Letters to Doctor Jack
Hi Dr. Jack,
Last night I played in the PPP $1000 freeroll, with another 900+ player. It was a great tournament.
However, although I finished 21st, which was my best ever finish in such an event, I seemed to lose it whilst I was in the last 40 players.
My stack was highest at 125K, and a few hands later I'm going all in with my last 20K. Granted, I brought my stack back to the top again, and a 2nd time I had to go all in with my last 25K, which brought me back up yet again.
However, by final time I was beaten. I was dealt KQ, beaten by a pocket pair of 4's.
The question is this. I kinda felt myself tiring a little, my eyes not 100% focused, and the need for me to re-freshen, but I couldn't.
Have you any tips for preparation, how to keep yourself sprightly, and not fade, which is what I think happened to me? I played brilliantly at times, even bluffing 50K out of someone, but faded badly.
Help for the future please. Thanks.
Oh... and I love the column Doc!
Cheers Ray
Glad you enjoy the column and thanks for such an interesting question.
Most people don't give much thought to the stamina required to compete in large multi-table tournaments. Many successful pros put a lot of their success down to the edge they have by being fit, alert and fresh when the majority of the field begins to get tired during a long session.
In online MTTs, it is equally important to be mentally sharp and 'plugged' into the game at hand at all times. My advice would be firstly to not play when you are tired. There’s always a game to play so play yours when you are feeling awake, refreshed and alert. Secondly, approach your play in a professional manner. Have a clean, clear space for your pc, sit up straight and get yourself into a winning frame of mind. Realise the edge you are giving yourself over the competition and exploit it!
If you find you are losing focus during a tournament take a break. Sit out for a few hands if you can afford to. Get some fresh air for a few minutes and realise that a chip saved is as good as a chip won in MTTs!
And forget how silly you might look....but if your eyes get sore during an online session there's nothing wrong with wearing a pair of shades! Just don't let your friends see you :)
All the best at the tables, now go have a nice lay down!
Dr. Jack
All about Dr Jack
Dr Jack is one of four brothers from a large family of fifty two. A dapper gent, you will always see him in a suit. Although on the more debauched side, he claims to like a woman with a nice pair and has occasion to get blind drunk on his favoured tipple, “Gin”. He likes to run occasionally and would describe himself as straight, although most people do think he is a bit nuts. He was once caught folding to a gay waiter...
Flush with cash and a member of several affluent clubs, he once ran a marginally successful fresh water lobster farm. Unfortunately the business flopped leaving him feeling like a bit of a cowboy. He left the world of opulence to follow his heart all the way to poker heaven. His peers describe him as a “diamond geezer” and “one of a kind”. Those who have fallen foul to his superior skills refer to him with less gracious terms.
Dr Jack lives in a rather full house in the Cotswold’s with his two dogs Siegfried and Roy and a Bolivian tree frog called Boris.
