This is a question to all those who play live games a decent/high amount of hours weekly (especially for the non-smokers):
-Do you have a specific schedule, example play 4 hours, break 30 mins or do you jut sit there and play?
I've been finding an hard time leaving the table for a break, even when i feel tired and this concerns me because i'm sure this affects heavily my game.

Set a timer.

Get up when it goes off.

If you can't you likely lack control at the table and it's almost certain to be affecting you game in other areas as well. Like not folding hands you should be pre and post flop. Getting too committed to weaker strength hands.

Good luck.

I generally will go and walk to the pop dispenser and/or go to the bathroom every ~2 hrs. I also try to plan out when I'll eat a "real" meal which is normally 4-5 hrs. When I eat my real meal I usually have it delivered to the poker room where I eat away form the table which takes me 10 mins tops to eat. If I plan on playing for 7+ hrs which happens rarely at my small casino I'll take a 20-30 min break and go eat outside of the poker room to eat. If things aren't going well combined w/going card dead I might take more short 5 min breaks to break up the monotony of folding over and over.

Take a break whenever you feel the need to. Get up and walk outside for 10-20 minutes.

This.

I try to walk a lap around the casino and take a one orbit break every 1.5-2 hours, unless the game is so good I feel like missing any hands before certain people exit the game may cost me massive value.

Currently I am experimenting w/a walk every 1.5 hours. Recently I decided to incorporate a walk whenever I am upset by the way I played a hand. I know I'm upset about it when it sticks in my mind and takes away from my attention to the present.

I take a break whenever I feel the need to use the bathroom or if I am so hungry that my mind is more on food than on the game. I generally take only 5 minutes here and there, but my sessions are usually under 10 to 12 hours.

There are, unfortunately, habitual break takers who are regulars that are there to play poker and also socialize. They will be gone for a half hour, come back for 15 minutes, leave for another 20 minutes looking for and talking to all their poker buddies, etc. This thread made me think of all those people (you know who you are). Personally I think it's rude and selfish, but thats subject matter for another thread so I won't derail it.

Everyone is different, OP, the important thing is if you feel the need to take a break then by all means do it. Taking a walk around the casino getting your mind off of the game for 15 minutes or so does wonders, as does grabbing a slice of pizza and chilling in the food court or walking outside to see if the 'normal world' is still there.

In addition, taking a break when you get coolered or lose a big pot is by far the most important time to take it. It's better to take a break now than to stay there with your mind still on it and let it interfere with your future hands.

Time your break between Btn -2 (cause you can buy the Btn) and bb (so you don't have to post). And anytime you're on tilt.

I busted from a tournament after going deep but bubbling (this was like 2004 ish) because i was thirsty. I now make it a point to make sure I walk to the nearest drinking fountain at least every 2 hours, and I plan out a a 1/2 hour to eat every six.

I generally don't take breaks unless I have a sick cooler/bad beat.

I do however drink about 2-3 glasses of water an hour while playing so I take plenty of trips to the potty.

Drink your water kids!

this is a good point. I always leave just prior to either UTG+1 or UTG. Then when I get back from the bathroom, phonecall, or whatever I post in the cutoff.

There is always someone who asks me why I leave then and not after the button in case the bbj hits. They are the people who play their button, then get up (and miss the co, the hj and the lj, the best positions to play).

get a fitbit. soon you'll be obsessed with getting steps.

I played a 7 hour sessions once without getting out of the chair.

At my casino 5/10 nlh runs 3 days a week with 2 of those days the game runs between 6-10 hours and 1 day it runs for 16 hours. I try to play the whole time for the 6-10 hour days and then about 12 hours on the day it runs 16 hours. i never get bored at 5/10 and dont need breaks, but i feel 12 hours is as long as i can last

as for 2/5 i play usually 4 hour sessions. i live only 15 minutes away so sometimes i play a 4 hour session in the morning/early afternoon then go home and come back at night at play another 4 hours. if you cant go home i suggest maybe go get something to eat then come back

and then if im bored of nlh ill go olay plo for a long session and not get bored

-basically mix it up

My average session length is 7.6 hours and then only time I miss a hand is when I take a 5 minute bathroom break (usually every couple of hours or so). However, I constantly get out of my chair and stand up / stretch my legs/back / go for a walk around the table inbetween hands (always sitting down in time for the next hand).

GannoyingmyneighboursG

Start smoking weed

Wow described me to a T. Well done.

Based on the quality of this post, you should stop smoking weed.

ive played poker for about 6 yrs and my average session is probably about 6 hrs though playing for 12-18 hrs is common. i have never taken breaks. when i go to play poker, thats what i do until i leave. eat at the table to avoid missing hands. go to the bathroom if you need to when u are utg and try to be fast to not miss a hand.

maximizing your time at the table maximizes ev!

also, quit smoking, smoking is -ev from your bankroll and liferoll