There is a reason most people only work eight hours a day. After that amount of time their mind starts to wander, their skills deteriorate, and even the most expensive deodorant begins to break down. By the end of a work day, a lot of folks are just gibbering idiots and a shell of the coffee reinforced worker who showed up at the start of the day. This is also true of poker players. Those who play hold’em for extended periods of time may peek after about five hours, but as they approach that magical number of eight, their skill starts to go downhill. This is less noticeable during poker tournaments because most people start going south about the same time, but in cash games, as new hold’em players platoon in and out of the game, somebody who has been at the poker table too long can really get exposed.
Most poker players do it because they love the game. With that said, it is important for even the most ardent competitor to know when to leave the poker table. A good idea is to put a time limit on your game. If you are going to play for an extended amount of time, establish how long that time will be. For example, set the alarm on your watch or your phone to go off eight hours after you started playing. Regardless of what is going on, cash in your chips and call it a day. If you are winning, this will prevent you from giving your hard earned winnings back. If you have been losing at the poker table, it will limit the damage. There is no downside to establishing a time limit. The tough part is resisting the urge to keep playing after the bell rings. That is where a poker player’s personal discipline comes into play. That is something they can develop over time.
