Is age a factor?

Okay I been playing poker a long long time just for fun and to enjoy it. I am 50 years old but I am pretty physically fit. I was in the military and they kept us in pretty good shape. I noticed lately I have been getting burned out after a long MTT. It's not like I'm doing anything physical but it is taking it's toll. My wife says that playing poker releases chemicals into your body when you are in tense moments of the game. She also says that these chemicals are addicting and you will go through withdraws if you do not get THE RUSH that playing poker gives you.
Any thoughts on this?

Hi calicard, I do believe that the mental stress can be just as physically exhausting, I get that at work sometimes when it is month end and alot of stuff is not adding up.
I do find the chemicals being addictive interesting though, I have never heard that, but I think that would make sense, why else would ppl continue to play mtts.

Yeah I think she is talking about Adrenaline but I am not sure. I have heard that people like sky divers, race car drivers, Bank robbers get addicted to the rush they get from doing it.

I play a lot of MTT's and love the feeling I get when I reached the cash stages and every decision will either earn me or lose me money, I find that strangely addicted and wieh I have a decent cash, like yesterday when I came second in a $10 Head Hunter tourney on Inter Poker to win $120, even though its not a fortune I was on a high when it finished, its a feeling that cash games or sit n go's dont give me, I love it.

Cali. I believe that's how ppl get addicted to the game is the rush it gives. I know for myself the more hands I get involved and more betting during the later stages of the tournament the more adrenaline rush I can develop. If i played an 8 hour straight without a signifigant break I have to sleep it off and get a gambling hangover. I have talk to others that feel the same way

My body wants to make another bet the next day and if I dont I suffer withdraws

There really is nothing but Poker... well, and Cribbage.


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I have to say age is a factor , i'm about your age ( fit and trim) and long drawn out mtts mentaly wear me out now much more than in my younger days . As to the adrenaline it can have a variety of effects that vary in different people , some people love it and want it again others get sick and tremble . It seems as I age I enjoy cash games alot more than any other venue as I can control the duration and pace .

I know in Australia at the moment they are discussing the use of Naltrexone for gambling addiction. It is currently used for opiate dependent people. This adds weight to the chemical addiction argument.

Out of interest, anyone else get sore kidneys after a big spell playing?

I have read that younger players are more flexible, and of course stamina is a factor in long MTTs, so your stamina will be a factor in anything you do (ask my wife, I am 53 and we are together almost 20 years, she is waving stamina in my face lately...lol). I know that long tourneys can get me to a point where I just want to get all in to get it over with, and that is obv. real bad.

I have been mainly playing cash and do 2-3 hour sessions then take a break. But am getting back into MTTs. I try to make sure my mental and physical state is condusive to making the FT. I play much more serious now, so I kind of plan every session I play, taking all factors into consideration like is the family home, if I run deep, can I stay concentrated till the end, and so on, and that has helped tremendously.

As far as the chemical thing goes, IDK. I know that it doesnt happen to me, at least not in a way I notice.

I'm usually drained and tired after a long MTT, especially if I make it to the top places...

I'm 38 now and think that will worsen over the years but on the other hand I usually play when Bianca and Elias are in bed to remain undisturbed (e.g. 'late' to 'very late' starting times)

- that might get better over the years.

I sometimes feel the rush, but it was far more often as I started playing.

I think the chemical rush is spot on or gambling would not be addictive as it can be, however, my explanation for experiencing fatigue differs. I think as we mature we see poker more as a game or hobby and are less motivated to devote all of our time to it. I wouldn't exactly say I'm bored of playing, but I have realized I was devoting too much time to it and now when I play for too long I get antsy and play poor because I'm just ready to be done and move on to something else. (I'm 46)

There is risk. Not so terribly different than running into a small stray dog while out walking. You startle, and that process invokes some level of flight or fight response which is heavy adrenaline. OK, maybe not so heavy when it is a small dog. (Think free roaming Lion). Your heart races, your breathing gets deeper, the adrenaline heightens your senses and for a moment you are thinking a bit clearer. There is an initial standard fight or flight response which gets tempered pretty fast as your brain does some fast risk analysis.

As you get deeper in an MTT the heights get a little higher.

Thing is, you like those heightened senses, and the feeling you get shortly after that 'rush' of adrenaline (probably several other naturally occurring compounds as well), but several minutes afterwards, the physical part starts coming in. That is a tired feeling. Minor vs the small dog, hugely tired if it were a Lion, and somewhere in between for poker.

As for addiction...not all addictions are bad. I think I am addicted to air....and water..... and people.... But yes there is an addictive quality to poker. About the same with any serious hobby.

I really enjoyed your metaphor's there. I would actually change that Lion to a Skunk. That way it can match most of the starting hands I play. They Stink

I think a lot of the younger players (under 30 years) may be a little better in that they haven't developed a respect for money. If you are young that money flowing in and out of your hands doesn't have as big of an impact on you intelectually (?) while when you get older you understand the value of a dollar and the swings can effect you more. Some people, degenerate gamblers, will never have a respect for money but in general older players look at making an investment when playing and younger players are looking for action.

Ditto! Stamina is important in the longer MTTs...do you ever wonder why so many player on the final table of the WSOP are young most every year? I don't see either Doyle Brunson or Mike Caro ever winning another WSOP ME, do you? Most of the 30 - 40 year old pros, I think, will admit that physical fitness and stamina are important in winning the longer MTTs. It may not be necessary, but certainly is a plus (an edge), in my opinion. I think of it as a "off-set" to age. Good blog.

Sieborg

I think age has nothing to do with it, mby u get more tired playing long games when u are elder. With age you just get more expirience And your wife is right about she saying.

NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO



(I am living by the old "River in Egypt" thing...."

I think age, physical fitness, and nutrition of course play a role in how your body handles playing poker. I mean, how could it not? Of course it does.

I also think your wife is right about the chemicals, and she was likely talking about endorphins, although adrenaline and some other pituitary chemicals play a role too.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endorphin

everything may change how you brain functions, whether it's age, stress etc .. doesn't matter, but when you know something really well it's difficult to get it wrong..

One word - testosterone. If you are over 50 you more than likely have diminishing testosterone levels which equals lower cognitive functions, not to mention lower aggression and easily tired (mental and physical).

I got shots and my poker improved.

I'm 60 and I have played 20 hrs straight. Sometimes in an MTT if I'm up. I take a break. Leaving the field to dwindle. When I return to the game I feel renewed.

is wierd that i find myself more mentally tired at times playing a long game than i am after a hard days work.hmmmmmmm

Hmmm.... I must be one of the lucky ones. At 60 I'm still learning.

I'm certain that hasn't affected me yet.

Nope, missed me again.

I just don't fit. As usual...


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The longest tourny's I play are the CC freerolls (about 40 players)
Otherwise I just play sng's.
A quick 'hit' ?

Tequila? Rum? Beer chaser?

I'm 66 years old and retired on SS. I play 8 to 10 hours a day almost everyday. Micro stakes. Only play multi table SNG's or tounaments... I use to drag race (35 years) so I have to say the feeling of a win or good finish in a poker game is close to the feeling to seeing your win light come on at the end of the race track. Take Care

I am 51 years old and retired 7 years. My daughter told me the same thing almost verbatim, and she is a nurse.
I have been playing poker, going on 4 years, I believe. I don't want to be addicted, so I make sure my 3 mile walk and 1/2 hour of floor exercises get done at least 5 times a week. I also try to spend quality family time with many people. But poker is time consuming, as is golf(I mention golf as I promised myself to never play golf until I reach age 62). To get good at most things take monumental amounts of time. I let my friends and family know that poker is my side job that gives me money, just as their jobs earn them money to buy the things they want.
The stress levels and release of chemicals in reaction to situations in poker feels the same as when I was a computer programmer. Stressful, provided satisfaction, and provided me an opportunity to earn some money. Only differences are when I was a programmer, I did not often make time for exercising. And with poker, I can be around family while working it.
Remember, everything in life, in moderation.

Well, except for Poker and Cribbage.

Beyond that I agree... but for pasta. Yeah that's it. 'Cept drawing. then I agree. And guitars... and maybe a few other things.

But other than those, I agree.

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what kind of shots?

Testosterone

Got the first shot at 9 am and was feeling much better by the end of the day. More clarity of thought and energy. I get them every 3 weeks

Were do you get the Testosterone, do you need a script...

Yea, but they give you the script at the reading.


BUT, the auditions are hell, at least from what I have heard....


Oh, maybe I misunderstood.....

Consult with your doctor - it is RX

that's a big 15 there buddy!
I believe in addiction to the game/high ....I can't find it in doing dishes or laundry or mopping floors?......my husband wishes I did I bet...lol.