Ashley Adams makes some interesting points in his latest article discussing sports and drugs, including alcohol, caffeine and energy drinks at the poker table.

Uncomfortably Numb: Alcohol, Caffeine and the Quest for a Poker-Enhancing Buzz


Would you be able to say that alcohol and caffiene ever gave you the poker-enhancing buzz you may have been looking for at the table?

If Scotty Nguyen read this article he will probably remember his remarkable huge win back in 2008 WSOP PPC.

I don't drink alcohol and I drink coffee only rarely, but after reading this article I think I will start to drink Red Bull..lol
It was a surprise to me that Red Bull had these effects on the body, I will test the next time I play live.

Originally Posted by Cooking

I don't drink alcohol and I drink coffee only rarely, but after reading this article I think I will start to drink Red Bull..lol
It was a surprise to me that Red Bull had these effects on the body, I will test the next time I play live.

Who knew, right?!

With caffeine being a diuretic, maybe some "additional equipment" is in order to keep from having to go to the restroom every 15 minutes?

The article is interesting, but not for me. I am not a supporter of alcohol, coffee, tea or caffeine.
It is best to use hallucinogenic mushrooms in a live game and play in the most inappropriate way, and then no opponent can read you, because I will behave in the most inappropriate way and distance myself from everything except the game.
The last joke if that))).

Interesting one about the redbull and increasing pain threshold, though not sure that transcends to mental pain e.g tilt.

Also it tastes horrible lol.

One coffee and Pepsi is enough for me to play 5-6 hours

Hi.
Coffee is the best doping for me. I have not drunk alcohol for many years. I also have nothing against cannabis, but I believe that its action interferes with concentration.
Good luck.

after alcohol i want to sleep

I only drink coffee, I drink energy sometimes, I think coffee helps me concentrate when I'm tired, but I never drink alcohol while I play, alcohol spoils common sense and you have a lot to lose.

just to say that it doesn't matter how you perform at poker, that substances will make you a huge harm to your health.

Amphetamines enhance concentration for those suffering from ADHD. But for me they might boost my concentration on the first dose, and then after that all down hill.

Originally Posted by canabero

just to say that it doesn't matter how you perform at poker, that substances will make you a huge harm to your health.

Agree on the alcohol. But what evidence do you have caffeine or cannabis (edibles) are harmful to your health?

Originally Posted by perrypip

Agree on the alcohol. But what evidence do you have caffeine or cannabis (edibles) are harmful to your health?

hey, c'mon caffeine is quite known that has effect in heart disease, by the way i know people that has suffered tachycardia due to high intake of energetic drinks, ok it's obvious that if you don't abuse of that you won't have troubles. and cannabis... hmm it's a polemic topic i'm not fully sure of the consequences ( i know a lot of myths though) anyway i never mentioned cannabis.

last week I played a drunk league and it was my worst result, in my case alcohol and poker cannot be combined

Originally Posted by canabero

hey, c'mon caffeine is quite known that has effect in heart disease, by the way i know people that has suffered tachycardia due to high intake of energetic drinks, ok it's obvious that if you don't abuse of that you won't have troubles. and cannabis... hmm it's a polemic topic i'm not fully sure of the consequences ( i know a lot of myths though) anyway i never mentioned cannabis.

I really don't want to get into a protracted debate as its off topic with you but LMAO you're full of it.

On caffeine read this. It actually helps prevent heart disease. Also reduces risk of diabetes, Parkinson's disease and in one study Alzheimer's disease.
https://www.heart.org/en/news/2018/0...for-you-or-not
https://time.com/5022060/coffee-health-benefits-heart/

As for cannabis, LMAO, may I say war on drugs propaganda. It's actually approved as safe and effective medicine in 33 states going on 50.

So I haven't had alcohol in like 6 months or so and cut out soda. The soda was the way harder thing to cut. Last thing I am working on is the coffee portion. I noticed when I have caffeine or too much of it, I tend to play more reckless. If I have that calm demeanor, I can find my way through a table and a tournament with more ease.

I don't think it will improve the game but if it makes you play looser and can backfire.once I finished a tournament in the casino very drunk and I don't know if it was because of the alcohol or what but all the games came out and I ended up very loose and agreeing the deal for the final prize

I don't see a problem with caffeine or energy drinks especially if you are already tired. Alcohol however could have some negative effects if you drink too much, a lil in moderation for experienced drinkers to calm the nerves is probably fine. Getting really drunk is a bad plan tho

Hello! I know not by hearsay what alcohol is, its use leads to excessive excitement, which can become a big loss in poker, and even while playing at long tournaments, alcohol gets tired, but about coffee, I probably agree with the author of the article, I myself I don’t drink coffee, I drink very strong tea and for a long time I manage to stay vigorous and able to soberly assess game moments in poker.

Coffee and watter it s to good to me to play long session of poker.

One beer gives me patience in the early stages of the tournament. Two beers give me fantasy to play. That's why I started using late registration and drinking green tea

maybe cooffe, alcohol not, some red bull maybe, but always some snacks....

Alcohol doesn't match poker and is happy to break my bank because of that you can't think straight

I'm not in the habit of drinking coffee. I drink alcohol socially but I never played poker drinking, only in home games with friends...

And about energy drinks, like Red Bull, I drank several times in my life but I never felt any effect, so I stopped drinking. It doesn't work for me, it's the same as drinking water or juice.

Alcohol has only negative effects. I drink alcohol only during home games with friends where focus is on the fun and the game is just pleasant addition. For serious game anything over one beer (which can help you to reduce stress and play more relaxed) is against you. I can not comment about coffee or energy drinks as i don't use such.

I drink alcohol very rarely. During the game, I am best invigorated by strong tea.

Drinking water during sessions is the best thing you can do to maintain focus, by far.

Sometimes caffeine helps, too.

Being a very tight player and very cautious/avoidant in general I find the de-inhibiting effects of alcohol can be positive. I'm more likely to 3 bet and generally be aggressive. The alcohol makes me less fearful of playing larger pots, this increases variance but its possible I play better overall.

Having all these components on a table I think it is a bad choice, because they affect your mental state and anything could happen and be misunderstood. There would be a lot of euphoria, anxiety, impulsiveness, hallucinations, etc.
The best thing would be to play while being lucid and as healthy as possible and be able to enjoy a nice game

I usually drink coffee while I play, as I drink caffeine daily, it doesn't affect my concentration so much, but alcohol I prefer to avoid.

Usually cup of tea, if it gets really late and I'm deep in a tournament I might need a coffee to keep me awake.

This happened to me last week, when deep in MTT made a coffee as it was 2am and needed to stay awake. 2 sips of my of coffee and I got knock out the tourney!! I laid wide awake in bed for the next hour!! lol

Online? Coffee, candlelight and a little bear ornament I've named Bo.

I look f*****g ridiculous when I play poker.

I do not believe you!!!

dont drink alcohol when you play poker you lose the sense of your actions.

I do not drink coffee and have never drunk Red Bull. I have big doubts about the help of these drinks and even more alcohol. All alcoholic and caffeinated drinks increase your heart rate and oxygen flow to your brain, but will it add to your poker skills?

To be the best you must do as the best do/have done. Stu Ungar=Cocain.

This post, all though factual was merely for amusement, do not attempt this at home,

Since I'm in the game for the fun and amusement, I do like to drink a glass or two of wisky, or a beer, when playing online. Helps me get a bit lose - and only a bit - so I don't get too rational overthinking again and again and end up losing the fun part from sight. No other drug, thanks.

Alcohol usually disturbs me, the other drinks I never tried to drink.

Originally Posted by felipem29

Ter todos esses componentes em uma mesa acho uma escolha ruim, pois afetam seu estado mental e qualquer coisa pode acontecer e ser mal interpretada. Haveria muita euforia, ansiedade, impulsividade, alucinações, etc.
O melhor seria jogar lúcido e o mais saudável possível e poder desfrutar de um bom jogo

Perfect I agree with you

I must say that in the past few month, I take glass of wine when there are 4-5 tables left - it helps me to relax little bit, and not feel overstresses, or over cautious, and it does helped me to reach final table, few times. I called it the "liquid courage" to call suspicious bets, and even three-bet more often, vs. playing scare and avoiding getting busted.

One of the things that I focus on when playing poker is not to drink anything, since many emotions flow and I can get carried away by those, of which several are treacherous.

everyone picks their own poison. mine is coffee.

Everyone at my home game is on some kind of drug, but we're never on the same thing. It's a laid back game though!

I prefer Red Bull.

Hell yea, all the above with a cancer stick. Im a very passive person so whateva floats your boat. I think its all about having fun and letting loose and enjoying the game. Good luck.

Drink whatever you want. Drunker you get the better it is for me.

I like to have a coffee in between. During an exciting hand, however, I do not need an energy drink ... rather something to calm down a bit (no matter if holding the nuts or just air).

I am 100% Coffee Coffee Coffee
Booze i do feel leads to losing money in the long run
- but hey not saying poker and beer dont go together on a Friday night
cause they sure do if your poker mates come join yeah