in love with the game I would play 7-stud for a minimum of 12 hours and my record is 36 hours. I cant believe you young players dont put in marathon sessions to get the money.


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I can't speak for anywhere but Vegas and Los Angeles. In Los Angeles, the games are always there. Always. In Vegas, there are also usually good games availble, but in a certain window each week, month, etc. With the exception of WSOP time, this window is usually 8-12 hours a day max. So there is no point to putting in burnout sessions.

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Is this because the post poker boom players are lazy?
Possibly but it is most likely because of the nature of the games played. To make a good score in 10-20 20-40 limit games you often have to put in huge hours to make the money. In a NL cash game you tend to get the money much quicker since mistakes cost the fish so much more.


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?????
This doesn't make any sense.

Re: Fatigue and length of play time
 

20 hours is standard for me. I usually don't start winning until hour 12. I have no idea why.

Re: Fatigue and length of play time
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I am very surprised at the responses. When I was young and in love with the game I would play 7-stud for a minimum of 12 hours and my record is 36 hours. I cant believe you young players dont put in marathon sessions to get the money.


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I can't speak for anywhere but Vegas and Los Angeles. In Los Angeles, the games are always there. Always. In Vegas, there are also usually good games availble, but in a certain window each week, month, etc. With the exception of WSOP time, this window is usually 8-12 hours a day max. So there is no point to putting in burnout sessions.

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You are right that there is no point to it. I just thought that young guys who love the game would play very long sesions because I know I did. I think internet play has shortened what is considered to be a "long" session.




Is this because the post poker boom players are lazy?
Possibly but it is most likely because of the nature of the games played. To make a good score in 10-20 20-40 limit games you often have to put in huge hours to make the money. In a NL cash game you tend to get the money much quicker since mistakes cost the fish so much more.


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?????
This doesn't make any sense.

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I kind of agree that it dosent exactly prove a specific point. I am comparing the games I played which were exclusively limit and the games they play now which is mostly NL and which game lends itself to shorter sessions. I played extremelly long sessions at stud when I needed to guarantee myself some money but I found that nowadays I could hit up a live NL cash game and make money in a shorter period of time, on average of course.

anyhow, the games are so awesome nowadays and I guess that is why people play shorter sessions

Re: Fatigue and length of play time
 

That's a big mistake I think. When you play for a living you want to avoid burnout. It's nice to squeeze every dime you can, but if you are playing poorly or the game is bad there is no sense playing today when you will be more focused tomorrow.

Re: Fatigue and length of play time
 

I have started excercising to avoid fatigue. Also I used to drink Red Bull at the start of early morning sessions. This caused me to sugar crash in the afternoon. Started drinking Water or Vitamin Water instead. I try to play 16 hour sessions to maximize play, when I start to feel fatigue I play lower limit games that I can play on autopilot without thinking.

Re: Fatigue and length of play time
 

I just wanted to thank those playing 10 hour plus sessions for contributing to my bottom line.

I hadn't been playing more than once or twice a week for the past few years, and typically at two different rooms. I played Thurs, Fri, and Sat in the Commerce $20-40 LHE this weekend. I saw the same people wearing the same clothes on back to back evenings. Nice. For some reason, I won more on Friday than I won on Thursday and won more on Saturday than I won one Friday. I went home each night and got at least 8 hours sleep. Me likey people who play 24+ hours.

Re: Fatigue and length of play time
 

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I was wondering how long the better non-tournament players play in a session/day/week?

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Because it takes me over 2hrs 1-way to get to a casino, I play at least 12 hrs on Friday up to a max of 18 hrs. On Saturday I then play 10 hrs or so and get home by 11pm.

I am an intense person by nature, so when I worked as a programmer/manager it was not unusual for me to do the same thing. I know that if I try to play through the night I will play very badly in the early morning hours and through the next day. I tried it once, even though I knew from work experience that I make more mistakes on no sleep, and I got hammered.

My disclaimer is, that while I am a winner, I may not be one of the "better" players...

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How they deal with fatigue issues?

How they know when they are becoming fatigued? What then, coffee? Call it a night altogether?


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During a session I will drink coffee or tea so that the caffeine can wake me up. When I play tired I play very passively and usually lose. When the caffeine wears off Friday night, is when I will leave. Or of course if the game is unfavorable I will leave before I start feeling tired.

I should note that aside from this I drink no caffeine at all. It makes the affect of the caffeine when I do drink it much more pronounced.

I get some sleep on Friday night by renting the cheapest motel room I can find in the area. I need at least 4 hrs sleep to function well.

I know I am tired:
1) because I feel tired.
2) I catch myself thinking "if I raise he is only going to call me anyway." or "I'll call (again and again and again)" or "how much is in the pot now?"
3) The guy next to me nudges me and says, its your bet...

Re: Fatigue and length of play time
 

Many commented above the playing hours in a row. Roughly, no more than 6 to 8 hours, recommended.

How about maximum weekly hours and maximum monthly hours?

My understanding is 25 weekly hours and 100 monthly hours.

Any suggestions?

Re: Fatigue and length of play time
 

Are you a pro? I can't imagine playing those kind of hours/week or hours/month and maintain any kind of personal balance and work a job.

If you're a professional, you're going to have to be able to play more than that IMO. If you're a pro, you're essentially a small business owner. To be successful, you're going to have to really work at it. I would think that if you can't play effectively for 40 hrs/week every week that you won't make it.

Re: Fatigue and length of play time
 

I am not a pro, however, I have vacation for a month or two every year. Therefore, I am interested in maximal playing hours.

Many says that 25~30 hours are recommended and no more than 40 every week. Playing more than 40 hours a week may reduce outcomes, although nobody can say for sure.

Re: Fatigue and length of play time
 

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Are you a pro? I can't imagine playing those kind of hours/week or hours/month and maintain any kind of personal balance and work a job.

If you're a professional, you're going to have to be able to play more than that IMO. If you're a pro, you're essentially a small business owner. To be successful, you're going to have to really work at it. I would think that if you can't play effectively for 40 hrs/week every week that you won't make it.

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Depends if your talking about a live pro or just a poker pro in general, most cash games pros I know rarely play more than 30 hours a week.