Length of poker game & concentration

Digitaljesus1

Digitaljesus1

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I was wondering how much time you can keep your concentration at highest level while playing poker? I feel like after 4 hours of the game I kind of can't focus any more and usually in that time i make big mistakes and bad plays. What is your experience and are there any strategies to overcome this?
 
ms_attack

ms_attack

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For me it is difficult to maintain the concentration for more than 3 hours playing.
Since I have to work during the day and then spend time with my family, I can only play very late in the evening. This limits my time window anyway very much. Unfortunately I can not play the MasterLeague at pokerstars even though I qualified for it.
The biggest problem is fatigue. Through the long day and often only little sleep. Due to the tiredness, the concentration naturally suffers a lot.

I would like to play more poker, unfortunately this is not possible because of work and family.
My dream is to live on poker, but there is still a long way to go before I can do it.
 
Digitaljesus1

Digitaljesus1

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I kind of got the same problem - I usually play at night and that is the time when i am tired the most. On the other hand, when I play at weekends and that is when I have enough sleep time, I still have this concentration problem. I am not sure, but i think the root of the problem might be in psychology. Would be glad if there are any tips how to maintain the concentration after long periods in game...
 
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509fio

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I struggle with it. I just lose focus and my mind wanders during long sessions. But, I will say it gets better over time...the more you learn the easier it is to stay focused as there's just so much more to consider.
 
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neptun1914

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Similar situation here. I usually play after work so i am tired and after 2 hours i start to feel that. After 3 hours it definitely starts to hinder my game. In the rare moments when i can play during weekends when i have enough sleep i can handle 4 maybe 5 hours but after that my concentration still suffers. As i am also new player maybe it will improve in future as with every new thing you start to do.
 
bbennie1

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Good thing there are 5 minute breaks every hour in tournaments. I usually get bored in the 2nd hour in a tournament, but once I start getting in the money I'm very focussed and the boredom is gone.
 
Newzooozooo

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Hi.
Personally, my concentration in the game increases as the prize increases.
I think, that the material interest plays an important role here.
Good luck.
 
Empress

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4 hours is definitely a pretty long game! If I'm in for a long tournament I like to have TeamViewer running so that I can access my computer screen remotely via iphone or ipad. That way you don't have your butt glued to the chair and can get up and move around!
 
0546474

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then how long you will be able to play poker depends on some factors !!! there are factors that depend on us, such as health conditions (that's why it's important to play sports) there are factors that we can not control, I'm talking about weather factors !!! even a person with good health will not be able to make optimal decisions at very low or very high atmospheric pressure Or, for example, with strong magnetic storms !!! I just wanted to say that sometimes playing 8-10 or more hours you will not feel fatigue and sometimes 2-3 hours for you a lot !!!! but on average I play 8-10 hours a day !!!
 
Ricey155

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Depends on the day and how I feel easily stay focused for a long time if I'm ready for a game otherwise I just stick to a 6 man super turbo game and play as much as I feel I can.

Summers here so less time staring at a computer #MoreFreshAir Poker is a winter sport and I rack up 5-10 hrs a day on 888
 
vov4ik

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When I play and I can concentrate 3-4 hours and more if it's a good tournament, then I look at my stack, if I have a few chips, then I play almost all normal cards, but if I have a lot of chips then I play only good ones cards in order not to lose much and take as many prize money as possible in the tournament!
 
neiroob

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I usually get tired from working hours, and in the evening I sit and fall asleep at ten in the evening, so I do not play long tournaments. I play them only on weekends.
 
BobbyMorton

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I sometimes lose concentration in a long game but I blame my age.
 
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Yoda_Priest_X_Napo

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Meditation helps a lot, i do 10 minutes sometime inside the day(early) and 10 minutes before i go to sleep, your physical condition is another one big factor, you need to be in good shape to keep it up for long time,and also have good sleeping habits. also try setting up an alarm clock and take a 5-15 minute break after 60-80 minutes of play, and use that time to walk stretch up a bit etc, always have water with you when you play
 
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shadow72

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I find that being able to move around while I'm playing makes a huge difference in my concentration level and stamina.

So, I'll start a tournament on my PC and after a while I'll switch to my tablet so I can get up and move around and then sit in a different room of the house for a while. Even this change of scenery helps, I find.
 
polote21

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It is natural that this happens to you as it happens to all of us, when you get to the point where you can not continue to perform properly the only thing that remains is to rest nothing else, recover strength and continue, do not mistreat your body in extreme situations, try to take care of your health.
 
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michael conley

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I lose my concentration when the cards are running bad in a tourney. I get tired and get a couple of faces and all in,then my concentration can rest I'm usually out. I like the 3 hour thing that's about the limit of my concentrating especially at 63 64 .
 
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felipeanicio

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You have to make a good physical preparation, because the physical disrupts the mental, and reserve enough hours for you to just think about playing.
 
Tony Vayer

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I get tired after four hours of playing and start doing wrong actions.
 
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martina pinto

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I believe that one can maintain concentration if it is quiet and quiet after several hours of play .. there are times that even the fly of a fly after so many hours of games can be distracting so it is better to keep your eyes on the players and think only at the table
 
TeUnit

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I quit playing most of the late entry tourneys to avoid the really long tourneys.
 
Ivan Basic

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Smoke weed!

That might help ;)

Tournaments can be very lenghty indeed, and you know that, patience for the right card + position + situation is everything...

And also, don't play as much poker during the day you have some tournament you are scoping at...

As I am writing this I am reminding myself to do the same :D
 
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Digitaljesus1

Digitaljesus1

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You have to make a good physical preparation, because the physical disrupts the mental, and reserve enough hours for you to just think about playing.
This might be true, actually. I don't work out at all, that might be the reason why I get tired and lose concentration while playing. Thanks for advice!
 
antonis32123

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I also have problem keeping my concentration to the same level , especially at night after 3 hours , sometimes after 2 and a half hours . Then I make great mistakes , I do not take my time , I tend to make my decisions instantly and the mistakes I make wouldn't have been made if my mind was clear . This is a real problem and the countermeasures I take to deal with it are not efficiently for the time being :( .
 
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