Trouble staying focused in tournaments

Anyone else have this problem? I always seem to do very well in the beginning of tournaments, often doubling or tripling my starting stack in the first hour. I think the reasons are there are more donkeys early on who go bust early and give their chips away, and also I'm more focused early on since I'm fresh. After around two hours I start to get tired and lose focus.

I have had this problem several times. I've found that when I get like this it's best for me to sit out for 10 to 30 mins and get refocused. If I don't I usually end up making stupid mistakes and busting out of the tourney

Seriously, try one of those energy drinks. One of my favorites is the RockStar sugar free. Don't know if it's the caffeine or one of the other ingredients but it helps me re-focus after sitting for a couple of hours.

Of course on a good day I get 6 hours of sleep, most of the time it's more like 4. So it may not be helping to focus as much as it is just helping me to stay awake. I know coffee's not working the way it use to.

for some strange reason it's easy for me to stay focused on a task at hand for long periods of time. i think having a child has helped my patience. however when i do find myself wandering. i'll put some music on, but not just any music. pink floyd helps me stay level headed.

i also will try to do something easy that doesn't take any thinking like eating sunflower seeds. you don't have to think about doing it but it keeps you busy.

music is one main thing that keeps me from getting bored... i can't fathom getting bored playing poker haha. but if i get into the later levels and i can't seem to hit anything, i'll start another SNG or get a ring game going... multi-tabling always kept my attention

Bentheman87 said:

I always seem to do very well in the beginning of tournaments, often doubling or tripling my starting stack in the first hour....After around two hours I start to get tired and lose focus.

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Simple: If you want to be a decent tournament player then the most important thing you need is PATIENCE PATIENCE PATIENCE. If you do not have this trait as part of your poker playing arsenal then you're better off heading for the 6-player cash games or turbo SnGs.

If you often start well by doubling and/or tripling up then you're half way there. There is absolutely nothing wrong with throwing away 20, 30, 40, 50 hands in the middle stages as long as you're playing correct poker and your stack is healthy in proportion to the blinds. (The odd steal or limp might be required at times.)

Nevertheless I agree with other posts about music (I'll second chiefer's Pink Floyd recommendation). Music is a great way to keep you occupied through the lean spells and can often be highly motivational as well. TV is a no no - you have to keep your eyes on the action that matters.

I have to disagree with nubstyle about multi-tabling in the late stages of a tournament. That is definitely NOT the time to fire up more action. Why would you want to divide up your attention when you're so close??!!