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Poker is one of the most versatile social games in the world, as it can be played in so many different variations and by many different rules.
One thing all poker players know very well is that once the cards are in the air, the sense of time can be easily lost, leading to the game lasting longer than anyone had planned.
As a rule of thumb, your session should not take more than 3 to 4 hours if you are playing poker recreationally since it is hard to keep the focus after that time. That said, you only have the option to pick how long you will play in cash games since tournaments can last up to 12 hours, and you will have to sit through all of it if you do not bust early.
All this considered, we will look into different variations to see how long it can last and cover both online and live poker so that you have a good understanding of what to expect after sitting down to play.
When it comes to home games, it is very important to plan the duration in advance, as players who will be playing often have responsibilities to take care of the outside of poker.
For that reason, the best way to go about it is to ask everyone who will be attending about their plans and come to an agreement on how long a poker game should last.
In most cases, you will want to plan your home game on a weekend, such as Friday or Saturday night, so that most people don’t have to wake up early to go to work the next morning.
Starting the game relatively early gives you more opportunities to go for longer. If you start a game at 5 pm, you can easily make the game last for as many as eight hours and still be done by 1 am, a time that most people will want to be getting home.
Of course, many home games last less than this, but eight hours is probably the maximum you want to go for unless you are playing with a group of very hardcore poker players.
For a more recreational game with a group of friends who don’t take poker too seriously, planning a sit-and-go tournament that lasts no longer than two or three hours is probably ideal.
At the end of the day, the exact duration of a poker game will depend heavily on who is playing and the type of interest your players have in the game itself.
Once you know who is coming to your poker night and what their plans are, you can start figuring out the logistics of the game.
If your friends are hardcore players who want to play all night, setting up a cash game with buyins and blinds they can all afford will be the best way to go about it.
The advantage of a cash game format is that players can come and go as they please and rebuy if they lose all their chips, allowing them to keep playing even if they lose a big hand.
A cash game can go on for as long as you like. You can set a specific end time if you want to wrap things up by a certain hour, or you can keep playing as long as there are interested parties.
For a more casual atmosphere, it is good to have an official end time, as games can sometimes get a bit out of hand otherwise.
If your friend group plays poker more casually and may want to find time for other activities during the night as well, setting up a fast-paced poker tournament could be ideal.
Start the game with 100 big blinds, set the blinds to go up every 10 or 15 minutes, and let the chips fall where they may.
A game like this will usually end in two or three hours, and perhaps even sooner if players decide not to play heads up or end it quickly.
Tournaments like these may even allow you to run two games in a single evening if players want to keep going or move over to a different activity if they don’t.
If you play poker a bit more seriously and go to casinos and poker rooms to play the game, the question of session duration is an important one.
We have all heard the stories of high-stakes legends like Tom Dwan playing 48-hour sessions, but this kind of approach is probably not the best one to take.
In fact, longer sessions almost always lead to worse play in the latter hours of the day or night, and playing for too long can cost you a lot of money.
This is especially the case when you are running badly, as staying in the game while losing and trying to win your money back is a recipe for disaster.
On the other hand, live poker is a fairly slow game, and if you want to get a significant number of hands in, you will need to spend some hours at the tables.
For most people, playing between 4 and 6 hours of live poker at a time is a great starting point, as it will allow you to play a few hands while not overdoing it in any particular session.
One of the most important things that you want to consider when deciding how long to play is your own well-being. Quit playing if you are tired, frustrated, tilted, or not feeling your best in any other way.
There will always be another poker game to play, but playing too long in a session where you know you should quit will make you feel even worse and almost inevitably lead to a loss.
When it comes to online poker, many players spend way too many hours playing their sessions without considering their other needs or responsibilities.
Online poker can be extremely hard to get away from, whether you are winning or losing, as there are always games available at a moment’s notice.
Online tournament grinders can find themselves in a tough spot when they run deep in events, as some tournaments can last into the late hours of the night, even if your session started relatively early.
For tournament players who play online, it is recommended to create a schedule that allows you to play until a certain time, which means you have to stop registering some hours before this time.
While this may mean you play fewer tables deep into your sessions, it will also allow you to focus the most when you are deep in events and when the stakes are the highest.
On the other hand, cash game players can make a great plan for their sessions and should typically not play for more than 4 to 6 hours at any single time, much like live players.
If poker is your source of income and you want to put in the necessary hours, splitting it up into two 4-hour sessions with a break between them is the best way to go.
Live poker tournaments are some of the most exhausting events in all of poker, as they can last anywhere from a few hours to several days.
Most poker tournaments start and end in a single day, but even a regular daily tournament at your local casino will often run for six or more hours if you make a deep run in it.
Events at major poker tours such as the WSOP, EPT, or WPT can take a few days to complete, and those days will all include as many as 12 to 14 hours of play.
Grinding live tournaments requires you to be very passionate about poker and not mind spending many hours at the table while remaining on a high focus level.
If you are able to do this, you will do very well in live tournaments, as the concentration of many players tends to dwindle as the hours go by and the later levels of each day arrive.
While some players prefer to play short sessions and be hyper-focused when playing, others enjoy the long grind and deep stack battles late into the night.
The truth is that we all play our best game only when we are concentrated on the game and not distracted by other things or too tired, which is why playing shorter sessions makes the most sense.
When playing poker with your friends, you should definitely not force long hours on anyone, as the game is meant to be friendly and not a competition of stamina.
If you play poker to make a living or want to beat the games, you may need to put in some extra hours, but make sure these don’t come at the expense of your other obligations or your mental or physical health.
If you have the feeling you need to sharpen up your game then Pokercode is a great place to start. Sign up for a free account and set your first steps towards becoming a better poker player.
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