Best time to play poker?

[LuckyBundy13]

I understand that maybe you want to know when is the "softest" time to play. I've thought about this. Whether I make more $ in the morning, afternoon, or night. I think it's just a matter of not playing when you know you will not put in 110% or so to speak. The game doesn't change, the players will, but if you can't adjust then you will just have a losing session period.

 

[Matt Vaughan]

In my short online poker history I have started to notice some trends regarding the time of day I am playing. In the morning hours, say 8am till around 3pm, I do very well and rarely ever leave a table down. Then in the evening hours; 2pm-ish until after 7pm, sometimes even until 10pm, I just get murdered. My straights all get busted, nut flushes fall to boats and just about every sort in between like my kicker is smaller. Then after mid-night things seem to reset and my flushes and straights are crushing pairs and such until I have to quit to sleep. Repeat. My time zone is GMT +/- 5:00
Any thoughts/comments on why (Besides it having to do with the players online at those times) or similar experiences to share?

People don't seem to be addressing the fact that OP seems to think that time of day affects how the cards fall.

 

[needaGF]

Actually I love to play at afternoons. That's the most relaxed time zone of mine and I can play poker more free-minded... I have found that I always make clear decision within that time zone. I feel sleepy and hard to concentrate at the evenings lol

 

[okeedokalee]

The better question might be ;

What time of day do you play your best game?

During each day we all have rhythms of highs and lows. These are caused by all sorts of input from spouses to food to sleep to the weather. But you should learn to get familiar with how you perform throughout the day. By your post it looks like you have a decent start to understanding this.

For instance, I think I perform pretty well in my late mornings. Shame that my favorite game ($2 HORSE on Merge) happens in the early morning. Then I go into a low spot in the mid afternoon time, which happens to be early evening for the East Coast players, when many say things should be ripe against the rec's (recreational players).

Figuring out your own rhythms is not as easy as consulting a biorhythm chart.

Hopefully you sleep well, and your diet works well for you.

Nailed it dj, tends to depend on your bio-rhythms the longer the night goes on the worse I get.

 

[DeadlyAim]

Best time varies

Most important thing is that your mentally and physically ready to play. So if your a night owl or early bird... play accordingly.

Trends: That I notice huh u get worser cards... ignore that unless u suspect computer hacking or collusion of some sort. Most people got to work or go to college or run errands they usually do it like 7-5pm so the quality and quantity of players drop tremendously.

I think what your are noticing is the really good players or just getting more players during the 4pm or later cause they got time to play. Obviously in the weekends those trends are basically useless.

If you play at 1am at dawn or foreigners like Europeans you will likely get players that are exhausted and usually find them easy to beat but if u got work the next day not recommended.

 

[left52side]

I waited A while to reply since you posted this.
I have noticed in the last week for me anyway on bovada I always seem to hve a harder time between 1 and 4 est. I dont think the reason is because there are better players that time of day ,but the opposite, i get alot of callers calling me down with ace rag stuff.
I always start playing the 1k guarantees at 4 everyday and seemed that the game goes alot better after 4 for me anyways.
And this is strickly for bovada.

 

[snklzona]

I'm of the mind set that the time of day is not so much a factor as
the level of my concentration and perception...and of coarse my
PATIENCE

 

[left52side]

I'm of the mind set that the time of day is not so much a factor as
the level of my concentration and perception...and of coarse my
PATIENCE

That is a good point.
Maybe when I first start playing early in the day I am not as concetraited as I am when I have sat for an hour or so and relaxed a bit.

 

[imboosted]

a lot of times you only remember the bad. maybe you have taken more beats between those times and that is all you can remember. jmo

 

[imafin]

Im another one that likes the late night to early mornings and preferably friday and saturday nights. Not just that the action picks up but it brings out all kinds of players.
Though im not much of a ring guy, look for the group of loud mouth youngons that are stumblin into the poker area. By the time they wake up the next afternoon you'll have their money and they will feel like stars in Hangover III.

 

[ScottieDuncan]

I prefer the earlier hours of the day. Seems I'm more focused at that time. I can concentrate better. However, later in the evening is good also, but, I am distracted by the day's happening a bit then. At night, I am not as concentrated since I am an early riser.

 

[tactoozeep202]

I NORMALLY PLAY POKER IN THE MORNING BEFORE GOING TO WORK,BUT I ALSO PLAY IN THE EVENING ON THE WEEK ENDS.I THINK THE BEST TIME TO PLAY POKER IS WHEN I FEEL AT MY BEST.WHEN I FEEL GOOD ABOAT POKER AND READY TO PLAY,NOT WHEN I DON'T FEEL SO GOOD ABOUT POKER OR WHEN MY MIND IS SOME WHERE ELSE.

 

[teh_colonel_saigon]

Hey guys, I've just moved to China, so I haven't had much time to post here or play recently.

But now that I've settled in, I've logged back into carbon and played a few hands. And holy **** are people much worse than I remember.

It's harder to find a game/multitable for sure, but there is always one massive dink who keeps reloading at every table. I mean... this is what I imagine poker was like before black friday lol.
I am a terrible player yet I have been having success at the early hours of the west coast morning...

I'd say 3am - 7 am EST... so 12-4 PST... best for carbon at least.

any other times on particular sites than are good? And do you know why this is? I have yet to play late night on a weekend... my experience this far has all been early week weekdays.

Are people just raging alcoholics early on a Wednesday morning?

 

[TeUnit]

think sunday is the best, then saturday, then friday, then early morning weekdays

monday seems to be by far the slowest

 

[ckickenking]

I like to play at night when everyone is sleepy, but as for days, I would say weekdays when there is less players and less chances of getting donk. Sunday I say would be the worst because there are more players who plays like donks and the risk of bad beats are greater. But Sunday definitely is where the most profits lies.

 

[Jull30]

Of course at night ... when the people of Russia agresivny sleeps

 

[Jpetro]

Nights and weekends seem to be the best. I would think in general that's when people are off work and at home.

 

[fubarcdn]

Thew best time to play is when the majority of the people have been drinking especially at the micro tables so the hours you mentioned are prime time.
You will only find the fubar slightly intoxicated in days that end in Y.

 

[CSINSC]

Hey guys, I've just moved to China, so I haven't had much time to post here or play recently.

But now that I've settled in, I've logged back into carbon and played a few hands. And holy **** are people much worse than I remember.

It's harder to find a game/multitable for sure, but there is always one massive dink who keeps reloading at every table. I mean... this is what I imagine poker was like before black friday lol.
I am a terrible player yet I have been having success at the early hours of the west coast morning...

I'd say 3am - 7 am EST... so 12-4 PST... best for carbon at least.

any other times on particular sites than are good? And do you know why this is? I have yet to play late night on a weekend... my experience this far has all been early week weekdays.

Are people just raging alcoholics early on a Wednesday morning?

I find at the lower stakes on Carbon that the "regulars" play during the day in EST, but at night the real big fish show up. I think it's like at the casino. At casino during day hours U get the regulars/nits, but when night comes & the drinks start flowing the fish swarm.

 

[supermoto]

if hours of games rely heavily on poker peak times are worse many crazy players

 

[bigjay2007]

I think it truly depends on your time zone. Im est in canada and find that early mornings work better when I'm not working and have time. the challenge is that rarely happen as life gets in the way.

 

[fasteddee74]

Anytime is a good time to play Poker!!! Weekends and evenings are good for MTT's if you are in the US.

 

[natsgrampy]

I play after 6 PM EST. That way I can sit relax and play.

I like Sunday too.
I find there are better and more tourneys with more runners.
The down side of Sundays is the suckouts.
The upside is I have won the bulk of my tourney $$$$ on Sundays

 

[fordman427]

If you really wanna play when play when players are the best Id say Saturday night and all day Sunday

 

[floweryhead]

I use the Time-Hourly report in HEM 2 to work out the best times to play.