How do you stay focused and interested throughout an MTT? I sometimes find my self getting bored and losing focus, especially when I only get dealt rags one way!

For me its quite easy to focus because i dont only play my cards i had a habit of playing other player card in the table lol..

What I mean is Im interested in watching other opponent playing style so I never get bored..

And so I dont play two tourneys at once...

Also play some high buy in MTT you can focus more..

Play what you like do what you love is always the answer to this kind of guestion GL

Originally Posted by weralomos

Multu table game,Music.

I rather avoid multi table when I got problem with staying focused. I find myself playing robotic way and too fast. Sometimes that cost.

Originally Posted by Clasher

For me its quite easy to focus because i dont only play my cards i had a habit of playing other player card in the table lol..

What I mean is Im interested in watching other opponent playing style so I never get bored..

And so I dont play two tourneys at once...

Also play some high buy in MTT you can focus more..

Play what you like do what you love is always the answer to this kind of guestion GL

I find that works for me in a live game, online it's not the same. I usually open a super turbo sit and go if I get bored

I wish I knew. I can remember times when I was many hours into a tournament at 5 or 6 in the morning hunched over my desk just barely managing to open my eyes when it was my turn. Coffee helps, but it only goes so far. That's why Stars has that glaring alarm when you're running out of time. It's to wake you up from a sound sleep. They think of everything!

total silence especially at the final tables

So, let's imagine the following situation: we're playing a big tournament for the sixth or seventh hour. Maybe this is our first online tournament, maybe for the hundredth, no matter. In any case, the initial adrenaline rush, which helped us to be super focused and alert now subsided, and in its place came an endless series of distractions trying to pull our mind out of hand. Some of these distractions come from the outside. In fact, the vast majority of time it works against us, causing us to be distracted from the game at the table, to choose an incorrect bet sizes, to pass the necessary information about the opponents Need meditation , meditation is quickly becoming one of the most popular ways to elevate their game to a higher level.

Read some strategy guides get mentally ready before you hit the tables if you can't wait to play your probably not going to get bored.

My strategy is

Multitable

And music, then when you get knocked out of the other games and go deeper in others don't open any more, focus on your play.

I always find when I get in the money I only have say two tables open, you should find the 1st place payout should get your attention.

and the games your knocked out of think about the hand that bust you and try not make the similar mistakes going deeper in the others.

if you hit the FT turn off the music.

if your getting bored probably have a few days off till you itch for a game i find sometimes after a break I'm motivated again and back playing A game.

take notes. Open up other tables within the same MTT and take notes on the other players if the software allows that.

I stand against HUD and don't believe you should rely on it either (I'm not against HUD for the advantage I'm against the need to rely on anything other than your brain to win).

Reads should be worded well and not be 'loose' I write thigns like 'person X doesn't comprehend bet sizing, they will call big and raise big regardless of strength' or something like that. In cutthroat situation it helps a lot but then again I'm a cash game specialist not an MTT specialist and what I do helps a lot more in cash games as I abuse this read until the fish all leave the table then if I can't write anything significant on any player left I may well leave the table.

Make your pauses, you must relax your mind while playing and them come back to focus.

Originally Posted by tilan501

Make your pauses, you must relax your mind while playing and them come back to focus.

If you do this, you should be a cash game player not a tournament player... full alertness is how you profit.

Originally Posted by Clasher

For me its quite easy to focus because i dont only play my cards i had a habit of playing other player card in the table lol..

What I mean is Im interested in watching other opponent playing style so I never get bored..

And so I dont play two tourneys at once...

Also play some high buy in MTT you can focus more..

Play what you like do what you love is always the answer to this kind of guestion GL

+1

To keep from getting bored you can also practice trying to read hand ranges of the folks involved in the hand based on the action and the board textures. If you have a tracking software you can also try reviewing some of the hands you feel you could've played differently.

If you are tired and fatigue, it is necessary to feed the brain is sweet and all is well.Good means-chocolate, tea, coffee!!!!!

Put on some nice music to keep you in the zone and try to focus on how others are playing. It keeps you busy and will also help you playing your own hands if you know who you're dealing with. If you are deep enough you can allwas take a short break and sit out a few hands

I want to focus on an MTT I like to sing a song and play in a place where no one comes to pertuber me!

Load up another tournament or two until you keep your focus on the task at hand.

All the suggestions are good. I don't like to eat anything like 'a complete meal' within the 2 hours before the start of a tournament. Had a few like that where I ate just before and in the long run I felt it affected me bad as I got sleepy and heavy without focus and made silly bad decisions, like if in the background of my mind there was a desire to give it away, pick the min cash and go for a cozy nap!

Best regards.

I focus by chatting with myself a bit and playing some background music. I too enjoy watching everyone.

I leave off t.v and music no web surfing while playing-another thing I try to do is when I'm not in hand ,I try n put other villians on hands also use that time to take notes,and update old notes

I just try to stick to my game and play as well as I can

Originally Posted by ComplyorDie

Read some strategy guides get mentally ready before you hit the tables if you can't wait to play your probably not going to get bored.

My strategy is

Multitable

And music, then when you get knocked out of the other games and go deeper in others don't open any more, focus on your play.

I always find when I get in the money I only have say two tables open, you should find the 1st place payout should get your attention.

and the games your knocked out of think about the hand that bust you and try not make the similar mistakes going deeper in the others.

if you hit the FT turn off the music.

if your getting bored probably have a few days off till you itch for a game i find sometimes after a break I'm motivated again and back playing A game.

That's best for me too. I make it a party every time. Everything prepared, coffee machine and sopa maruchan on the side. I start like 3-4 times a day multiple MTT's (6 at least) and catch up deeper with 1-3. So everytime it's different, some are at the beginning, some on the cloud... never boring.
But when it comes to only one tournament left, I stay focused on that tournament, taking notes, dreaming of the money that I'll reach trying to wait for the perfect spot to place my bet to level up There's always so many things to do in a tournament. You might try to change avatars, that's funny too

Depending on the state of the tournament I like sometimes to switch on my HUD and study it a while besides I'm waiting for THE HAND.

just get some more tables to play on.
or get some music in it

Paying attention to people and how they play can be a big help to keeping focus in an MTT. It will also help your game get better because you will be prepared to make the right call based on how you have seen people acting. Simple things such as watching their face or how they fold their cards, or if they always put a chip on their cards when they are going to play but look ready to fold when they aren't going to play. Taking mental notes takes energy and focus but it can keep you from being bored.

I go allin to stay focused

Hi! when you play you have to be careful and to be configured for the result otherwise it makes no sense to get into the tournament.

I try not to play 1 or 2 tournaments a minimum of 4 and you will play much tutovei and focus.

Believe that you will win and play for the first place. This will motivate you and help you to stay more focused. Usually mid stages are very boring, but once you reach late stages, you shouldn't have problem focusing.

I think the answer to this is prepare yourself before even start the tournament read some articles some strategy something about poker to warm up your mind always a good chair a something to drink (Coffee, chocolate,wine, etc) and stay looking at the table analyzing each hand and player how they play and put on practice your reading skills that's the best to stay focus

Never play any tourney lasting more than three hours.

I remember a few years ago staring at a monitor for a few hours and suddenly being unable to see anything on screen. Scary at the time.

I stick to non-turbo tourneys with 30 or less players and always over within 3 hours.

Try listening to some classical music, white noise, mabye some up beat electronic. Helps me.

drink beer

Originally Posted by blott

Never play any tourney lasting more than three hours.

I remember a few years ago staring at a monitor for a few hours and suddenly being unable to see anything on screen. Scary at the time.

I stick to non-turbo tourneys with 30 or less players and always over within 3 hours.

I have had that happen to me once about 25 years ago, taking upgrading for my GED, this was the first time I had spent an extended time in front of the monitor, all of a sudden I could not see anything directly in front of me, only through peripheral vision was I able to see.
I understand the fear, but this was only because my eyes were not use to the computer monitor as I didn't have a pc of my own at the time.
Have not had an episode since.
If this is a reoccurring thing for you, seek an eye doctor.

Originally Posted by Fahrenheit451

drink beer

As much as I like to drink while playing poker, I would advise against this as alcohol makes you loose.


As for complete focus while playing a tournament, I lack the focus in the early stages and rely upon this forum and random internet searches to cut the boredom and play only solid ABC poker until close to or in the money, then all my focus goes to the table.
You'll be surprised how much focus you have when you are in the money.

"What about the reads you miss on opponents?" you might ask.
I use pokertrackers HUD feature to keep an eye on the reads in the early stages.

Do not drive yourself into difficult situations, and try to avoid complex decisions, such as bluff raises or strange calls.

If you play a large number of tournaments, this is normal
Try to play a one tournament during the day
I think you'll think differently

if it's a long MTT I try to sleep before so I dont get sleepy thats basically it. Food/drinks really not a problem =)

I also get bored so I'll watch a movie or series. If i find that my focus is being taken away from the game then I stop watching. I've played so much poker in my life that I don't actually have to watch the game all the time to win. Sometimes I don't even have to be watching the table. It all depends on you. If music stops you being bored then play it. If movies help you not be bored then watch them. If you a beginner i suggest just watching the game. You need discipline to focus on the game for the required time. One day you'll see you won't have to focus all the time because you can predict what will happen.

Meth??

Originally Posted by Smokewood

Meth??

smoke wood

When playing mtts I sit in the room and watch tv when I get bored and playing loose and aggressive but when I do play I put music on so I won't get distracted from the game.