Poker tournaments can be long and arduous affairs. Particularly when playing live, it’s not easy to maintain your focus for eight, 10 or even 12-plus hours at a time. But there are great rewards to be gained from paying attention to what’s going on around you, even when you’re not involved in the hand.
Sure, the temptation might be to give yourself a mental break when you fold UTG. Perhaps you like to wander to a nearby table to see how your mate is faring or maybe there is a game of football on the big screen that has captured your attention. But by letting your focus slip, you’re bound to miss opportunities later in the day – and what are you doing at the table if not trying to play your best poker?
Watching what other players do when you’re not involved in a hand is crucial to your long-term success. Maybe you notice a player a few positions to your right donk on the flop and show a busted flush draw at showdown. Now you know this player donks draws and you can adjust your play accordingly when you find yourself facing a similar situation against them. Other players might donk top pair, while some like to do so as a bluff. Knowing what a certain play means will make a huge difference to your stack later in the day.
And of course, it is just as important to recognize how a certain player might react to you. Do they fold too much to 3-bets or will they call no matter what? Which players can you bluff and which should you only ever clash with for value? These are all important questions you’ll need to know the answer to once the tournament progresses and the stacks shorten.
As tempting as it can be to switch off between hands, it always pays to maintain your focus. When the dinner break comes, that’s your cue to walk away and get some fresh air. In the meantime you’ve got work to do.
