Poker Articles

Too Tired to Play?

By John Carlisle, MA, NCC

Search any number of poker articles in print magazines and online and you are certain to find a well-meaning author instructing you to never play the game if you are tired. I see it all of the time, and it makes me roll my eyes and sigh in disgust every time I read it. Even colleagues of mine who write about the psychology of poker have probably put it into writing. Well, folks, I am one Counselor who is also a realist. I am also a hungry, driven poker player that wants my loyal readers to fill their chip racks with cheques (as long as they are not MY chips!) So, I hereby implore you to not always heed what you read. To me, there are many circumstances where it is indeed advisable to play when tired. I would go so far as to say that there are some times when you should keep playing if you are so darn exhausted that you can hardly keep your eyes open! So, quit your yawning and read on...

I am sure that you have heard the tales of poker professionals playing (literally) 36 hours or more in a row. Ask any serious poker player about the longest they've ever played a cash game, and it is more likely to be measured in days than in hours. Could these savvy and profitable players be making foolish errors in judgment by playing so long? Would those players have made more money if they would have played in tidy, small increments of time with planned sleeping and meal breaks? I don't think so. If they played for 3-4 days straight, I can assure you that they probably left that poker room with their pockets over-stuffed and a wide (but exhausted) grin firmly implanted on their face.

I worry that there are naïve players out there who will passively listen to the advice of "never play when you are tired." These players will make an effort to take their leave from a table after the playing session has drug on to the point where they are bored and their eyes feel heavy. We might exhibit all sorts of symptoms: our eyelids droop, physical fatigue overtakes our muscles, our mind has trouble focusing, our attention wanes, our brain starts to feel as if it is in slow motion, our perception skills decrease, etc. Hey, sounds like a great time to cash out. Well, not so fast my friend. You see, we should never measure only ourselves when evaluating if we should take the next deal of the cards. The way the pros think is more in depth, as it involves comparing themselves against the competition.

A pro's self-evaluation within his head might look something like the following: "I am tired, hungry, and bored. I know that my concentration is not solid right now. I am probably only playing at about 65-70% of my ability. But, I am in a great seat position, with two super-tight players and two maniacs directly where I want them. There is an idiot with big stack bleeding his chips away and immediately reaching into his pocket for more money. There is a young-gun on the end of the table who is exuding a tell every time he hits a flop. This table is too juicy to leave. Even at my 70% capacity, this is a profitable situation. Heck, even at 40% capacity this could be a good situation. I won't be leaving this seat until I have busted them out or until I pass-out from utter exhaustion, whichever comes first."

Please, always remember these important steps in poker psychology ... self-evaluate, and then compare. This should be a continual process in any cash game. Your mind should be busy with this sort of important business. Is this table favorable for my playing style? Is my seat position good in light of the table composition? How many poor players are on this table that I can exploit? What advantages do I have in chip stack? Are my opponents also playing at decreased capacity due to being tired, bored, and/or drunk? Perhaps most importantly, am I currently able to outplay this table? Be honest with yourself, and you are sure to start seeing steady profits. If you feel that things are not favorable for you to line your pockets with cash, simply find a new table or new seat. If you are indeed too tired to best the tablemates, it is time to hit the bed for a long winter's nap. If your fatigue, ability, and table composition are such that you feel you are over-matched, then you know it is time to make an escape to save your chips for a better day.

Don't run from the table just because you are tired. Pulling in a huge pot is sure to provide more adrenalin than five cups of coffee. If the money is ripe for the pickings, you simply must ignore the oversimplified advice of those who tell you to never play when tired. Start thinking like a pro and start evaluating situations like a pro, and perhaps you just might start winning like a pro. Now go make it happen.

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About the Author:
John is a National Certified Counselor (NCC). He has a Master of Arts degree in Counseling from West Virginia University, and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from Lock Haven University. You can find out more about the psychology of poker from "the Poker Counselor" at pokercounselor@yahoo.com