about 120 h/ month
4 X 1h sessions , during the day and during the night.
Every session always includes for everyone a half hour checking your previous session play.
That about covers it.
Sunday nights are extra and totally different because of the guarantees, so u come up with solid 8h/day.
Of course we are not talking about 12 tabling in these situations because it is difficult to keep the focus and poker becomes a burden.
Very much a recreational player and I would estimate 30 hrs playing + 10-15 hours studying a month, or about 1.5 hours a day on average. So ratio is about 3:1(+).
I agree with Schnitzelfisch, in that, a lot of jobs consist of 2 modes - "automatic work" and "focused work". Focused work requires you to exercise judgement and weigh decisions and outcomes constantly, whereas automatic work tends to be more routine actions (i.e. do step 1, then step 2, if this happens then do this, etc...).
An increasing number of jobs are requiring more and more focused work, which can be mentally exhausting, and I think is contributing to the dramatic rise in mental health issues seen in the work-force over the past few years.
In terms of Poker - I think IvicaIliev77 is exactly right that it consists of both modes. I think to be successful, it requires a lot of focus work before it becomes automatic work; and if you don't want to plateau then you must keep up the focused effort.
Another question is how many hours a month it's optimal to play to maximise the monthly winrate (assuming that the health allows). Grinding too little, one gets a lower VIP level or scores lower in races, and life expenses eat more into the bankroll growth pace; grinding too much results in playing at too reg-infested tables or hours. I think 120-140 hours a month at <10 tables are optimal for cash games or SnGs (3-4 on Tue-Thu, 5-6 on Fri, 7-8 on Sat-Sun), but irregular sleep stops me from putting them in, and I end up playing for 50-60 hours. The rest is kinda studies but as not intense as you, pros, do
normal work hours is possible and many have done it for years. i have played nine months this year about 30 hours per week plus study and surfing and will continue as so as i have got stronger. i wont play more as i need the usual breaks but i wont play any less either as no need and i just get lazy if not playing soon after waking up as one might melt otherwise, but after some hours of play one can take a break, let the system rest a bit but not too much. eat, then put in more time. shopping, walking, shower in between is optional and depend of needs and feels. a couple of hours before sleep one should stop playing, and with many breaks one would actually play like all day, but any time more continuous, there is time for other things. but its hard to say what fits the best and it depends, eg. one could go beaching every day after the play, or in between two sessions. the latter is probably more healthy for the eyes, brain, body, emotions maybe. emotions too need the right breaks as they otherwise suffer too much of thinking. how hot or cold its outside and what time, is it raining, does one need more or less a break or go somewhere. what time the games are good or running at all, or should one change the time periodically. poker takes the energy and most of the rest is to be easy going most of the time. it takes ones time like any other job, or mental job and there is no energy for other than base and easy things, and tv time also will be cut. and thats all life there is but its enough.
That's a good point - the brain does need breaks every hour or so, even if they're 4-minute to avoid getting kicked out of jesus seats in cash games, or sync ones in MTTs; alas it's tougher to arrange them playing HU, but I think most villains will allow 4-minute pseudo-bathroom breaks if announced in the chat. Some conscious disciplinary effort is needed to make them regularly. I'm using Workrave for this, though it's far from ideal software. Note that such breaks should be used for intense detilting (maybe meditation); I have no bathroom or meal breaks as such, as I put snacks, numerous glasses of water and pee jars near the computer ![]()
Edit: SnGs are a different story :(; what I'm thinking about implementing is sitting out for 3 minutes in those rare moments when blinds are small at all the tables - it might give a psychological edge over grinders who play multihour sets without ever sitting out (bar iPoker disconnections
) and thus suffer from massive accumulated tilt near the end.
semi pro and playing nl10, as funny as it sounds thats what is it.
really struggling with volume. im able to do 1h session in the morning while fresh no problem and then one or two more 30min-45min sessions and sadly thats it. after that i feel like my focus level is dropping drastically and i have to stop my session as i usually catch myself autopiloting. and im trying to avoid that as much as possible because im not nearly as good as i would need to be to crush the limit in autopilot.
i think i have some nutrition problem which really decreases my energy levels. i lift weights 3-4 times a week and atm im taking on some bulk mass (muscle+ high % of body fat) so i need to eat lots of food which is not so "light" and easy to process for my stomach. from the new year im starting to cut (burning down fat) and will be eating lots of wegetables and lower my carbohydrates so it will be interesting to see how that affects my energy levels. if some one is interested in this, check my blog in january as i will definitely post some info how am i doing.
About 155h a month,for past three months,grinding those 180mans
gonna put more volume next year.