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Staying focused at the poker table is one of the most underrated skills that separates winning players from the rest. Distractions, fatigue, and emotional swings can quickly derail your game, but with the right mindset and strategies, you can maintain sharpness and make better decisions throughout your session.
Success Is Not An Accident
The first thing we have to do is make sure we have some kind of system. Most people blame their losing on bad luck and their success on how awesome they are. This isn’t helpful.
I’ve lately been on a hot streak in live cash. I’m perplexed by this, because I don’t feel like I’m using any elaborate strategy or doing anything special. When I looked back at my last 10 sessions, however, I found I was applying the following systems.
Play When You Actually Have The Time
I love live tournaments but they’re a huge pain in the ass to schedule. They take up multiple days, and you often have to travel for them.
I’ve been having difficulty scheduling live tournaments lately because I’ve been doing more poker lessons, so I finally just accepted my lot in life. I went back to my roots of playing cash games. They’re much easier to schedule.
Unsurprisingly, when your poker play isn’t eating into hours you need for other parts of your life, it’s much easier to play well. Ask yourself how much time you actually have and what is going to work for you.
Are you a night owl? Do you have other work commitments? Cash games might be better for you.
Is your schedule more flexible? Do you love the thrill of competition? Do you prefer playing during the day? Then tournaments might be a better idea.
Don’t Load Up On Food
Look, I don’t know your life, and I know you didn’t read this to be lectured to. But you also understand there are some basics involved with poker. If you load up on a heavy meal, it’s not inconceivable that you’ll become sleepy. This doesn’t help your focus at the table.
If you can eat a little lighter while you’re playing, it will go a long way. Snacks like lightly salted almonds will help you not starve while the hours go on.
Get At Least Seven Hours Of Sleep
This rule has saved my ass from a number of terrible sessions. If something comes up and I only sleep 6.5 hours the night before, I don’t let myself play poker. Period.
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’m wildly tired that same night and I’m thanking God I’m not grinding.
If you’re playing cash, quit when you’re tired. The second you get that feeling, stand up. You owe nothing to anyone. Your wallet needs you.
Clear Your Schedule The Next Day
If you’re playing a tournament or cash game that might go late into the night, you don’t want to be sweating what you have to do the next morning.
If you can play when there’s nothing scheduled the next day, it will help you be more relaxed on the felt. It’s even better if you can sleep in the next day.
Manage Your Commute
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been cutoff by a Colorado driver. I had a guy get into the wrong lane the other day and almost run into me head-on at 50+ MPH. If I hadn’t braked at the right time, I wouldn’t be writing this article.
Sometimes the commute to a cardroom is so awful or long it can just stress us out before we even have to play a hand. Recently, I started taking a shuttle to my cardroom of choice. When I did the math on how much the car depreciation and gas was costing me for a 100-mile round trip commute, the shuttle was going to cost me exactly $9 extra. $4.50 each way. I call.
Now, I listen to audiobooks and rest before my sessions. I’m mowing through books and feeling relaxed before I grind. Managing your commute can give you that.
Bring Headphones
Some days you’ll have some horse’s ass at the table who will never shut up. They’re like prize fighters who run their mouths. They make money when everyone pays to see them get their jaw cracked.
Don’t let them take your energy. Don’t pay them off. Turn your headphones on and block them out.
It’s not perfect, but it will work.
Write Down Interesting Hands
If you want to pay better attention at the table, write down the hands that are most interesting to you in your cell phone. They don’t even have to be hands you play. They can be huge pots that happened between the biggest characters in your cardroom.
Read the hands back later. Discuss them with your friends. Look for the huge mistakes your opponents are making. Look for the huge mistakes you’re making.
Go For Walks On Your Off Days
Have you ever Googled what exercise does for your focus levels? The thing lights up like a Christmas tree with studies.
Exercise helps people focus better by increasing blood flow to the brain and releasing chemicals that improve attention and mood. It also reduces stress, improves sleep, and helps the brain grow stronger, making it easier to stay sharp and concentrate on tasks.
Any kind of exercise is helpful, but if you’re looking for something simple to get started with, try walking on your off days.
I have a stack of books on my bedside table which I haven’t cracked open in years. I recently started looking them up on Audible Plus and Spotify. I’m mowing through the audiobook versions of the books while I walk during my off hours. My focus has been soaring since I committed to getting out every day and getting some fresh air with the sun.
Watch What You’re Drinking
This is another no shit-Sherlock piece of advice, but it’s worth repeating, because many people do not work on this.
Obviously, tossing back multiple alcoholic beverages will not help your focus. However, I also found energy drinks suck at helping you pay attention. I haven’t had one in years. It seems to be something with the sugar, either artificial or real, that causes burn out. If you switch to tea or coffee without sugar it seems to improve focus greatly.
Conclusion
Staying focused at the poker table isn’t just about talent — it’s about preparation, discipline, and self-awareness. By incorporating these strategies into your routine, you can optimize your mental sharpness and make better decisions when it matters most. From managing your schedule and diet to prioritizing rest and exercise, these small adjustments can have a big impact on your long-term success.
Poker is a game of skill, but success is no accident. It’s built on the foundation of consistent habits and smart choices. Stay focused, stay disciplined, and let your best game shine through.
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Alexander Fitzgerald is a professional poker player and bestselling author who currently lives in Denver, Colorado. He is a WPT and EPT final tablist, and has WCOOP and SCOOP wins online. His most recent win was the $250,000 Guaranteed on ACR Poker. He currently enjoys blasting bums away in Ignition tournaments while he listens to death metal. Free training packages of his are provided to new newsletter subscribers who sign up at PokerHeadRush.com
