Fitness and Poker

Strolling through a poker room just last week, I couldn’t help but realize how unhealthy poker players are. When it comes to physically active hobbies, poker certainly doesn’t rate near the top. As if the sedentary lifestyle wasn’t enough, hours upon hours are spent sitting in stiff chairs, sleep is deprived when you’re stuck or the game’s just too good to leave, and more often than not a quick bite to eat consists of casino fast food. Needless to say, the majority of players lack cut physiques.

It’s important to understand that even though poker playing doesn’t directly involve strenuous physical activity, one should still take excellent care of his or her body. A study in Men’s Health last year claimed that people that ran daily for 30 minutes were able to accomplish in eight hours what it took non-runners to do in nine hours. I regularly work on my fitness. Whether it is with weights or cardio, I try and keep myself as physically fit as possible.

You may be asking what this has to do with poker, but believe me, there’s huge benefits on the felt to staying in shape. The better in shape you are, the longer you’ll be able to stay mentally on top of your game while playing. The longer you can do that, the longer the sessions you’ll be able to put in while playing better than your opponents. I can’t tell you how many times I was able to triumph due to my opponents getting tired and deteriorating mentally. This especially happens in tournament poker, when the days can be extremely long and you are forced to just play through it.

While out in Vegas covering the WSOP, the longest days occurred when a tournament was scheduled to play down until the final table was decided. Often we’d start the event at two in the afternoon and not end until five or six in the morning. Sometimes, the players would try and convince the tournament staff to let them go home early if everyone agreed. Sometimes the tournament staff let them, other times they were forced to play through. During one event, I believe there were 18 players remaining when everyone voted to go home for the day; everyone but one person that is. This one player claimed that players should have to play through the scheduled duration. After some deliberation from the staff and lobbying from the players wanting to go home, the tournament was stopped short of the final table. I completely agreed with the player wanting to stay and play it out. After the decision was made, I chatted with him a little as to what he reasoning behind not wanting to go home was.

First, he claimed that every player knows the schedule of a tournament going into it. It’s printed on the structure/schedule sheet in almost all cases and shouldn’t be altered. Second, he felt he had an advantage if the other players were getting tired. I certainly agree with both of these assessments. The player unhappy with the decision was clearly in good shape and I know for a fact he avidly works out and takes care of himself fro a physical standpoint. Understanding that poker tournaments require players to play solid for long hours over multiple days, this player goes a step further than just the skill behind the game -- he prepares himself for the physical tolling as well.

Playing poker for the past few years probably way more than I should, I can certainly feel the change in my game when I am going through a period of laziness in my life. I feel mentally drained over shorter periods of time and tend to deter from top form. When I am working out regularly and eating healthy, my focus is improved tenfold and my mind is clear. I’m able to focus all my attention on the task at hand without exerting too much energy. It’s scientifically proven that the more active a person you are, the slower your resting heart rate, and therefore the less energy you need to expel doing less tasking activities.

I’m not saying you need to go out and grab hold of a gym membership to turn yourself into Arnold Schwarzenegger or Lance Armstrong, but you should take some time to stay in quality physical condition. It will improve your game and your life in general.

Along with a little exercise comes healthy eating. I’m sure you seen “The Nuts” on ESPN’s WSOP broadcasts. One year, they focused on what top pros were eating while out in Vegas for the Series. The pros that eat healthy have all said it has helped their game -- “brain food” as some may call it.

Daniel Negreanu, Jennifer Harman, and Annie Duke have all said that a change in diet for the better has helped. Phil Ivey works out with a personal trainer. Marcel Luske has a black belt and regularly exercises. Gus Hansen enjoys playing tennis on as often as he can. For all you online guys, Tony “Bond18” Dunst lifts weights and runs while David “Raptor” Benefield practices jiu jitsu while eating healthy foods. These are all great examples that show that keeping yourself physically fit can aid your mental game on the felt. Not only will you look better and feel better, but you’ll play better!