Burnout is a common problem among poker players, afflicting both professional and recreational players alike. Poor play, not enjoying the game, and a bad attitude are all symptoms of the same cause. Here’s my take on how poker players get burnt out and how to avoid it.
What Does Burnout in the Poker World Look Like?
This summer at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas, I played my usual schedule with the opening events and a stay of around two weeks before heading home for a break. I returned for the BetMGM Poker Championship at ARIA Resort & Casino and the final stretch of WSOP around the end of June.
I noticed a stark difference in my opposition upon returning to Vegas on my second leg. Everybody looked tired, worn down, and the quality of play had declined since the beginning of the summer. When I conversed with players about their schedule, many admitted they had been playing for 30 days straight and were ready to get out of town.
This is a classic example of burnout. Continuing to play and go through the motions when you’re not fully locked in, or don’t want to be there, is one of the most costly mistakes poker players can make. With so many venues and tournament series available these days, players often get caught in the trap of feeling like they have to play everything. There will always be another poker tournament. I have often given the advice of “quality over quantity” to poker players. The value of a day off is something players often don’t realize until they take advantage of it.
The Rest Day
The value of a rest day between tournaments or cash games is massive in avoiding burnout and maintaining your sanity as a poker player. During a long grind, there is often little time to relax, reflect, or even evaluate our play.
All players are different in what they are looking for during a rest (or reset) day. Some want to investigate a few close spots they have and catch up on some poker study from their recent tournaments. Others prefer to spend time with friends and enjoy some social events. A few like myself enjoy a spell of solitude and self-reflection, both on my recent play and what is next to come.
I urge you to fight the compulsion to immediately enter the next available tournament. Very few poker players are built to be the high-volume machines that can continuously play at a high level for months. Asking yourself honestly, how did I play last session? Was I fully engaged? Did I want to be there? These are all questions that should be asked in assessing if it is time to take a break or hop back into the fray.
Don’t Burn Out
Poker is meant to be fun. Personally, I have more fun when I am enjoying the game and playing my best. And while the monetary incentive is always there to play as much as possible and earn as much as you can, playing while burnt out will not necessarily make you more money. It may even lead to losing money, creating bad habits in your play, and sustained downswings if not corrected.
Remember to take a beat every now and then between in your sessions or tournaments, do some self-assessment, and avoid those costly burnouts.
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