Okay, this is a topic that I feel I have had some experience with.
I currently consider myself to be working two jobs. I work full time during the day and then hit the poker tables at night. I am the proverbial candle burner.
At first, this was a real struggle. The late nights, fatigue, lethargy, etc, effected both my game and my work. I was irritable during the day and totally zapped at night. My job became more of an effort and my poker diminished in quality.
To combat this, I decided to make a few changes:
(i) Play less live poker
If you play live and do well, you probably won’t be seeing beddie byes until 3-5am. Maybe even 6am if you have far to travel. Personally, I need at least an hour to wind down, otherwise I just can’t get to sleep.
If you throw into the mix petrol, smoky clothes, few games, etc, then perhaps it would be best to frequent the online tables. There’s nothing wrong with playing live, but if you have to get up at 8 the next morning, then the sleep deprivation will eventually catch up with you.
(ii) Play less multis
Multis are very time consuming and can often drift into the early hours of the morning. They also don’t allow for too many breaks. If you’ve been working all day, come home, have your tea, and then spend 4 continuous playing a multi before going to bed, then you’re really not giving your brain enough rest.
My suggestion would be to focus on cash games and STTs. Obviously with cash you can come and go when you please and breaks aren’t dictated by a clock. Unlike multis, STTs won’t last much longer than 45 mins, therefore giving you ample time between playing to take a break.
(iii) Get healthy
One reason why work and poker doesn’t mix too well is because the individual isn’t looking after himself. Don’t let poker take you into the early hours of the morning. Get some early nights so you can feel fresh tomorrow, both for work during the day and poker in the evening.
Do some exercise. It’s an old cliché but it really rings true with this sort of problem. ‘Healthy body, healthy mind.’ If you feel good, you’ll play good. I always play worse when I’m feeling down, angry, frustrated, etc. Put yourself in the right frame of mood by doing some exercise and feeling good about yourself.
Eat properly. Eat breakfast. Plenty of fruit. Don’t cut out meals. Don’t eat tea at an ungodly hour. Don’t let an obsession with poker control when you feed yourself. It’s very hard to cook when you’re in the middle of a comp.
(iv) Play in moderations
When you’re working, there is often the tendency to play more than you should. People think they have less time to earn their poker wage and must do it asap. Not true. Don’t force the issue. Don’t play as soon as you get home to the time you go to bed. If you only feel like playing for an hour or two, just play for those 2 hours, no more. If you’re tired, don’t play. Take a day off. Take the early night instead and ambush the tables the next day when you feel on top of your game.
(v) Be Patient
If work is taking up a lot of your potential poker time, then you’re just going to have to build up your bankroll gradually. Don’t play out of your comfort zone and don’t sit down with more cash than you can afford. Patience. Patience. Patience. Both within the game and in your every day life.
Briefly, this is what I do:
Work 5 days a week, full time hours. Get back around 5.30-6pm. Play online for a couple of hours. Relax. Play for an hour or 2 more. Now and then, if I feel in the mood, I’ll take on a multi or 2. Watch tv or read a poker book in between poker. Go to bed 12.30-1am.
If there is a festival, big freezout, etc I want to play, I make sure I can get leave for the day after. I don’t want to have to be going to work shattered, win or lose. I also try to target weekend live comps. The Walsall £300 2 day event for example.
I do my best , although often don’t succeed, in eating well, exercising, going to bed before 1am, and relaxing my brain. Anything to avoid morale or energy levels from dropping.
This formula enables me to make a steady and consistent profit online, and take the odd big win live.
I have often considered chucking my job in and playing poker full-time, but it’s currently too much of a risk. You need a sizable bankroll to do this and a great deal of consistency in your game. A more realistic option is to play semi-professionally and work part-time, so if you hit a run of cold cards, you’ve at least got some sort of income to depend on. However, before you decide, carry on as planned. Play in moderations, remain patient, and see how much you earn. Then after a while, reassess your situation.
Good luck. Hope that helps.
snoops
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