How to stay awake

Zorba · Feb 17, 2026

Poker Orifice said:
Do ya know what works even better for me? Reading a couple posts by that AtiFCOD. Yah... that wakes me right up, lol.

After laughing uncontrollably for a few mins, that garbage puts me to sleep.

Baco · Feb 17, 2026

A 10-hour block is tough, so the key isn’t just “staying awake,” it’s managing energy.

A few things that help:

Get proper sleep the night before — nothing replaces that.
Take short breaks every 60–90 minutes (stand up, stretch, walk).
Stay hydrated and avoid heavy meals that make you sluggish.
Use caffeine strategically, not constantly — small doses work better than big crashes.
If possible, reduce tables late in the session when focus naturally drops.

But honestly, if you’re regularly exhausted after many hours, it might be better to split sessions. Long-term performance matters more than grinding while tired.

theoxy · Feb 17, 2026

For me help good coffee and i can stay awake for a long time

) Good luck at the poker tables buddy .

dariana Orasma · Feb 17, 2026

To stay awake during long gaming sessions, I usually schedule a day of rest beforehand, so I have energy for that day. While I'm playing, I usually have my cup of coffee or drink some energy drink to prepare for those long hours of gaming.

fundiver199 · Feb 17, 2026

Play shorter sessions and give priority to proper sleep, food etc. Take care of yourself, like an athlete would.

Mantinhoo · Feb 17, 2026

Take short 5-minute breaks every couple of hours, and eat light meals with protein and complex carbs. Avoid heavy food and too much sugar. A little caffeine helps, but don’t overdo it.

valanddon · Feb 17, 2026

You should never play poker tired.

99TERRANCE99 · Feb 28, 2026

Moving around during the breaks ...having food and hydration readily available ..even some green tea or matcha ..sometimes music helps

moraeskvmi · Feb 28, 2026

I think it's actually normal; on Sundays, for example, I often start at 7 am and go until 10 pm.

WellAA · Feb 28, 2026

A good night's sleep and lots of strong black coffee.

Botuna · Feb 28, 2026

Drink Coffee and dont eat, trust me u will up allday

Poker Orifice · Feb 28, 2026

iblackerj said:
In a 10-hour poker block. Is there a way to stay awake?

staring at your avatar between hands would probably help a bit

ninjareal · Mar 1, 2026

Happy Bobi said:
Why play so long and so much?
If poker is your source of income and you play 10 hours a day, then you are clearly a workaholic, and over time this will affect your health. In my opinion, 5-7 hours of play per day is more than enough.

unfortunately for tournaments , pausing isn't an option, when you are running deep , can go for a long time

ninjareal · Mar 1, 2026

Hi all , very good comments from everyone , I do agree that enough sleep before the game helps , however I have played in some MTT
completely by chance and then start running deep , even as far as FT , the only thing I do is jump around in-between hands, there's hardly time to
get food or coffee except during the 5-min breaks every hour, these are a godsend as toilet breaks are much needed as well

.
the one time I played for maybe 12hrs , I was micro-dreaming in-between hands at some point , it was bad... luckily as mentioned above, when a big moment comes the adrenaline kicks in and keep one going for longer....
As a general idea in large MTT , my main plan started to be to make it to the breaks each hour.... another break, another hurdle ,
this was a good way to maintain the focus..

Ch3tz · Mar 5, 2026

I've never done a ten hour but i can tell you coffee or tea helps a long way in a 6-7 hrs

MAFNL16061986 · Mar 5, 2026

making sure i have some coffee ready and smoking to spend the times waiting

Fosterbio · Mar 5, 2026

It's generally advisable to match your rhythm to the tournament, and get enough sleep before the start. I know many people drink coffee or energy drinks, even though they're unhealthy. Personally, I never encounter this problem; for me, a tournament is a way to stay awake. Eight-hour tournaments feel like two hours have passed.

roberto51 · Mar 6, 2026

I choose the right tournaments. I check their approximate duration. I try not to play night tournaments because concentration tends to drop at night, which has a huge impact on the final result of the game.

dzsire · Mar 10, 2026

I've never played for that long in a session, but in my experience 2-3 coffees can do wonders, at least for me.
I've never drink more than 2 a day, but even one can keep me awake for several hours.

KLEBE7 · Mar 12, 2026

Blue light is your friend here. Crank up the monitor brightness and try to stand up during every 5-minute break. I actually keep a set of dumbbells next to my desk and do 10 reps every time the blinds go up

anbu210 · Mar 13, 2026

Late-night MTTs can be tough, so a few habits help.

Get proper rest before the session if possible.
Stay hydrated and have light snacks instead of heavy meals.
Take short breaks during tournament breaks to stretch and refresh.
Good lighting and a comfortable setup also help you stay alert.
Some players use coffee or tea, but moderation is important.

WladiYoga · Mar 13, 2026

Americano, Latte Macchiato, Espresso, Espresso Dopio, Espresso Macchiato, Capuccino, Flat White, Chai Latte, Repeat. Americano, Latte Macchiato, Espresso, Espresso Dopio, Espresso Macchiato, Capuccino, Flat White, Chai Latte, Americano, Latte Macchiato, Espresso, Espresso Dopio, Espresso Macchiato, Capuccino, Flat White, Chai Latte, Repeat.Americano, Latte Macchiato, Espresso, Espresso Dopio, Espresso Macchiato, Capuccino, Flat White, Chai Latte, Repeat.

GarotoMaroto · Mar 13, 2026

Playing on the feet.
Is very easy to stay awake when you ain't sit.
If you are tired just get up.
Go for the gold!
God bless

eberetta1 · Mar 13, 2026

You can build up to it. None of us start by jogging 10 miles the first time out the gate.
Also, the days you don't play 10 hours of poker, I try to keep on the same schedule. So if your poker schedule is 5pm to 3am, then the days you do not play poker, also must be awake from 5pm to 3am.

IronMike9000 · Mar 13, 2026

Switch from your laptop to your phone at break and go for a walk while playing on your phone

How to stay awake

Zorba

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Baco

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theoxy

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dariana Orasma

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Mantinhoo

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99TERRANCE99

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moraeskvmi

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