Online poker mentally draining

[SuiGeneris89]

Do not play too much, because it is too tiring and it affects the game negatively. Better to play only 3 or 4 tournaments a week, and you can give your best in them

only 3 or 4 a week? wow, I have to say that seems way too low if you are trying to improve and become competitive. Are you a winning player? I do not ask to be rude, but I am wondering if your strategy is advancing your play and BR or if you mostly break even or lose? Many of the poker players that I listen to that have had great success talk about playing thousands of tournaments a year.

 

[SuiGeneris89]

I totally agree that if you can play well online, you can play well live, but remember that limits are not immediately transferable. A £50 live tournament at your local casino is likely to be quite soft, whereas a £50 online MTT is likely full of very capable players. Same with cash. A £5/£10 game probably plays more like a $0.50/$1.00 game online.

Wow, this is such a good point to consider. I haven't played live in years, but when I switched to online, what you just explained hit me in the face.

 

[SuiGeneris89]

I have been playing poker most days for a very long time and before covid I was in the casino every day. I never ever got tired of " live poker " but online poker is different.

Live poker you are chatting to poker friends, chip shuffling, reading your opponents and it's more relaxed. I am finding days and days of online poker tiring and mentally exhausting, sometimes I just want a break from it which I never had with live poker.

I am putting this down to multi table action , constant analysis of hands and faster variance due to more hands played.

Also the emotional side of this drains me too, seeing coolers/bad beats and feeling angry because your opponents played a hand badly and taken your hard earned chips. Or you play a hand badly and you are upset with how you played it.

Internet poker you a playing thousands of hands more than a live game, in my opinion if you can play well online you can play well live.

I have experienced what you are describing, and the only thing I want to say is that I recently started doing breathing exercises/mediation on the 5 min breaks from MTT's and the stress has decreased immensely. I have been using the Wim Hoff Breathing and it blasts out the stress, makes the body more comfortable, and... increases my intuition/ "sense of things"

 

[SuiGeneris89]

So David I have the same opinion as you.
I learned to play live poker and due to the pandemic I was forced to play poker online. I play poker because it is fun, strategic, romantic, but those qualities are not in online poker. Furthermore, observing players, and perceiving reactions and emotions only in live poker is possible. Another thing is really the variance, which in my opinion is ridiculous. There are many more bad beats onlive than live. And there is no one on this planet who can prove that the shuffle and variance is the same as live poker.

I remember that in live poker (root poker) there is no software to assist the player. And whoever uses software in my opinion is cheating. I play online, but only freerolls. I just put money on the live poker table.

I agree with what you said, but I have been challenging my opinions and perspectives on this lately. I think the online poker software is questionable, at best. Still possible to win, make money and all that, but, it's almost a different game than live poker. So, if it's a different game, and most of the competition uses a HUD or something, aren't you simply putting yourself at a disadvantage by not having it? Is it cheating if "everyone is doing it"?

I play online poker, and have been grinding out freerolls and micro baby MMT's and have gone from $0-90 since may. Is it impressive? no, but my point is to say that I have been able to win these freerolls and place to raise the BR despite the feeling that nefarious things are built in. So, if you are playing freerolls, are you winning at all? is your BR growing and you just never spend the .10-$5 you're making on the free ones?

 

[martinf1971]

It does not matter if iit is oonline or Live poker is mentallly draining you need to keep a clear head in both

 

[AllinIgor]

Buddy, in fact they are two very different things, maybe you are tired because online poker is more dynamic, you can play at different tables and receive hundreds of hands where you will have to make decisions faster and sometimes at the same time. I suggest that when you play online, do not play at many tables, and do not play for a long time, it is really exhausting, especially if you are doing well in tournaments. Take a couple of days without playing online and when you play again, play on a few tables, with your energy renewed, you will surely have better success and excellent results. Good luck at the tables!

I have been playing poker most days for a very long time and before covid I was in the casino every day. I never ever got tired of " live poker " but online poker is different.

Live poker you are chatting to poker friends, chip shuffling, reading your opponents and it's more relaxed. I am finding days and days of online poker tiring and mentally exhausting, sometimes I just want a break from it which I never had with live poker.

I am putting this down to multi table action , constant analysis of hands and faster variance due to more hands played.

Also the emotional side of this drains me too, seeing coolers/bad beats and feeling angry because your opponents played a hand badly and taken your hard earned chips. Or you play a hand badly and you are upset with how you played it.

Internet poker you a playing thousands of hands more than a live game, in my opinion if you can play well online you can play well live.

 

[David macdonald]

I have experienced what you are describing, and the only thing I want to say is that I recently started doing breathing exercises/mediation on the 5 min breaks from MTT's and the stress has decreased immensely. I have been using the Wim Hoff Breathing and it blasts out the stress, makes the body more comfortable, and... increases my intuition/ "sense of things"

I love wim hoff hes so good, I started to do wim hoff a couple of years gao and had cold baths most days I have never felt better.

 

[David macdonald]

Buddy, in fact they are two very different things, maybe you are tired because online poker is more dynamic, you can play at different tables and receive hundreds of hands where you will have to make decisions faster and sometimes at the same time. I suggest that when you play online, do not play at many tables, and do not play for a long time, it is really exhausting, especially if you are doing well in tournaments. Take a couple of days without playing online and when you play again, play on a few tables, with your energy renewed, you will surely have better success and excellent results. Good luck at the tables!

Yes I get all these points, I know hat because I am not exercising like I used to that isnt helping due to covid restrictions. If I get my fitness back Im 100% certain I will feel better.

 

[Gallarado777]

Yes, poker is tiring, you are very tired and your brain is very stressed so you should rest for a while or it will be very difficult to play live poker much easier in this regard, you play fewer hands

 

[EnzoRS94]

It's just a feeling, learn to control it and you're fine.
and gamble responsibly.

 

[Rockyfour]

Yea it is, I have to take breaks from it every now and then. I try not to watch the tables after the all-in happens to see who wins. I think that diminishes the spikes in your mood you get when you win/lose a pot.

 

[Duxflux]

I have been playing poker most days for a very long time and before covid I was in the casino every day. I never ever got tired of " live poker " but online poker is different.

Live poker you are chatting to poker friends, chip shuffling, reading your opponents and it's more relaxed. I am finding days and days of online poker tiring and mentally exhausting, sometimes I just want a break from it which I never had with live poker.

I am putting this down to multi table action , constant analysis of hands and faster variance due to more hands played.

Also the emotional side of this drains me too, seeing coolers/bad beats and feeling angry because your opponents played a hand badly and taken your hard earned chips. Or you play a hand badly and you are upset with how you played it.

Internet poker you a playing thousands of hands more than a live game, in my opinion if you can play well online you can play well live.

After all, this proves that we are human beings and sooner or later need contact with other people. Online, everything is digital and the body also notices this over time. Even in an office job, which can also be very strenuous, you usually have contact with other employees. And I think that's exactly what's getting to you.
If you miss the chips, I recommend buying some and shuffling them around in online poker. I do that too and it helps a bit.

 

[houcineben10]

I have been playing poker most days for a very long time and before covid I was in the casino every day. I never ever got tired of " live poker " but online poker is different.

Live poker you are chatting to poker friends, chip shuffling, reading your opponents and it's more relaxed. I am finding days and days of online poker tiring and mentally exhausting, sometimes I just want a break from it which I never had with live poker.

I am putting this down to multi table action , constant analysis of hands and faster variance due to more hands played.

Also the emotional side of this drains me too, seeing coolers/bad beats and feeling angry because your opponents played a hand badly and taken your hard earned chips. Or you play a hand badly and you are upset with how you played it.

Internet poker you a playing thousands of hands more than a live game, in my opinion if you can play well online you can play well live.

Personnaly I recommend to stop playing when u see yourself doing weird plays, it’s the best advice I can give u ♥️♦️♠️♣️

 

[David macdonald]

how things have changed since I posted this, I have learned to deal with the tilt side of poker now through study and controlling my emotions and practising good mental well being. I feel fine now but can be tiring after a long session multi tabling for sure. I now have a good life balance and take breaks to compensate.

 

[dallam]

After all, this proves that we are human beings and sooner or later need contact with other people. Online, everything is digital and the body also notices this over time. Even in an office job, which can also be very strenuous, you usually have contact with other employees. And I think that's exactly what's getting to you.
If you miss the chips, I recommend buying some and shuffling them around in online poker. I do that too and it helps a bit.

Oh yes, we need those personal contacts When I'm ending my session, in the next moment I find some people and talking or looking for my cat to have some real life touch, far away from the online atmosphere.
I do have chips around me as well, and I'm shuffling them too. Even tho I'm never played a serious live MTT at all, I get the idea of making you calm =)

 

[dallam]

how things have changed since I posted this, I have learned to deal with the tilt side of poker now through study and controlling my emotions and practising good mental well being. I feel fine now but can be tiring after a long session multi tabling for sure. I now have a good life balance and take breaks to compensate.

There you go David, good for you! I can totally relate to your words. Even not playing multiple tables at all, only enjoying the game, and its still profitable so.. People should do their steps on their way, and in your case its worked. Good luck to you.

 

[Newzooozooo]

I have been playing poker most days for a very long time and before covid I was in the casino every day. I never ever got tired of " live poker " but online poker is different.

Live poker you are chatting to poker friends, chip shuffling, reading your opponents and it's more relaxed. I am finding days and days of online poker tiring and mentally exhausting, sometimes I just want a break from it which I never had with live poker.

I am putting this down to multi table action , constant analysis of hands and faster variance due to more hands played.

Also the emotional side of this drains me too, seeing coolers/bad beats and feeling angry because your opponents played a hand badly and taken your hard earned chips. Or you play a hand badly and you are upset with how you played it.

Internet poker you a playing thousands of hands more than a live game, in my opinion if you can play well online you can play well live.

Hi.
I don't think that players who only play online and have good results will also have good results in live play. I'm not sure about that. A live game is more difficult and requires better psychological preparation.
Good luck.

 

[David macdonald]

Hi.
I don't think that players who only play online and have good results will also have good results in live play. I'm not sure about that. A live game is more difficult and requires better psychological preparation.
Good luck.

I actually disagree, I used to play live 4-5 times per week and I am 100% a better player now live and online after online study. I actually think online players that study are far better than live players that dont play online. Theres a few factors to consider, I literally played 100,000 hands last year and there is no way that a live player can achieve that. I study using online material, solvers and I am in a couple of study groups. Some of these guys I am learning with are online crushers and understand exactly how to play every hand in every position for max EV. These solver type players will literally crush live players over time that rely most on reads and dont study solvers or GTO. Live players that study and play online and live however will get good results.

Also what preparation does live players have that online doesnt ? multi tabling online is far more tiring and requires way more prep in IMO.

I understand that counting the chip stacks and the pot ect is more difficult but your only at 1 table. plenty time to think

 

[Polytarp]

I found that one online game isn't enough and eight multi-tabled games are sometimes too much. My comfort zone fluctuates relative to the value of the games played vs the amount. Sometimes complete focus is more relaxing than 80%,

 

[Cooking]

After a long session of online poker I usually feel very tired. If it's only 1-2 days it's ok, but if I had to play long sessions almost everyday (like a professional poker player), I would probably be very stressed. The ideal for me is to play 4-5 hours maximum daily.

 

[Rost]

I do not agree with you. I believe that playing live is more difficult, as it requires endurance and concentration. Playing online also requires endurance and concentration, but not as much as playing live.

 

[TeUnit]

I like to think that the brain is a muscle and just like if you exercise hard you get tired, if you think hard you will get tired to. Its good to get a mental and physical workout in.

 

[10gerka]

the game of online poker is exhausting when you play many hours, but that should work a lot on the emotional part so you can cope and not have to exhaust yourself mentally as that can lead you to make bad decisions in your game.

 

[19aleks57]

I think that any poker player has his own physical abilities, so if the brain gets tired, reduce the load

 

[June4Spades]

I do not agree with you. I believe that playing live is more difficult, as it requires endurance and concentration. Playing online also requires endurance and concentration, but not as much as playing live.

I totally agree. Keeping the poker face takes so much energy.