Posted Wed Apr 06, 2005 2:41 pm GMT by redd38
This will be my first trip to a casino and hopefully my longest continuous session of poker. So any advice from the casino vets? How can I keep my concentration after 18+ hours of poker? Anything you wish you had known the first time you went?
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Posted Wed Apr 06, 2005 8:58 pm GMT by xDiamond_CutteRx
Don't play for 18 hours straight. That's my tip. Play for 8 hours max, take a few breaks, get something to eat, don't drink alcohol, stay hydrated, and get some rest when you get tired.
Posted Wed Apr 06, 2005 11:20 pm GMT by JustinHEMI04
Well unlike the above poster I often pull 36 hour sessions.  It goes by before you know it. I drink a lot of water with an occassional coffee. About one every 2 hours, I get up and walk around for 20 minutes. And don't forget to eat. If you do like me, you have to stay fed and hydrated. Its easy to let time pass and forget about your basic needs then your concentration fails and you lose.
Justin
Posted Thu Apr 07, 2005 3:14 am GMT by groton
dont do more then like 12/16 hours trust me.
the only time i play long hours when im prepering for a turny like a WPT event even thoe iv never gotting in one yet out side the small Early events offered at foxwoods.
but one day i shall win a WPT and a WSOP Event
Posted Thu Apr 07, 2005 7:35 am GMT by Muck
Why play for so long? I always wondered what the benefit was.
I can understand if you’re playing for cash at a table full of fish. But most of the time you can find a table just as good as the one you’re currently at after you’ve slept and come back.
Posted Thu Apr 07, 2005 10:28 am GMT by redd38
cause the casino is a long way away, so I'm not driving to another state to sleep, i'm going to play poker
Posted Thu Apr 07, 2005 10:35 am GMT by fundmyhabit
get a goodnights sleep tonight...
Posted Thu Apr 07, 2005 4:32 pm GMT by JustinHEMI04
| Muck wrote: | Why play for so long? I always wondered what the benefit was.
I can understand if you’re playing for cash at a table full of fish. But most of the time you can find a table just as good as the one you’re currently at after you’ve slept and come back. |
Because I can't help it.
Justin
Posted Thu Apr 07, 2005 5:09 pm GMT by howzit
| JustinHEMI04 wrote: | | Muck wrote: | | Why play for so long? I always wondered what the benefit was. |
Because I can't help it.
Justin |
playing over 16-18 hours either you will be stuck and chase losses or bleed your profits back.
Posted Thu Apr 07, 2005 5:19 pm GMT by fundmyhabit
| Quote: | | playing over 16-18 hours either you will be stuck and chase losses or bleed your profits back. |
This is not always true. I made $1100 in an 18hr session once. But I've also lost half as much in an 18 hour session.
I don't think it had anything to do with the length of time i was there though.
Posted Thu Apr 07, 2005 5:35 pm GMT by howzit
| fundmyhabit wrote: | | Quote: | | playing over 16-18 hours either you will be stuck and chase losses or bleed your profits back. |
This is not always true. I made $1100 in an 18hr session once. But I've also lost half as much in an 18 hour session.
I don't think it had anything to do with the length of time i was there though. |
ok, you caught me. I've had extraodinary heaters where everything is clicking and our stacks are untouchable. These moments are more rare than commonplace, and more importantly, unplanned.
Justin, I'm touching up on a guideline that others have explicity mentioned that going into a session w/the mindset of logging 20+ hrs w/out taking into consideration table opposition, bankroll, tilt and fatigue is placing your hard-earned bankroll at a unnecessary risk.
I've played 24 hour long sessions stretching into two days. So yes, I'm a hypocrite and most of the time I've always wished I quit earlier. But that was when I was gung-ho and needed the action.
So, good luck and i hope the deck hits you in the face right when you need it.
Posted Thu Apr 07, 2005 5:45 pm GMT by howzit
eat every six hours to keep your blood sugar going.
When taking a break, go to the side and stretch your legs that haven't moved in six hours.
Drink plenty of water.
If you're going to drink, do it well. . . straddle, 3-bet blind, and overtip.
Posted Thu Apr 07, 2005 5:49 pm GMT by howzit
justin, great setup. If only you lived 4 hours closer to the city. . .
you handle high limit players? what's the action like?
Posted Thu Apr 07, 2005 10:01 pm GMT by Zig
I live 20min from a casino yet still sit there for 8-12 hr sessions.
If you can at least make a rate around the BB/hr, you're doing ok - shoot for that and if you're well ahead of it, consider walking away - tough to do though when you have a big stack of other peoples money in front of you.
good luck!
Zig
Posted Fri Apr 08, 2005 5:39 am GMT by JustinHEMI04
| howzit wrote: | justin, great setup. If only you lived 4 hours closer to the city. . .
you handle high limit players? what's the action like? |
Very aggressive, very intense. The guys that play my higher games don't screw around. There is none of this playing anything sooted and there is no such thing as limping in. I have rarely seen and unraised pot preflop with these guys. Often its 3 and 4 betted prefop. It almost the purest form of the game I have ever seen.
About the long sessions at the casino. I don't sit there for 24 hours and lose. If Its a losing session, I know early on and quit. But if I am winning, I don't quit until the cards turn. And I don't know if you have been to turning stone, but the place is full of people just waiting to give their money away. I maintain that the 20-40 table there is full of 2-4 players with money.
Justin
Posted Tue Apr 12, 2005 3:04 pm GMT by BeerWench13
It sounds silly, but these guys are right on certain things. Firstly, keep at least some awareness of the time. Last time I sat down at the poker table in a casino I didn't eat from breakfast until midnight. Not a good idea for most, especially guys (women are used to starving themselves).
Also, if you're going to drink, do it wisely. I had 3 beers (sissy beer like Miller Light, not real beer) and then a cup of coffee, 3 beers, a cup of coffee then a cup of water. Rinse, repeat. NEVER do this on an empty stomach.
Set a quitting time. I'm not saying that you have to get up at 4am on the dot or you'll turn into a pumpkin, but make sure you've set a time that you know will give you plenty of playing time but is a reasonable time to walk away.
Plan a certain amount that you're willing to lose. If you lose what you'd planned on spending, don't buy in again. Walk away and find a cute girl to hit on. Use that money to buy her a drink.
NEVER, under any circumstances, sit down at the poker table when you've been drinking for 9 hours straight. Trust me on this one. It's not pretty.
Posted Sun Apr 17, 2005 5:28 pm GMT by mindgame
BeerDear, there is NO beer allowed during a poker game. None. You disappoint me. After...yeah. During, never.
Posted Mon Apr 18, 2005 7:21 am GMT by BeerWench13
| Quote: | | there is NO beer allowed during a poker game. None. |
There is where I play. 
It's okay. I know my limits. Besides, Miller Lite isn't really beer anyway. It's just rice flavored water. No worries.
Posted Mon Apr 18, 2005 7:22 am GMT by mindgame
shall we agree to disagree then?
Posted Mon Apr 18, 2005 7:36 am GMT by Dave B
I only drink when I am winning. Then when I get back to even I stop until I make more.
Posted Mon Apr 18, 2005 8:18 am GMT by BeerWench13
| Quote: | | shall we agree to disagree then? |
Certainly. To each their own. If you don't know your drinking limits then you shouldn't drink at all. However, as the name describes, I've had plenty of years to deduce my drinking limits. I know how far I can go before I feel it. Beer loosens me up a bit and keeps me from playing too tightly at the table. Most of the time this is a good thing. I've only had a few occasions where the alcohol has been a poor choice (moonshine is not recommended for poker play). Most of the time I drink until I start to feel the effects and then have a cup of coffee followed by some water.
Beer also allows me to open up my personality as well. It's one hell of a distraction for those I've never played with before. It also allows me to chat with the players and pick up on their tells a bit more. Oh yeah, and if you want someone to call your all-in bet with pocket rockets, you can always act as if you're drunk. It's gets you a lot of action until they catch on to your ploy.
Posted Tue Apr 19, 2005 3:49 am GMT by Muck
| BeerWench13 wrote: | | Beer loosens me up a bit and keeps me from playing too tightly at the table |
Snap! I find a couple of drinks relaxes me and stops me panicking at every scary card, it also allows me to get the feel of the table and players.
I think this is why I normally move up the ranks about an hour into a tournament Unfortunately I’ve made the mistake of not slowing down and near the end (when I should be trying my hardest) I’ve been so drunk I my decisions have been poor 
It’s a fine line.
In UK casinos the problem doesn’t arise since I’ve never know a casino to allow alcohol outside of the bar area.
Posted Tue Apr 19, 2005 7:33 am GMT by BeerWench13
| Quote: | | In UK casinos the problem doesn’t arise since I’ve never know a casino to allow alcohol outside of the bar area. |
Really? We have cocktail waitresses everywhere. As long as you're sitting at a table and gambling and/or playing poker all drinks are free. Of course you have to tip your waitress if you want her to come back.
Posted Tue Apr 19, 2005 9:41 am GMT by Muck
| BeerWench13 wrote: | | Quote: | | In UK casinos the problem doesn’t arise since I’ve never know a casino to allow alcohol outside of the bar area. |
Really? We have cocktail waitresses everywhere. As long as you're sitting at a table and gambling and/or playing poker all drinks are free. Of course you have to tip your waitress if you want her to come back. |
Which casino is this? The ones I've visited offer soft drinks (coke, tea, coffee, water, etc...) for free to all and can be drank anywhere, but restrict alcohol.
Posted Tue Apr 19, 2005 9:57 am GMT by BeerWench13
| Quote: | | Which casino is this? |
Well, it's been that way in every casino I've played. The Tropicana in Atlantic City, Caesars Palace, the MGM and Bally's in Vegas, and the Casino Aztar in Evansville (you have to pay for your drinks in Aztar though).
Posted Tue Apr 19, 2005 10:21 am GMT by Sean_in_NJ
| BeerWench13 wrote: | | Of course you have to tip your waitress if you want her to come back. |
That's no guarantee either. It's getting so bad at the Trop lately, people have taken to walking to the bar in the simulcast area on their own rather than wait.
Posted Tue Apr 19, 2005 10:33 am GMT by Muck
Sorry BeerWench I didn’t know if you were referring to UK or US casinos.
The waiters/waitresses at the Grosvenor are pretty good and almost no one tips them.
Posted Tue Apr 19, 2005 11:09 am GMT by BeerWench13
| Quote: | | That's no guarantee either. It's getting so bad at the Trop lately, people have taken to walking to the bar in the simulcast area on their own rather than wait. |
I noticed that last time I was there. However, on the second day I was sitting at the other end of the poker room (closer to the simulcast area) and there was a waitress coming by about every 20 minutes or so. At the other end, you were lucky to get one within an hour.
Posted Tue Apr 19, 2005 12:14 pm GMT by Always_Bored
I find waitresses are hit or miss. Somedays they are asking every 10 minutes some days I see 1 a night. I always tip but it goes into a pool and is split up.
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