What do you do while playing poker? I tried to play a lot of tournaments at once, but it's still too hard for me, but playing only one is quite boring...

I think that if you feel bored while playing 1 single tournament it is because you are not 100% focused on your game, you should try to focus a little more on your game and tournament, if you keep your mind busy and working on it, you may not feel bored and the fact that you play many tournaments at the same time will not prevent you from feeling bored, it will probably distract you a bit, but your concentration will not be at the maximum, you can try listening to music, but I do not think it is enough

I'm not usually bored if I'm playing poker

Part of it might be my patience, but I think the real reason is because I'm engaged in the game; there are so many things to do that I'm too busy to be bored! It isn't just playing my cards. Even in hands I fold preflop, I'm constantly watching the game. Who is bluffing? Who are the regs? Who is making fishy plays?

You can learn a ton by observing when you aren't in the hand. This is amplified if playing live poker because you can spot tells and such on that time too

Playing to disperse boredom is a priori not correct.Do not exaggerate-you need to set goals for each tournament.If there is no goal as such, then the tournament will not be interesting.

I don't get bored when poker sometimes there is too much going on around me and then I realize that it was a mistake to play at this point and then I easily make gross mistakes. But bored of poker? Poker is not everyone's cup of tea, but sometimes it's just because you're playing the wrong game. For one, mtt is very attractive, while someone else prefers to play sng or cash. One is crazy about holdem, the other is omaha or stud or whatever. You have to find out for yourself what suits you. No matter what you play, you always need a lot of patience. i often turn on music while i'm playing or leave the tv on in the background

It is not a bad advice to read, something and play one table, then you can constantly observe interesting situations at the table and not be too distracted from playing poker. Read news or articles on topics that are interesting to you. I think, you can find several sites where you study information, teach yourself to read them in parallel with playing poker. Playing 2 tables in parallel is not bad, but only if you can correctly evaluate the players and make notes for yourself. Watching movies,sports, programs or having a conversation is not the best idea, because poker will distract you and it's not easy to switch from playing to talking or watching. Reading is the most effective activity, because lose the meaning or forget, it is impossible, when you sometimes look at the table + time passes quickly

It takes total concentration to out play the other players at your table! How could you get bored? If your not a winning player being bored might be the problem!

You have to have the drive and passion for the specific game you play. Maybe tournaments aren't your thing at this time, possibly start playing cash games and see if that keeps you interested in the game.

You aren't alone here I have a tendency towards boredom tilt in tourneys if I haven't had a hand in awhile and don't have another table going. Concentrating on other players doesn't help much - they tend to be pretty stereotypical and thus there isn't much effort to 'figure them out'.

It might be worthwhile to open other tables from your tournament if it is near the money bubble or near the final table bubble, and during ITM. The field is narrow enough that your odds of playing them at the FT is much higher and play during bubbles offers critical clues about their knowledge and skill level that can help on the final table.

haha, funny, I am playing now and writing the comment. This is what I do when I am bored during tourney, but not too long. Mostly I am focused on game. Now is free tournament so I am not so stressed. Blessings!

If you are bored the stakes might be too low or you don’t really care about the outcome because you are not that invested.

I understand you, because I like to do a lot of things at the same time, so, when I play only one tournament at time and if the players take a lot of time to respond it gets boring. That's the reason why I always play at least 2 tables at the same time.

I listen to music or put a good movie on while I play poker.

Some people can play poker 24/7 but for the rest of us it could easily be a monotone activity. I don't play everyday / I can't play everyday but when I do I play many tables , I put volume and it's always fun for me.

Since you are not a professional poker player and you living doesn't depends on your poker profits make it the best time for you whenever you hit the online felts. Instead of killing your time because you have nothing better to do just don't do it. Play poker whenever you are in the mood for that.

This one works just fine for me!

Originally Posted by mariale_1990

I think that if you feel bored while playing 1 single tournament it is because you are not 100% focused on your game, you should try to focus a little more on your game and tournament, if you keep your mind busy and working on it, you may not feel bored and the fact that you play many tournaments at the same time will not prevent you from feeling bored, it will probably distract you a bit, but your concentration will not be at the maximum, you can try listening to music, but I do not think it is enough

Exactly. I've been playing 1 tournament at a time for a while now! There's no feeling of being bored, I'm even more anxious now, so I may add on a table sometimes, Well said!

maybe you can play 2 or 3 tournaments at once. also you can just watch tv or listen to music while playing. if you are running deep in the game you should try to dont lose your focus in the game and concentrate almost exclusively in the tournament you are playing.

Never. That's why I play poker because I'm bored of normal life and poker can give me more. So I give it my full attention. I know for a fact that if you worry about something else than poker while playing it you will not perform 100% to your abilities so you wont earn as much as you could and or you will lose.

I have the same problem, it's boring to play at one table, but it doesn't work out to play at several tables.
I know that there is no need to be distracted while playing poker, but I am constantly distracted by social networks or watching non-poker videos on YouTube while playing.
When I leave the tournament, I think that I lost because I was distracted and did not follow the game, but I sit down for a new tournament and start to get distracted again.

Originally Posted by mariale_1990

I think that if you feel bored while playing 1 single tournament it is because you are not 100% focused on your game, you should try to focus a little more on your game and tournament, if you keep your mind busy and working on it, you may not feel bored and the fact that you play many tournaments at the same time will not prevent you from feeling bored, it will probably distract you a bit, but your concentration will not be at the maximum, you can try listening to music, but I do not think it is enough

Just because I focuse on the game, it is starting to be boring, because I have to wait up to 80% of time of the tournament while my opponents are playing their hands. And only in the end, the game is starting to be more dynamic

Originally Posted by Phoenix Wright

I'm not usually bored if I'm playing poker

Part of it might be my patience, but I think the real reason is because I'm engaged in the game; there are so many things to do that I'm too busy to be bored! It isn't just playing my cards. Even in hands I fold preflop, I'm constantly watching the game. Who is bluffing? Who are the regs? Who is making fishy plays?

You can learn a ton by observing when you aren't in the hand. This is amplified if playing live poker because you can spot tells and such on that time too

I already do it, but thank you anyway

Originally Posted by Gameguyguru

If you are bored the stakes might be too low or you don’t really care about the outcome because you are not that invested.

the most interesting thing, that i play at kinda big stakes but it still boring to play only one tournament. But recently i've found out, that all the tournaments in the beginning are easy to play, so I launch for about 4-5 ones, and usually i win in 1 of them and then concentrate at it.

In such a situation, I turn on a movie or YouTube to somehow relax and not be nervous, so that time passes faster, especially with late registration, this is generally a problem, it often helps to go deeper into the front seats of the winners.

Originally Posted by Phoenix Wright

I'm not usually bored if I'm playing poker

Part of it might be my patience, but I think the real reason is because I'm engaged in the game; there are so many things to do that I'm too busy to be bored! It isn't just playing my cards. Even in hands I fold preflop, I'm constantly watching the game. Who is bluffing? Who are the regs? Who is making fishy plays?

You can learn a ton by observing when you aren't in the hand. This is amplified if playing live poker because you can spot tells and such on that time too

Yes, I agree with this completely.

Absolutely, it will cause me to be more impulsive as well. If I don't have 2-3 tables going I'll have Photoshop, Illustrator or something open to goof around on when cards are dead.

I play 2-3 tournaments at a time and I just don't have time to be bored. If you are bored playing at one table, then try playing at two.

Originally Posted by LetterRip

It might be worthwhile to open other tables from your tournament if it is near the money bubble or near the final table bubble, and during ITM. The field is narrow enough that your odds of playing them at the FT is much higher and play during bubbles offers critical clues about their knowledge and skill level that can help on the final table.

This is such a unique suggestion I had to comment on it. This is a great example of strategic thinking.

If I didn't run on average 6-8 tournaments consecutively I would definitely do this.

Its possible I might incorporate this during my evening sessions when my tables are winding down.

I do not think you should be bored, either open more games, or try harder on the game you are playing ie take better notes, develop player specific strategies, save hands for future study, etc.

Originally Posted by Shab88

What do you do while playing poker?

Play poker?

I listen to music to help pass the time and focus on the tournament.

Yes playing many tournaments is very difficult only for very skilled players however in my opinion playing only one is also very boring needs a lot of patience not to play wrong a hand with requests. I was able to play a maximum of two screens.

I never get bored playing poker because I open a lot of tables.If you're bored, why don't you put on a movie and enjoy two things at the same time))

I always watch movies on the other half of the monitor.

Originally Posted by Shab88

What do you do while playing poker? I tried to play a lot of tournaments at once, but it's still too hard for me, but playing only one is quite boring...

Getting bored playing could mean one of two things : whether you don't like/love the game enough or you are not paying enough attention to what's going on when you are not in the hand.

One at a time

Sometimes, before I start playing, I look at my mistakes, I learn new information and try to show it in the game. If I have time to keep track of the game, I open another table. Then i'm not bored. I also like to include light music in the background.

I usually play 2 or 3 tourneys and I try to pay attention to the action and some stats and that's enough to keep me enthralled.

Originally Posted by Amanda A

I usually play 2 or 3 tourneys and I try to pay attention to the action and some stats and that's enough to keep me enthralled.

Sounds like too much to me, I would say don't play more than 2 tournaments per whole day

Just add more tables, no boredom when playing 10 tourneys

Usually when very early in a MTT i like to listen to music or watch videos or a football game while playing it helps...

Playing one table is really boring. Add more tables. You can play either to the music or to the poker stream. I always do that.

I'm usually playing one or two and listening music or watch some videos. If you overthink, we are sitting in front of a monitor, which can definitely bored to the body and the brain too.

I can suggest that before you jump in to playing and making a long poker session, fill up yourself with some positive energy and sit in front of the computer in a great mood, cause you will handle actions better. Also always pay attention to have water/refresher drink next to you. And enough light in the room.

Originally Posted by Shab88

What do you do while playing poker? I tried to play a lot of tournaments at once, but it's still too hard for me, but playing only one is quite boring...

listening to music / radio, watching youtube / tv,I also do these by playing at multiple tables

During the game, I watch TV shows in the background.

After 3 hours, it gets tough. I tend to watch TV so I have some background noise to help me focus.

Originally Posted by Cooking

I understand you, because I like to do a lot of things at the same time, so, when I play only one tournament at time and if the players take a lot of time to respond it gets boring. That's the reason why I always play at least 2 tables at the same time.

Man, Ik exactly what you mean, tilted a tournament I could've probably cashed, freeroll, last night just cause I got moved to this guy who kept running down the clock EVERY HAND & my laptop crashes if I play something on the side, but I read one comment which advised to read, that's my go to from here on out!

Boredom in a tournament is a lack of incentive to play. I've never been bored. Since some people do such things that I do not have to get bored.

Playing many tournaments , reading some articles or threads , watching some YT videos or NetFlix , something like that . If I am deep in a tourney , boredom goes away , and it's time for excitement .

boredom is a state of mind.. unrelated to environment imo.. playing one or many tables can be equally engaging and or boring depending on you

Can't say that I get bored while playing but I can definitely say that getting bad streaks of cards is like hell.

I usually hear some music or a podcast. But I do not get bored easily, even if I only play one tournament.

I play only 1 tournament at the time and am totally focused on it , so no boredom . Or else I wouldn't play it in the first place . But when I do , I try my best to win it ! Still haven't win one in those 2-3 weeks of playing online poker , but I'm assured I will