Session length

[Fedora]

I've noticed that if i play a really long session, I start to loose focus and start playing bad. I also don't just want to stop too soon because I want to get more hands in.

I just want a general idea of approx how long everyone's session is, and if you play multiple sessions, how long a break do you usually take in between.

Thanks

[daven]

i recommend not playing more than 2hrs without at least taking a small break. For some people this means sitting out and doing a few sit-ups or something.

Remember, this varies loads from person to person, and your ability to maintain focus can be trained and improved. I think spoon may have written a how-to post about this a year or so ago, forum search time for you i guess

[Sup3rM4N]

Just like almost every answer in poker, it depends. Some days you are more focused than others due to various reasons (better sleep, working out, good diet, sex? lol). You can work on increasing session lengths slowly until your mind/body gets used to the new length, then rinse and repeat until you get to the point where you want your session length to be.

Certain things should triumph over session length. If you feel that you are not playing your best or are going on tilt due to a bad run or just not playing well, you are better off cutting your session shorter and not playing than continuing to play under those circumstances. And finally to answer your last question, my sessions are usually 2-3 hours with minimum 1-2 hrs break in between. Those breaks I like to include some physical activity (it could be something as simple as walking around) rather than sitting around watching tv and eating. But that doesn't mean those are the only sessions lengths I do. Sometimes I'll end up doing up to 4 hrs and sometimes my session lasts 30min-1hr depending on various reasons.

[kiwiMark]

I top out at about an hour.

[Micro2Macro]

do you want to be the guy who puts the most hands in or do you want to be the guy who makes the most money?

[rpm]

i aim for a consistent 500 hands per day, max of 4 tables (usually takes between 2-3 hours i think). i can usually maintain reasonable concentration over this period of time. when i play live i typically play for wayyyyyy longer so i stand up and go for a walk or do some stretches roughly every two hours.

[EasyPoker]

It varies for me. Now though, I log off immediately when I get that "I'm bored" feeling.

[rong]

It varies not only from person to person but from time to time. I sometimes get bored after half an hour, but other times I can do 3 or 4 hr sittings. I find sng's easier for long sessions, I could do 4 or 5 hrs then without trouble. Ring games I find take far more concentration, so prob rarely go over 2 or 3 hrs.

[MasonGamble]

during the week i usually sit at one table for about 3 hours or less a night. I skip some nights, like Thursday I don't play at all cause I work late and most times I won't play on Friday's cause the club down the street from me has a live tourny every Friday night so I'll play there. On the weekend I'll put in a good 5 hours Sat morning and Sunday morning.
During this time I typically get up every hour or so when the blinds come around and sit out for about 15 minutes while I'll grab something to eat, walk around, entertain the kid, yada yada....
I've actually found that if I play straight through for 3 hours I will start to play very loose and tend to make calls I wouldn't normally.

[dranger7070]

Back in the day when I was attempting to get my grind on, I played 2-4 hour sessions with 8+ tables, take a break for food/Madden/NHL 09/etc for a half hour to an hour then back to it.

Now that I'm trying to not mass table and suck at poker I'm playing 2 tables and only going for 1.5 hours max at a time without taking at least a five minute break. I've gone over this more than once, but it was by less than 15 minutes so wutevs.

Just play until you feel your focus slipping, subtle tilt creeping in, you get bored, etc. One thing that kills my focus/concentration on poker and gets me bored with it is having the TV on or having people talk near me. It distracts me like crazy. However talking on Skype or having IRC open and off to the side so I can still see my tables doesn't seem to effect me so much.

[speedcake]

I've noticed that if i play a really long session, I start to loose focus and start playing bad. I also don't just want to stop too soon because I want to get more hands in.

You need us to answer this for you? Hmmm, get more hands in and play terrible while doing it? Or play fewer hands and be awesome while doing it.

What to do. WHAT to DO.




Also I'd add that the more frequently you take breaks the better off you will be. I try not to play for more than a couple of hours. Playing for hours on end is mind numbing and I'm not saying I don't occasionally sit too long, but there is a reason why you get breaks at work at school, etc. Your brain suffers from fatigue, so why suffer.

[Gobbatino]

My sessions are anywhere from 30-120 minutes. Most hover around the 90-100 mins though.

[Sasquach991]

...I've been sitting here getting cold cards forever and I'm getting tired and bored. I should take a break but I know as soon as I do I'll start getting some cards so I may as well stick it out for another half hour or so cause I don't want to miss my good cards when they come.

15 minutes later...

Finally, I got QQ and I'm in position. Crap, Ace on the flop and he raised my cbet. He's a passive calling station but I think I'm still ahead here because he's just bluffing me off the pot cause I've been playing so tight. I'll pot the turn. He'll know I'm serious and he can't bluff me off MY pot cause I deserve to win this one cause I've been sitting here forever waiting for some cards. He shoved? I'm commited now and I'm still ahead cause he's such a fish. No way the CS has an Ace. Wat? AK? No way. Jokerstars loves paying of these donks. This guy is so bad and he gets this crap when I've been waiting forever to get cards, rant, rant, rant. Man I should have taken a break earlier when I thought about it. I'm such a dumbass. I quit. I just can't win at this game no mattter what I do. rant, rant, rant.

[Fedora]

...I've been sitting here getting cold cards forever and I'm getting tired and bored. I should take a break but I know as soon as I do I'll start getting some cards so I may as well stick it out for another half hour or so cause I don't want to miss my good cards when they come.

15 minutes later...

Finally, I got QQ and I'm in position. Crap, Ace on the flop and he raised my cbet. He's a passive calling station but I think I'm still ahead here because he's just bluffing me off the pot cause I've been playing so tight. I'll pot the turn. He'll know I'm serious and he can't bluff me off MY pot cause I deserve to win this one cause I've been sitting here forever waiting for some cards. He shoved? I'm commited now and I'm still ahead cause he's such a fish. No way the CS has an Ace. Wat? AK? No way. Jokerstars loves paying of these donks. This guy is so bad and he gets this crap when I've been waiting forever to get cards, rant, rant, rant. Man I should have taken a break earlier when I thought about it. I'm such a dumbass. I quit. I just can't win at this game no mattter what I do. rant, rant, rant.

HAHAHAHAHA, definitely happens. I'm definitely gonna do shorter sessions, and if i wanna keep playing, i'll do some pushups in between to give me a mental break.

Thanks guys for all the input.

[speedcake]

My sessions are anywhere from 30-120 minutes. Most hover around the 90-100 mins though.

30 minutes seems like barely enough time to get some tables open, get into the game mindset and start to figure things out.

If you are just grabbing some hands like before you leave for work, or school or before your favorite show comes on then maybe don't bother and review old HHs and sessions instead?

Wait until you can devote a couple of hours to a session without distraction, interruption or anything else that takes the mind off of the task.

[Gobbatino]

30 minutes seems like barely enough time to get some tables open, get into the game mindset and start to figure things out.

If you are just grabbing some hands like before you leave for work, or school or before your favorite show comes on then maybe don't bother and review old HHs and sessions instead?

Wait until you can devote a couple of hours to a session without distraction, interruption or anything else that takes the mind off of the task.

Yeah I understand. 30 min sessions are usually not planned on being that long. Like I trainwreck and drop 4 buy ins in half an hour or realize I'm too tired to play or just not on top of my game, I'm shutting down.

Normal is 1.5h - 2h sessions atm.

[Monty3038]

Whenever I notice myself wanting to check emails, see what is up on facebook, stuff like that, it is time to quit for an hour. Usually this equates to about 2 hrs per session