How to stay focused after 3 hr + of Mtt online what works for you guys.

I tell you what if I had patience I would be dangerous in big tourneys but for some reason after the 3 hr mark my game has gone to hell in a hand basket. Chasing and thinking my ace top pair cant be beat is the most of my problem. Just asking you guys what works for you on refocusing after long tourney play because my patience needs a serious tuneup.:icon_sant

I think I played a freeroll for just 5+ hours, didn't seem long at all just playing poker, watching tv, talking to people....

One thing that always helps me is actually SITTING OUT the early or middle stages of the tourney. Just sit out for 30-60 minutes, the nplay the rest. You outlast tons of people, prevent yourself from making mistakes, and don't get as bored as easily.
Of course, there's a flip-side to this coin, but I'm just saying I finish pretty far with this strategy.

geez...an hour? thats way to long considering blinds usually go up every 10 minutes. On FTP, after an hour (the break) blinds are at 50/100 or 60/120. You'll be shortstack. I honestly hate the sitting out strategy because I think you're giving up a lot of potential hands. If you dislike the loose play during the early rounds, then just fold and play tight.

after 3 hours, take a look at the tournament stats. How many players are left? Whats the average chip stack? Where do you stand? How far away from the money are you? Are you in good position to just coast into the money? Are you a short stack and you need to start making some moves? Are there a lot of short stacks that are going to go bust very soon?

I like to keep my eyes on the prize and know where I am at all times. Especially when Ive been playing long and I know Im close to the cash. If I can see that, I prevent myself from playing stupid and reckless if I dont need to. Keep in mind what your goal is. You didnt play to make stupid mistakes late in the game, so try and prevent yourself from doing so.

Also, watch the other tables and cheer the shortstacks on and hope they bust. Thats always fun.

Another thing to do is this, if you can get double the average stack within 30 minutes of tournament starting, sit-out for a bit and come back after the first break.

You should still have average to above average stack and be fine.

DO NOT SIT OUT at any point in the tournament. Unless you have serious tilt problems or can not learn to be patient, sitting out is a terrible decision. Not only will you likely miss a few opportunities to chip up (even if you are above average, you should NOT be content with the size of your chip stack ever unless you are in a satellite, you should be playing to win and look for +cEV decisions at all points in the tournament), but you will also give away chances to gain chips from position and the advantages it gives you to outplay your opponents (if you don't think you can outplay your opponents, re-evaluate your game and do not play that tournament again until you think you are good enough).

Sitting out makes no sense as you are reducing your chances to increase your stack.

To reduce boredom, watch TV or play another tournament concurrently.

Yeah I have tried the sit out method and I only find myself short stacked and playing maniac trying to rebuild my stack back to average. That dont work for me. Also I agree with vanquish that you do miss out on alot of good oppotunities to build your stack even higher if you get a good run of cards. I think the biggest thing for me is I need another good win online it has been awhile since I have cashed on a big tourney. I think if I can keep my patience for 5 - 6hrs I definitley can make the final table and take in a good profit. I have did it many of times in all sorts of games I just think I might be burned out and need a break more so. Its just so hard to stay away from playing the game. I always say Im going to take a break and never do because Im usually bored as hell around the house after a long day of work. I never lose patience while in the casino live and always finish well. I have played in Atlantic City every year and out of 3 mtt I always find a way to make the final table in atleast 1 and most of the time 2. Im very solid when I have my eye on the prize and can get good reads looking across at other players. I think online poker flat out bores me because live is so much better. Who knows I just wish I could find a way to keep patient or maybe I do just need a break away from online period.

Cheetah said:

Sitting out makes no sense as you are reducing your chances to increase your stack.

To reduce boredom, watch TV or play another tournament concurrently.

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I usually do watch a movie on my pc as I play but the problem I found with that is you dont examine what the other players are doing and how they play the game which is a huge vantage point in my game is note taking. I like to watch all lead out bets and take note at showdowns to know exactly what kind of cards they bet with. I guess i get to detached from what is going on with the TV method. As for 2 tables I have tried that 2 but seems like I always donk one away losing money and then get pissed about the judgement calls I made in that game and it puts me on tilt on the other game I am currently still involved in. I have won a good chunk of change this year and have been playing continously for atleast 1 yr str8 4 hr days. I think i just need a break away I guess only time will tell. Thx for the feedback

unlucky79 said:

I usually do watch a movie on my pc as I play but the problem I found with that is you dont examine what the other players are doing and how they play the game which is a huge vantage point in my game is note taking. I like to watch all lead out bets and take note at showdowns to know exactly what kind of cards they bet with. I guess i get to detached from what is going on with the TV method. As for 2 tables I have tried that 2 but seems like I always donk one away losing money and then get pissed about the judgement calls I made in that game and it puts me on tilt on the other game I am currently still involved in. I have won a good chunk of change this year and have been playing continously for atleast 1 yr str8 4 hr days. I think i just need a break away I guess only time will tell. Thx for the feedback

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You should have a separate TV or screen to watch. Otherwise, you are missing important information.

vanquish said:

DO NOT SIT OUT at any point in the tournament. Unless you have serious tilt problems or can not learn to be patient, sitting out is a terrible decision. Not only will you likely miss a few opportunities to chip up (even if you are above average, you should NOT be content with the size of your chip stack ever unless you are in a satellite, you should be playing to win and look for +cEV decisions at all points in the tournament), but you will also give away chances to gain chips from position and the advantages it gives you to outplay your opponents (if you don't think you can outplay your opponents, re-evaluate your game and do not play that tournament again until you think you are good enough).

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^^^ This. I played a 2600 seat $5000 guaranteed yesterday which was 5 1/2 hours to place 26. (Unfortuneately, I don't know how long to first.) I regretted having to sit out even one or two hands so I could help with some of the dinner prep. When I was on the bubble at 450 players, I was close to being out. Had I been sitting out earlier, a small decrease in stack size would have put me out before the payout structure. NEVER SIT OUT!

TV, second tournament, etc., is taking away from your A game. If you are serious about winning, pay attention to the game.

Re: How to Stay Focused

I remember asking a similar question about this a few weeks ago. I would never sit out anything more than 2 hands. Even then I would try to prevent it as much as possible. I remember back when I just starting playing online, over at PokerRoom just as the poker explosion was taking off. I remember playing in one long, multi-table tournament - really had no sense of how intricate the game really was back then - and then sat out a few hands b/c I had to take care of a couple of things.

Just when I got back, my latest hand got mucked and realized that I folded rockets when another low-to-medium stack made a move with a lower pair. The board hit both his pair and my A. Would've knocked him/her out and considerably increased my stack. I've tried very hard to not miss hands after that.

Realizing that breaks are needed for players to stay focused, try and wait for the scheduled break times to grab a bite to eat or a drink or whatever. If that can't wait, I'd try to auto-fold hole cards after seeing what they are. If you need to stretch or walk around, try doing it in the room in front of the computer so you can see what's going on, to see if you can pick up a hand or any information on players.

What is this "I'm bored and impatient" crap? Get some discipline or see your doctor about some addirol you ADDers.

As to long tournaments, I recommend some jumping jacks and pushups whenever you are feeling blah, or even schedule them for certain intervals.

yeah yeah I hear yah!!!!

I know how many disadvantages there are to sitting out, and I know if you REALLY want to finish far, the better path is patience and playing the whole way through(I have plenty of patience and do this all the time) but there IS something to sitting out DEPENDING on your situation. It really depends on your goals. You need to do the math to sit out for a good period of time in the right tourney. I always do the math, and I know when it can be very advantageous to lose the least amount of money possible. If you are just trying to finish in the money, which is what I always do, then sitting out CAN HELP get you there! If you're trying to get a really high placement, then DON'T. The thing about sitting out is, you prevent yourself from making mistakes or from being harmed by bad beats. It all depends on what kind of chances you want to take and where you want to be. Example: You can take a 50% chance to finish barely in the money or a 5% chance to finish first or not in the money at all. This might not be a realistic example, but it's just to show what you want your GOALS to be. It's different for everyone, and I'm just saying sitting out is an option depending upon your situation(and if you do the math for the tourney.)

I know some people will NEVER sit out, and that's perfectly fine. The point I'm trying to make is that it IS a valid tactic, if you want to use it.

It's all dependent on the person.

1.Make sure every break to get up and move around for the 5 minutes you have.Rest your ass and your eyes,this should help you focus much better.

2.Don't play more that 1 MTT per day.It is tiring and it will take its toll.

3.Be in the mood to play.If you find yourself wanting to sit out at all,you probably are not in the right mindset to be playing!

4.If the above doesn't work for you,stick to turbo tourneys.Now if you find theses boring,you might consider SNG's or ring games.You should be able to pay attention the whole game or tourney poker may not be for you.

Jimmy, I've been able to play 3+ MTTs in one day, I don't find it hard.

I do not just sit here the entire time, I move around while playing (even if it's just standing up, going downstairs, and getting a drink).

I have never had a problem being in an MTT unless it's really late and I want to go to sleep.

arkadiy said:

Jimmy, I've been able to play 3+ MTTs in one day, I don't find it hard.

I do not just sit here the entire time, I move around while playing (even if it's just standing up, going downstairs, and getting a drink).

I have never had a problem being in an MTT unless it's really late and I want to go to sleep.

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I can't do it,but to each his own.I was mainly giving that advice for lucky, who can't pay attention for 3+ hours.I do play most of the day,but I switch between ring games,Turbo Sng's,Sooooper turbo SNG's(while drinking),and toss a random MTT in the mix.

If you can play more than one a day,then of course you should.If you can multi table them,even better.I found I can do neither yet though,so maybe my attention span may be a little closer to unlucky's.

Personally,I think MTT's might be the wrong game for unlucky.I know that after 3 hours and the blinds are huge is when I feel I play the best.This is one of the major inflection points where to be a good tourney player you have to be on your A game.

yeah the only time I'll "sit out" is maybe the last 4-5 min BEFORE the break of the first round, so I have a 10 minute break. At least with most of the FullTilt freerolls the Antes aren't kicking in yet, so I'm only losing BBs. (Especially nice if it's a slow table, less money I "dont see" and less hands i miss out on.

pokerstars turbo freerolls tho.. cant miss a minute of those or you'll get anted-out for the most part with their turbo-freerolls.

ItalianJoey4 said:

Pokerstars turbo freerolls tho.. cant miss a minute of those or you'll get anted-out for the most part with their turbo-freerolls.

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That's a good point. I suppose I should point out that I mostly just play on Full Tilt, and I never sit out turbos unless I have to. I only sit out tourneys where the blinds increase 10 minutes at a time or more.

ItalianJoey4 said:

yeah the only time I'll "sit out" is maybe the last 4-5 min BEFORE the break of the first round, so I have a 10 minute break.

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If you're this close to the break, you might as well wait a few more minutes. Or do what I do. When I see the break notice "Break will start after all hands end" or something similar and I know Im going to be folding the hand, I'll autofold and go on the break. This'll give you a few extra minutes.

Thx for all the replies I do always maintain patience while in sit n go's. Thats my bread in butter when I make my profits online. I always seem to get outdrawn when I play mtt by a donkey like 2 hrs or so into the game and man that pisses me off when they had no excuse calling with there 10 4 os and flop 2 pair over my boys thats what happened this morning. I tell you people like this make it hard to stay on your A game because they make a mockery of online play when they get lucky at your expense. I always know when Im at a good table because you can always use stop and gos and check raises to build your pots. On a donk table bluffing and these tactics never pan out and today even playing KK QQ AA Ak has not worked for me because people call you down with anything. Anyways its all part of the game and all you can do is maximize odds when they are in your favor and push em in while you are top dog. If you get beat so be it there is always another game to be played. Thx guys...

This allways works for me. At the break i go and take a washcloth with the hottest water i can stand and apply it nto my face for a min or 2. (If its warm out then i follow with a cold one.) this allways wakes me up.

Adderall and or Soda helps

What is this "I'm bored and impatient" crap? Get some discipline or see your doctor about some addirol you ADDers.

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When this thread was first posted I thought it might be a joke, then someone came in and suggested sitting out and I nearly poooped myself.

Nevertheless, you've got to find something to help you out, or not play, because almost every MTT you'll ever play will last more than 3 hours. Hellz, I've had 9 seater sitngos almost last that long.

I usually do some internet surfing if I get bored, but minimal, if that.