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Poker Video: MTT/SNG by AMT (Micro/Small Stakes)

just wanted to say I really like the implementation of DC shorts and I think this kind of thing is a great way to use it. short, informative, easy to watch, interesting and helpful.

Hehe after that intro I expected this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOsS3-__Hkw

Wow I really need to watch this.
I can't believe that Alex can do a short video ;-)

Wow I really need to watch this.
I can't believe that Alex can do a short video ;-)

They told me 10-15 minutes and this one is 17. Fail

just wanted to say I really like the implementation of DC shorts and I think this kind of thing is a great way to use it. short, informative, easy to watch, interesting and helpful.

+1
Loved the content and love the concept.

Do you have a set routine for breaks during the grind, or do you simply go to the bathroom and reload drink+food as needed?

Do you have a set routine for breaks during the grind, or do you simply go to the bathroom and reload drink+food as needed?

It's pretty break dependent for me. One or two of the breaks might mostly be taken up by snacks/getting food. A couple breaks are used mostly for stretching. Basically every break is for a refill of the water glass and quick numero uno. Occasionally, I'll be really tilted early in a session due to internet issues or playing badly, so I'll take the next break to step outside and take some deep breathes of fresh air, get my mind in the right place for the next hour of the grind, perhaps make a decision to cut the day short if it's really needed, what have you.

edit: Sometimes a break is used to go over a hand(s) with a friend that I feel I need to discuss to avoid tilt/make sure I'm sane at the time, or take the dogs out if it's my day. That's all I can think of atm though

What was the longest tournament you did play online? How many hours? I would be interested to know how you schedule your tourneys. Do you always play the same one starting at the same time on different rooms?

Hmmm. The longest single tournament I've ever played online was probably a lucky dollar new-player tournament on pokerstars when I first made my account back in 2004 Think it was something like 14-16 hours.

My goals are really to: A) Stay as sharp as possible through the entire session B) Don't burn out C) Get a reasonably full schedule/volume in, so I try to evaluate each day as to best meet the goals both before, during and after sessions. That said, nowadays, my MTT sessions run anywhere from 6-15 hours, usually in the 8-12 hour range. I don't always play the same one's starting at the same times, but yes for the most part I try to keep a consistent schedule and start with the same daily tournaments in the early afternoon (I'll typically start an hour or two earlier on weekends than on weekdays due to the tourney schedule on stars and FTP). Depending on the day, I load for 6-8 hours mostly, but on short days it might be 4 or 5 hours, and on sundays or big tournament series days it might be upwards of 10-12 just for registering (meaning 11-15ish of playing on the longer days probably).

edit: On days I don't feel as great I might start a bit later and cut out the bigger buy ins that I play ($300-1k freezeouts, 100 rebuys) and keep a smaller schedule. Pretty much the only major change that might happen to my schedule other than how long I reg. for, off days, or random special tournies that show up rarely.

They told me 10-15 minutes and this one is 17. Fail

And you tried to speak as fast as possible :-)
I'm currently preparing the same type of presentation. It is called "Pre-tagging Videos"

ATM, i have tried a few time to put long grinds in on a few sundays: playing my normal $4 rushaments, and playing the early $5 doubles, and any decent looking 1-8 ( and sometimes 1 superstack tourny) to put a real amount of volume in on one day. this usually means an ass lod of tables, like 8-10 and 3-4 being rushaments. i have burned out twice and had to cut my sessions short. my play wasn't bad, i wasn't tilted but after 3.5 hours of at least 3-4 rushaments none stop and 4-5 other tables i just get so worn down and can sometimes start getting headaches if i do this a few nights in a row. what can i do to get better at MTTing a lot more. I mean i normally play 4-6 rushaments for like 2.5 hours usually. those are the games im mainly grinding. how can i get more hours in? should i cut a few tables to keep my sessions longer?

I mean the normal tournys dont bother me bc even with 6 of them they tend to be so slow to act that it is very managable. ist the rushaments that make tired after a while. what can i do? i mean i have to play rushaments, the normals are kinda just me wanting badly to play them. any advice on pacing over a session would be great.

Hey rrumsey,

For one thing, make sure you're eating well and staying hydrated. I always have a glass of water next to me while I'm playing and it really helps keep me more alert for longer than I otherwise would be. I'd also take full advantage of those synchronized breaks. Make sure you step away from the computer, put a song on in the other room, go stretch or step outside for a quick smoke/drink/tea/whatever you like to do for a few minutes outside. I'd never be able to play a 10-15 hour mtt sesh without the breaks, and it's difficult enough even with that benefit in my experience.

Other things I mentioned in the presentation might help. Making sure you're on a reasonably consistent sleep schedule, eating reasonably well, trying to improve your game when not playing (which is really crucial not only for profitability straight up, but also for confidence which has direct impacts on all of these issues). There's no real secret, and everyone is going to have a different table cap, cap for time of registration, etc... so you just have to find where you're comfortable in general and on that particular day, and give it all you've got!

Also if you're playing several rush tables with others and are getting overwhelmed, on top of obviously making sure you're not so overwhelmed with table # that you can't perform well, you can consider playing the rush tables like normal mtts AKA don't rush to quick fold at every possible second. You will remain at a disadvantage from players getting in more hands than you, but at the same time you probably won't be going as crazy and end up losing focus on multiple tables as a result. Seems like it might work out better during the very busy points of your session. That or just cut out 1 or 2 of the normal freezeouts to see if that helps to keep things more manageable.

As you might have noticed with this explanation, I have some ideas that have worked for me and friends, but the human body and mind are really complex and unique, and it's going to end up being some variation of 'trial and error' for everyone while they find the regiment that fits best for themselves. good luck!

Hey rrumsey,

. Making sure you're on a reasonably consistent sleep schedule, eating reasonably well, and give it all you've got!

Also if you're playing several rush tables with others and are getting overwhelmed, on top of obviously making sure you're not so overwhelmed with table # that you can't perform well, you can consider playing the rush tables like normal mtts AKA don't rush to quick fold at every possible second. You will remain at a disadvantage from players getting in more hands than you, but at the same time you probably won't be going as crazy and end up losing focus on multiple tables as a result. Seems like it might work out better during the very busy points of your session. That or just cut out 1 or 2 of the normal freezeouts to see if that helps to keep things more manageable.

good luck!

thank you so much for your input AMT. i think the biggest problem i have that you have pointed out so far is that i have a lot of trouble sleeping. im actual planning to go to the doctor next week and discuss the fact that when i sleep i almost always feel so tired the next morning. hours of sleep dont matter. in fact being drunk and sleeping 4 hours feels better then 8 hours and totally sober. like really it sucks, body hurts, head hurts, feels like a bad hangover almost every night unless im beyond tired ( like havent slept well in a few days). i have to say i think that leads a lot to some ADD like symptoms i have. generally never have trouble focusing for poker thou, i find it generally so stimulating.

and i agree about the water. I sometimes find having a beer ( just one) and sipping it extremely slowly lets me play better too idk ( i swear i dont drink that much). Idk why, maybe it just mellows me out a lot.

Any ideas about the backlight of the screen and your eyes, i have been thinking of wearing sunglasses to maybe help that. and turn the brightness way down.

Sounds like a good plan about sleep improvements.

As far as backlight goes, pretty person dependent. You should absolutely take breaks away from the computer and focusing on things at medium and far distances a bit, so as to not strain your eyes. Even looking away for just a second or two every 20 minutes or so really really helps your eyes long run imo.
Not sure specifically about backlight, I think if it's too dim you'll be straining to see, but if it's too bright it might also have some negative impacts. For me, nice and bright (But not crazily so) is generally stimulating with the added light. Good lighting is also important, so if you don't play with a good solid light fixture on overhead or a good desk lamp you should definitely also look into that. If you can open a window on a clear day, or at least have the shades up, that'd probably help also.